Do you pay Swiss import VAT and customs charges when ordering from Bike-Discount?
Set Switzerland as the delivery country and the shop shows Swiss VAT of 8.1 percent, 2.6 percent on reduced-rate items, in the price. Shipping is EUR 14.99 for a normal parcel and EUR 199.99 for a complete bike, and buyers report no bill on delivery.
The VAT line is current and explicit, but the shop does not state in plain words that it acts as importer and clears customs. The buyer reports confirming that date from 2021 and 2022, and the shop's own page still warns about further import costs.
The Swiss customer page states that Swiss VAT of 8.1 percent or 2.6 percent is shown once Switzerland is selected as the delivery country, and German VAT is removed. The same page lists Swiss shipping at EUR 14.99 standard, EUR 39.99 for bulky goods and EUR 199.99 per bike. A buyer on the MTB-News forum described German VAT deducted, Swiss VAT added, and clearance covered by the shipping charge.
The shop never writes the words DDP or verzollt, and it adds that further import costs may arise on top of its shipping charge, mainly import duties. The general terms carry the standard line that deliveries outside the EU attract duties, taxes and fees. Since January 2024 there is no Swiss duty on bicycles, parts or clothing, so that warning mostly bites on sports nutrition, which is food.
Sports nutrition such as bars and gels counts as food, which still carries Swiss duty. Complete bikes travel as freight at EUR 199.99, where a forwarder can raise its own charges.
“wird Ihnen die schweizer MwSt. in Höhe von 8,1% bzw. 2,6% angezeigt”
“Standard Versandkosten: 14,99 €”
“Zusätzlich zu den von Bike-Discount berechneten Versandkosten können weitere Kosten für die Einfuhr anfallen.”
“Bei Lieferungen in das Nicht-EU-Ausland fallen zusätzliche Zölle, Steuern und Gebühren an.”
“Bei den Transportkosten ist das Verzollen inbegriffen.”
“Shops wie bike-discount oder bike-components decken das mit den Versandkosten ab”
“Switzerland: Versandkosten 14,99 € pro Sperrgut1 39,99 € pro Fahrrad 199,99 €”
Shop policies change. Watch this one and we will re-check it for you, and tell you if the answer moves.