Low prices online are tempting, but are they worth it?

Flash sale! Unbeatable prices! Today only! Up to 90 per cent off! These are the phrases included in the splashy headlines associated with many enticing offers for electrical and electronic appliances on the Internet. Find out why it’s important to resist these tempting offers and ensure that both your bank balance and the environment benefit in the long run.

The coffee machine for CHF 40 instead of CHF 120, a screwdriver for CHF 100 instead of CHF 269, the electric toothbrush in a double pack for only CHF 199 instead of CHF 399 and a laser pointer for just CHF 2.95! Honestly, who can resist such incredible prices?

Beguiling for your bank balance, critical for the environment

Offers like these appear to be a real steal at first glance, with enormous savings just a click away. Nevertheless, consumer protection organisations repeatedly warn against such purchases. To begin with, the full costs are often not clearly disclosed. For example, deliveries from abroad can incur high shipping or customs fees, and the appliances might have incorrect plugs that require an additional adapter. Consumers often have to wait a very long time for their products, as many low-cost suppliers use “dropshipping”, meaning they have their goods sent directly from the factory to their customers in order to avoid expensive warehousing costs. What’s more, many appliances from Asia do not meet the safety standards that apply in European countries, with some of them having high pollutant levels that can endanger people and the environment. This has been shown in recent tests carried out by the Swiss Toy Association.