Do you pay Swiss import VAT and customs charges when ordering from ALTERNATE?
ALTERNATE sends Swiss shoppers to its own alternate.ch storefront, where prices include Swiss VAT and a flat CHF 16 per parcel covers transport, handling and customs clearance. Nothing further is due when the parcel arrives, and the German site itself does not deliver outside the EU.
The customs coverage is stated plainly on alternate.ch, but strictly it applies only to the .ch storefront. Since alternate.de itself rules out quote requests outside the EU, the verdict rests on a redirect, which is why confidence is MEDIUM. The shop names no delivery partner, so who actually hands over the parcel in Switzerland is unevidenced.
The alternate.de help page on ordering across Europe lists Switzerland with a pointer to www.alternate.ch and recommends buying through that storefront. On alternate.ch the shop states that goods leave its German central warehouse and are cleared and taxed by ALTERNATE, with a flat CHF 16 per parcel covering handling, customs clearance and transport. The imprint shows the Swiss UID number CHE 177.000.432 and a fiscal representative in Lausanne, so listed prices include Swiss VAT.
Bulky or heavy consignments fall outside the consolidated clearance. Items over 30 kg or larger than 1.20 x 0.60 x 0.60 m are not shipped to Switzerland normally. Anyone ordering via alternate.de through a private forwarder pays the import VAT and fees themselves.
“Die Ware wird von uns verzollt und versteuert, so dass Sie sich um nichts kümmern müssen und lediglich den am Artikel ausgewiesenen Preis zzgl. den Versandkosten entrichten müssen.”
“Für jedes Paket stellen wir eine Pauschale in Höhe von CHF 16,- in Rechnung, mit der die Handlingskosten, die Verzollung und die Transportkosten abgedeckt werden.”
“Artikel mit einem Gewicht von über 30KG können wir aktuell leider nicht in die Schweiz verschicken.”
“empfehlen wir Ihnen aus Kosten- und Zeitgründen die Bestellung, in Ihrer Landessprache, über den jeweiligen Shop zu tätigen”
“Bitte beachten Sie: Angebotsanfragen für Lieferungen außerhalb der EU sind leider nicht möglich.”
“UID-Nr. CHE 177.000.432 Fiskalvertretung Taxport Switzerland SA”
“Fr. 16.00 Versandkosten finde ich zu teuer”
Shop policies change. Watch this one and we will re-check it for you, and tell you if the answer moves.