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Cheapest goods from China: You can often no longer recognize such online shops at first glance.
They are called Temu, Shein, or Fruugo. These online platforms offer goods at bargain prices, mostly from China. And often of poor quality. Anyone who orders there usually knows this. However, if such online shops have an internet address ending with “.ch” and thus appear to have a connection to Switzerland, it becomes difficult for consumers to recognize these cheap shops. Pfotenland.ch is one such example, Espresso has reported.
Danger with electrical appliances and toys
Now you can say: Anyone who orders from relevant sites has only themselves to blame. However, the danger posed by cheap goods should not be underestimated. Fires or even explosions can occur, especially with electrical devices that do not meet the prescribed standards. For example, faulty batteries or cables. Banned ingredients in toys are often a danger to children.
You can therefore also offer products that are not marketable in Switzerland.
The responsible Federal Office for Food Safety told “20 Minutes” that there was no way in Switzerland to hold such shops accountable. They would not be subject to Swiss law: “You can therefore also offer products that are not marketable in Switzerland.”
In response to a request from the SRF consumer magazine “Espresso” to the Federal Office of Customs and the Federal Heavy Current Inspectorate, the following is stated: Anyone who imports goods as a private individual is responsible for the quality of the goods.
Online retail industry association is angry
The industry association Handelsverband.swiss has no joy at all in the relevant online platforms with cheap goods from China. Managing director Bernhard Egger emphasizes that he is not simply concerned with the competitive situation: “It’s about the question of plagiarism, supply chains, sustainability or quality defects, some of which are serious – and also represent a security risk.”
He hopes for the so-called platform taxation, which will be introduced at the beginning of 2025 and means that foreign mail order companies will have to pay VAT in Switzerland. Anyone who does not comply will face action. For example, the Federal Customs Administration could impose an import ban on deliveries from the company in question.
Bernhard Egger has another idea for sanctioning a company that doesn’t follow the rules: “You should have the app of such a company blocked.” To do this, the app providers would also have to be prepared to bear the sanctions and no longer make apps accessible.
Two seals of approval for more security
Consumers can look for one of two seals of approval in online shops that guarantee quality. On the one hand, this is the “Swiss Online Guarantee” from the industry association Handelsverband.swiss. But the European version is also intended to guarantee quality, with the “Trusted Shops” logo.