Shopping in Switzerland

Switzerland It is difficult to call the shopping country due to quite high prices (due to high taxes) literally. Purchases in neighboring Germany and Italy are usually more practical. Swiss themselves prefer to make serious purchases in neighboring countries.

The shops

Most of the outlets work on weekdays from 8.30 to 18.30 with a break for lunch from 12.00 to 14.00, some closed in 21.00-22.00. On Saturday, all stores work with 8.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00, on Sunday, almost everything is closed, except for large retail chains. In big cities, some stores work without a lunch break, but closed on Monday the first half of the day. However, the work schedule depends greatly depending on the canton and the specialization of the store – souvenir and grocery stores are usually closed pretty early, supermarkets and sports shops often work noticeably longer than the rest.

As in many other countries of Western Europe, a whole system of all kinds of discount and promotional periods is operating in Switzerland, when the prices for one or another product group are noticeably reduced. In some large trading networks, discounts can reach up to 70% (do not forget the possibilities of returning 12% VAT when leaving the country), but on average hesitated around 30-50%. The longest period of sales begins on the eve of Christmas and stretches at least in mid-February. And in many major cities, this period can last longer – in Zurich, for example, begin to prepare for traditional Christmas sales from the evening of November 25, when the famous shopping street Bahnhofstrasse is decorated with illumination, and more than 150 stores and boutiques work up to 22.00. The season of discounts starts on November 27, and even the entire holiday period (from December 24 to December 31 and January 2) many shops on weekdays work up to 17.00, and on weekends – from 11.00 to 18.00. In addition, 5 traditional markets (the largest – indoor Christmas market at the Central Station of Zurich Hauptbahnhof) open around the city’s New Year. Approximately the same picture and in other cities of the country.

Interestingly, daily shares are also held in grocery stores (regardless of the season), when the price for certain types of goods is reduced by 25-50%. It is also characteristic that the prices for hours are fixed throughout the country, regardless of the store – the difference is only in the assortment. So look for more favorable rates for this type of product, it is almost meaningless – that at the station, that in the prestigious branded cabin, the same model will cost almost the same.