Best Places to Shop for a Camera in Switzerland
Posted on 06. Feb, 2010 by Photographer in Photography Tips
Switzerland is an exceptionally beautiful country to live in. We have mountains, lakes and unlimited supply of chocolate. However, this does come with a catch, it is pretty darn expensive to live here. So how do we spend on cameras and accessories without having to move to neighbouring France? ;)
When purchasing a camera, most of us would go to the nearby electronic store such as Interdiscount, FNAC, Media Markt, Fust, M-Electronics or Manor to check out the latest models. For more professional equipment, then there is the option of going to PhotoHall or Europhoto in Geneva. Some of these shops offer great services i.e. no-question-asked return policy notably FNAC and Manor. But are these really the best and only option that we have in Switzerland? Fortunately, the answer is no. But it does mean we have to go online to make our purchases.
Ebay - Great for cheap camera accessories
A global flea market. I generally buy non critical camera accessories here. Non critical meaning items that will not affect the quality of my images. So I would not really buy a camera or lens from ebay unless it is from a reputable seller with a good feedback score. Again this is still not a full proof guarantee on the product that you bid on. Utmost care should be taken before bidding. Having said that, ebay is a great place for cheap camera accessories such as extra batteries, camera straps, bags, lens caps, remote triggers, umbrellas, lighting stands etc. Also most ebay sellers nowadays offer free global shipping.
B&H Photo Video and Adorama - Most complete, you can find everything
Both of these shops are in US and they have an amazing inventory. You will be able to find everything you need in either of these two sites. The prices are considerably cheaper than any shop in Switzerland even after USD to CHF conversion. However, you do need to pay for shipping to Switzerland. So it is a good idea to buy everything in one go and ship once. This will turn out cheaper than shipping items separately. Once the items reaches Switzerland, you need to pay the Swiss tax as well as customs clearance fee which comes up to approximately 10% of the item price. Yes, even after all that it is still usually cheaper!
Profot - Professional equipment, Swiss based
This is a Swiss based shop selling professional high end camera equipment, accessories and studio lighting. The site is unfortunately in German, for an English translation just use Google Translator or click here. Prices here are not as cheap as B&H or Adorama.
Toppreise - Overall best place to shop
Toppreise is actually a price comparison website which compares prices from many retailers across Switzerland. Just enter the item you are looking for in the search box and it will provide you a list sorted by lowest price first. There is a direct link to the retailer which you then make your purchase. Most of the retailers are located in the German side of Switzerland and as a result the websites are mainly in German.
To get the lowest possible price there are 3 things to consider:
1.Click on the 'Price chart' tab. This shows the price variation of the item over the course of 1 year. Although most prices go down with time, there are some that go up. If you are patient, wait for the next drop in price before making the purchase. Also use the 'Infomail' alert service to get alerted via email when the price reaches your desired level.
2. In the price comparison tab, you have two options 'Shipping' and 'Pickup'. Always check the pickup option to see if there is a retailer nearby for you to pick up and avoid paying for shipping.
3. Always pay in advance via e-banking (not with your credit card)
Bottom line:
I make most of my purchases with Toppreise followed by B&H and Adorama. It really makes sense to purchase online, you will save considerably.
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Who cares about where to buy photo gear - I just want the chocolate, after seeing that photo above ;)