Returning an online purchase
Swiss law gives no general right to return goods bought online or in a shop. Whether you can send something back depends only on the seller's own conditions: many shops offer 14 or 30 days, others none at all. Read the conditions before you buy and keep the order confirmation.
If the item is faulty
The seller is liable for defects that already existed when you received the goods for 2 years. You can first ask for repair or replacement and, if that is impossible or fails, for a price reduction or your money back.
In Switzerland the seller may shorten or exclude this guarantee in its terms and conditions. Check them before you buy, especially for electronics and furniture.
Who has to prove the defect
There is no such presumption: if the seller disputes it, you have to show that the defect already existed when you received the goods.
Deadline to report a defect
You must tell the seller about a defect as soon as you discover it, otherwise you may lose your rights. Do it in writing and keep a copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a right to return goods in Switzerland?
Swiss law gives no general right to return goods bought online or in a shop. Whether you can send something back depends only on the seller's own conditions: many shops offer 14 or 30 days, others none at all. Read the conditions before you buy and keep the order confirmation.
What is the difference between an exchange and a return?
Neither is a legal right in Switzerland. An exchange (for another item or a voucher) and a return (you get your money back) are both voluntary: the store decides, in its conditions or at the till. Many shops exchange unused items with the receipt within 14 or 30 days. Ask before you buy and keep the receipt.
What applies if the item is faulty?
The seller is liable for defects that already existed when you received the goods for 2 years. You can first ask for repair or replacement and, if that is impossible or fails, for a price reduction or your money back. In Switzerland the seller may shorten or exclude this guarantee in its terms and conditions. Check them before you buy, especially for electronics and furniture.
Sources
- https://www.seco.admin.ch/de/probleme-nach-dem-kauf
- https://www.konsumentenschutz.ch/online-ratgeber/wann-und-wie-lange-gilt-die-garantie/
Read on 2026-10-03 from the sources above.