Buying second-hand is one of the quickest ways to reduce the cost of setting up a home in Switzerland, but only when the saving survives transport, repairs and fraud risk. A CHF 50 wardrobe that needs a CHF 120 van is not a CHF 50 purchase. A cheap phone paid for outside a platform can become the most expensive option if it never arrives.
The main choices are not interchangeable. Ricardo provides auctions, fixed-price listings and formal transaction tools. tutti.ch is a classifieds marketplace where buyers and sellers negotiate directly. Local Facebook groups, university boards, flea markets and Brockenhaus shops can be excellent for collection, inspection and low-priced household items.
This guide shows how to choose the channel, calculate the true price and protect the transaction.
Which second-hand channel fits the purchase?
| Channel | Useful for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Ricardo | Shippable goods, collectables, electronics, items where seller history matters | Auction pressure, shipping and protection conditions need checking |
| tutti.ch | Local furniture, bikes and direct negotiation | The parties handle payment and collection risk themselves |
| Facebook Marketplace and local groups | Fast nearby pickup, moving sales | Identity and protection can be limited; scams move conversations off-platform |
| Brockenhaus and charity shops | Furniture, kitchenware, books and inspectable basics | Stock is unpredictable and delivery may cost extra |
| Flea markets | Quality household goods, tools, clothing and negotiation | Condition varies and formal returns are uncommon |
| University and employer boards | Desks, beds and end-of-tenancy bundles | Availability clusters around moving dates |
Search at least two channels. A platform with more listings can have a higher going price, while a local board may have a seller who values fast collection more than maximum revenue.
Calculate the landed cost, not the listing price
Use this formula before contacting the seller:
Listing price + buyer or protection fee + delivery or vehicle hire + immediate repair + missing parts = landed cost
Suppose a used table is advertised for CHF 80. A suitable van costs CHF 70, fuel and parking cost CHF 20, and the table needs CHF 15 of hardware. The landed cost is CHF 185. If a new table delivered with a warranty costs CHF 220, the real saving is CHF 35, not CHF 140.
That can still be worthwhile for a solid, repairable item that will outlast the new alternative. It may not be worth a half-day of travel for flat-pack furniture with uncertain fixings.
For large items, ask for:
- exact width, depth and height;
- whether it can be dismantled;
- the largest single-piece dimensions;
- floor, lift and parking access;
- whether help with loading is available;
- the collection deadline.
Measure the doorway, stairwell and vehicle before paying.
Ricardo: understand which protection applies
Ricardo’s Protection+ service, also described as MoneyGuard Protection, holds the buyer’s payment until the item is received and checked under the service process. It supports integrated TWINT and card payment, tracks the transaction and provides a dispute route. The buyer pays the applicable Protection+ charge; the seller’s help page states that the service carries no additional fee for the seller.
This protection is conditional. Read the terms shown on the exact listing and at checkout. Keep the item description, photos, messages, payment record, packaging and delivery evidence until the transaction is complete.
Ricardo also publishes separate standard buyer-protection terms with their own scope, limits, claim conditions and exclusions. Do not assume that every Ricardo purchase has the same protection, or that a platform logo guarantees a refund in every dispute.
For an expensive item:
- Check which protection label is present.
- Open the linked terms before paying.
- Keep communication and payment inside the stated process.
- Inspect promptly after delivery.
- Report a problem within the stated window.
tutti.ch: direct dealing requires a stricter safety routine
tutti.ch explicitly warns users about phishing, fake courier services and attempts to move conversations to SMS or WhatsApp. Its safety guidance says tutti.ch will not ask by email, SMS or WhatsApp for passwords, login details or credit-card data. A seller does not need to enter card details to receive a payment.
The platform also states that it has no cooperation with courier services. Treat a buyer’s message claiming that a special courier has already paid, followed by a link or QR code, as suspicious.
The safest local-pickup routine is:
- keep initial messages on the platform;
- meet in daylight in a sensible location;
- inspect and test before payment;
- do not share login codes or scan payment links;
- verify the amount and recipient inside your own banking or TWINT app;
- bring another person for bulky or high-value collection;
- leave if the item, identity or payment process changes unexpectedly.
For a shipped purchase without a platform escrow process, you must decide whether the saving justifies the counterparty risk. A seller’s urgency is not evidence of legitimacy.
How to inspect common purchases
Furniture
Check joints, smell, moisture damage, woodworm signs, upholstery, missing fasteners and whether the piece was exposed to smoke or pets. Sit on chairs and open drawers. For a bed or sofa, consider hygiene and pest risk as well as visible condition.
Electronics
Ask for the exact model and serial information before meeting. Test charging, ports, cameras, speakers, Wi-Fi, battery behaviour and factory-reset status. Confirm that device locks and accounts have been removed. A purchase receipt can help establish origin, but examine it critically.
Bicycles
Check frame damage, wheels, brakes, gears, tyres, lights and battery health for an e-bike. Ask for keys and charger. Compare the frame number and proof of purchase where available. Price an immediate service and replacement consumables before negotiating.
Children’s items
Check current product-safety and recall information. Avoid an item when age, crash history or missing instructions determine safety and cannot be verified. A low price is not a reason to compromise on a child car seat, helmet or damaged safety equipment.
Branded goods
An implausibly low price, stock photographs, several identical "private" listings and pressure to pay quickly are warning signs. Ask for detailed, current photos and proof of purchase. Marketplace verification reduces risk but does not replace inspection.
How to negotiate without wasting time
Research completed or comparable listings, not only optimistic asking prices. Make one clear offer tied to a practical advantage:
"I can collect on Thursday at 18:00 and pay CHF 120 after inspection. Would that work?"
For a bundle, price the items you truly need. Taking six unwanted objects to obtain a nominal bundle discount creates disposal work, and official refuse bags or bulky-waste collection can add cost.
Do not send a deposit merely to prove seriousness unless you understand the risk and protection. For popular furniture, a precise collection time can be more persuasive than a higher but uncertain offer.
Timing can matter more than platform
Moving dates, semester ends and tenancy handovers create sellers who need items collected quickly. Search terms such as Wohnungsauflösung, Umzug, muss weg, à débarrasser and déménagement can reveal bundles, but they can also attract scam listings. Apply the same checks.
Flea markets and local farmer or community markets add another advantage: you can judge build quality in person. Solid cookware, tools, wooden furniture and repairable household items can offer better long-term value than the cheapest new product. Look for quality and usable life, not merely age.
A furnishing example for a first flat
| Item | New planning budget | Used landed-cost target |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table and four chairs | CHF 450 | CHF 180 |
| Desk and office chair | CHF 400 | CHF 180 |
| Shelving | CHF 250 | CHF 120 |
| Lamps and kitchen basics | CHF 300 | CHF 140 |
| Total | CHF 1,400 | CHF 620 |
This illustrative basket suggests a potential CHF 780 difference. It is not a market-price claim. Your target should include collection and replacement parts. Spend more where ergonomics, hygiene, warranty or safety matter, and use second-hand most aggressively for durable items you can inspect.
Delivery, deposits and written records
For a third-party delivery arranged directly, record who is responsible if an item is damaged and when ownership transfers. Photograph condition before loading. For a deposit, write down the item, amount, balance, collection deadline and what happens if either party cancels.
Cash is simple for local collection but offers little recovery after the parties separate. Digital payment provides a record, but a record is not the same as buyer protection. Never approve a payment request merely because the screen uses familiar branding.
When buying new is better
Choose new when:
- a reliable warranty is valuable;
- safety history cannot be verified;
- hygiene risk is material;
- transport removes most of the saving;
- the product must fit a precise deadline;
- replacement parts are unavailable;
- energy efficiency will materially affect running cost.
Second-hand shopping is not a test of frugality. It is a way to buy more useful life for each franc. The best purchase is the item that meets the need at the lowest total cost and acceptable risk, whether it is used or new.
Sources
- Ricardo: what Protection+ offers (checked 11 August 2026)
- Ricardo: Protection+ seller process (checked 11 August 2026)
- Ricardo buyer-protection terms (checked 11 August 2026)
- tutti.ch safety centre (checked 11 August 2026)
- tutti.ch phishing and fake-courier warnings (checked 11 August 2026)
- tutti.ch safer buying and selling guidance (checked 11 August 2026)