Less than one in five of Switzerland’s biggest online stores offers free delivery, while the majority offer it above a certain threshold.
Additionally, nearly 20% of businesses charge for the delivery of goods. This illustrates that free delivery offers have not improved compared to last year. However, the data shows a new sense of urgency, with more online shops now offering delivery on the same or the next day.
Ecommerce News reports that experts have analyzed the top 50 biggest business-to-consumer online stores in Switzerland.
Here is what they have found:
Delivery within 24 hours
The data revealed that the number of online stores offering same-day or next-day deliveries has increased by 13% in the last year. However, most big online stores still don’t provide quick delivery services.
A whopping 66% of Switzerland does not offer 24-hour delivery services, and shipping costs can run as high as US$8. However, the cost seems to have slightly declined compared to last year.
Switzerland’s e-commerce
What makes the Swiss online consumer behavior unique is its high purchasing power. Switzerland has a stable economy and favorable exchange rates. According to international logistics company Asendia, this market offers “great opportunities for e-commerce businesses.”
Thomas Haumueller, senior product manager, believes entrepreneurs must stay updated on changing import regulations and VAT rates in Switzerland.
Most Swiss online shoppers (97%) use cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets. Because of those high delivery rates, nearly 50% of shoppers use Click & Collect to save money.
According to Asendia’s study, despite the high delivery rates, 40% of Swiss shoppers prefer home delivery. However, only 33% of online shoppers are willing to pay extra for sustainability efforts.
Free delivery dilemma
Free delivery can be incorporated into your pricing strategy to offer free delivery and stay competitive. Shopify recommends factoring the shipping costs into the product prices.
It warns, however, that the weight of your packaging plays a crucial role in determining shipping costs.
Here are some tips to consider:
- Choose the right amount of packaging to ensure it arrives safely and undamaged.
- For fragile items, sturdier packaging like cardboard may be necessary.
- Take advantage of free packaging materials offered by carriers such as USPS.
It’s important to remember that international shipping costs differ from domestic ones.
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Photo credit: Canva
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
