In many countries, the practice of haggling – that is, negotiating a price – is common. What are the rules in Switzerland?
The scenario is very familiar to people in many countries: when the price of an item is too high, the customer starts walking away and the shopkeeper immediately offers a better deal.
Or else, clients directly ask the retailer for a lower price until the two parties come to an agreement.
This, obviously, is not the way Switzerland functions.
But is this practice acceptable here or would it be a total faux-pas?
The general answer is ‘no’ – though there are exceptions to this rule.
Non-negotiable
As anyone who has been living here for a while knows – whether Swiss or a foreign national – Switzerland does not have a traditional haggling culture.
Prices are expected to be paid as marked, and any attempt to get them reduced will be seen as impolite, rude, and arrogant, and likely be refused outright.
This applies to all retailers, no matter what merchandise they sell, as well as to restaurants, hotels, public transport, and any service where a set price for a product and/or service is involved.
This mindset clearly emerges from a survey that Moneyland consumer platform carried out a few years ago.
It revealed that “bargaining is not popular in Switzerland. Swiss people generally shy away from negotiating prices.”
There are, however, some exceptions
If you are buying from online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Ricardo, Tutti, Anabis, and the like, or else shopping at a flea market, a totally different set of rules applies.
Negotiating is actually an accepted part of the process. You may not get the item you wanted for the price you were willing to pay, but nobody will be offended by your attempts to do so.
This practice also extends to second-hand stores – whether selling clothes, furniture, electronics, or even larger items like used cars.
READ MORE: The best websites for buying or selling second-hand goods in Switzerland
Your bargaining skills will also come handy (and not shock anyone) if you are purchasing several big-ticket items at once and ask for price reduction – there is often a discount available for bulk buying.
And in some cases, haggling is not even needed.
Many retailers run ‘end-of-season’ sales, when clothes and accessories are marked down by as much as 50 percent off the original price, so this is where you can get your ‘bargains’ without having to ask for a rebate.
Ditto for Swiss supermarkets like Migros and Coop, which discount a variety of fresh foods, including baked goods, sandwiches, and ready-to-eat meals, by up to 50 percent in the evening before closing.
