THURGAU, Switzerland – Prices of goods in Switzerland are affected by the global crisis, but Filipinos living here have found a solution: they buy from German stores which have relatively cheaper goods.

In fact, Filipinos here are taking advantage of Switzerland’s decision last December 12 scrapping its land border controls with the 24-member Schengen countries. It allows people to cross borders like those in neighboring Germany or France without the systematic passport controls or identity checks.

Jigs Oberetta-Wehrlin, a Pinay married to a Swiss who both live in the Swiss border canton of Thurgau, said she can easily drive into Constanz, Germany to shop.

“Yung prices doon sa Germany cheap compared sa mga department stores at commercial stores dito sa Switzerland. May differences talaga sa prices nila at nakakamura kami,” said Wehrlin.

Another Pinay, Cecille Conjurado-Schneider, said she crosses the border to buy in Germany.

“Mas mura doon like 'yung mga pizza, 'yung mga yoghurt, mga milk,” said Schneider.

Still other Pinoys cross into France to buy in French retail stores like Carrefour.

German stores in Switzerland

But for Filipinos living far from the border, the alternative is to buy from German stores that have opened in Switzerland.

The German retail chain Lidl recently opened 13 shops across Switzerland last month, presumably to catch up with its competitor Aldi (also German), which entered Switzerland in 2005 and has more shops.

Gemma Pilapil, a nurse working in Bern, said she buys in Aldi Suisse when she can.

“Mas mura sa Aldi ang maraming groceries gaya ng yoghurt, ang apple pie, mga toiletries at marami pa,” said Pilapil.

To illustrate, she said a yoghurt pack in Aldi costs 55 Rappens, while another brand of the same size sells for 75 to 85 Rappens in a Swiss store like Migros; a single pack of “wet wipes” costs 2 Francs in Swiss stores while costing only 2.79 Francs for a duo-pack in Aldi; or a pack of milk costs 1.20 Francs in Swiss shops, compared to 79 Rappens in an Aldi outlet.    

With one Euro currently worth 1.5 to 1.6 Swiss Francs, one could save a lot of money when buying in a German store outlet in Switzerland.