How long you wait for your K-Beauty order mainly depends on where the package is shipped from. If it comes from a warehouse in Switzerland, it usually arrives in your mailbox within one to three business days. From the EU, you should expect about a week. If you order directly from Korea, it often takes two to three weeks, including customs clearance. Here you will learn what these times consist of, what costs may be added at the border, and what you can do if a package is delayed.
In Short
- K-Beauty from a Swiss warehouse usually arrives within 1 to 3 business days. With Rammilav, it's usually 2 to 3 days, and shipping is free for orders over 80 francs.
- The Swiss Post estimates 2 to 5 days from neighboring countries, and 10 to 15 days from countries outside continental Europe like South Korea.
- For international shipments, customs clearance and import tax are added. The post usually takes 3 to 4 working days for customs clearance, longer if the declaration is incorrect.
- For an import tax of 5 francs, i.e., from around 62 francs shipment value, you pay 8.1% tax and an additional fee for customs clearance.
- If a delivery is delayed, a clear procedure helps: check tracking, contact the shop, send a written reminder, and set a grace period.
Table of Contents
- Delivery Times Compared
- How Long Customs Clearance Takes
- What Costs Are Added at the Border
- Why Packages Take Longer Than Stated
- How to Read Tracking Correctly
- What to Check Before Ordering
- If the Delivery Fails
- Our View on Fast K-Beauty Deliveries
- K-Beauty Without Long Waiting Times
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
Delivery Times Compared
A delivery time consists of several stages: processing in the shop, transport, handover between different logistics companies for international shipments, and customs clearance. Each stage takes time, and the more there are, the greater the uncertainty.
| Shipping Location | Typical Transport Time | Customs Clearance | Additional Costs on Receipt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss shop with warehouse in Switzerland | 1 to 3 business days | none | none |
| Neighboring country (e.g., Germany, Austria) | 2 to 5 days | yes | Import tax and customs clearance fee from around 62 francs shipment value |
| More distant EU country | 4 to 7 days | yes | as above |
| South Korea and other countries outside Europe | 10 to 15 days | yes, usually 3 to 4 working days | as above, with a higher base fee for countries outside the EU |
The times for international shipments come from a Swiss Post guide to cross-border online trade. The post also notes that distance, handovers between logistics networks, and customs clearance extend every international delivery. Even from Germany, normal shipping to Switzerland in less than 48 hours is not realistic.
Shipping Within Switzerland
The fastest way is if the goods are already in the country. With PostPac Priority, the post delivers a package the next business day. If you add a day for picking and packing in the shop, you are at the usual one to three business days. There is no customs form, no payment at the door, and no waiting times in a customs clearance center here.
Orders from the EU
Many European shops carry Korean skincare. The transport time is short, but the package still has to go through Swiss customs. It is important whether the shop has already included Swiss duties in the price or whether they are passed on to you upon delivery. This is usually stated in the shipping conditions.
Directly from Korea
The longest route is direct ordering from a retailer in Korea. In addition to the 10 to 15 days of transport, customs clearance and, depending on the shipping method, additional days are added. Those who choose cheap shipping without express often wait significantly longer. In addition, the goods may be exposed to heat and cold during transit, which is no small matter for creams and sunscreens.
How Long Customs Clearance Takes
Every shipment from abroad must be registered with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). The BAZG explains that this customs clearance is a formal registration process that the transport companies handle for you. It is therefore not simply an import fee, but a work step that takes time.
If the shipment is correctly declared, customs clearance by Swiss Post usually takes 3 to 4 working days. It takes longer if the information on the package is incorrect. Incorrectly or insufficiently declared shipments go through a clarification process at the post. Then you may have to submit an invoice or proof of payment before the package continues.
Especially with smaller retailers abroad, incomplete declarations are not uncommon. For you, this means: The delivery time stated in the shop is usually only a transport time for international orders. Customs clearance is added on top.
What Costs Are Added at the Border
In addition to time, costs that only become visible upon delivery also play a role. Two items are important.
Import Tax
Switzerland levies an import tax of 8.1% on goods from abroad. It is calculated not only on the value of the goods but on all costs up to the destination, including packaging, freight, insurance, and customs clearance. Tax amounts up to 5 francs are not collected. According to BAZG, this corresponds to a shipment value of approximately 62 francs.
Customs Clearance Fee by the Post
For their effort, the post charges its own fee. For shipments from countries outside the EU, it is 16 francs base fee plus 3% of the value of the goods including shipping costs, services, and duties. The fee is capped at a maximum of 70 francs. Other parcel services and couriers have their own rates.
A Calculation Example
Let's assume you order a routine from Korea consisting of cleansing balm, toner, serum, and sunscreen for 70 francs, plus 20 francs shipping. Simplified, it looks like this:
- Shipment value: 70 + 20 = 90 francs.
- Import tax: 8.1% of 90 francs results in about 7.30 francs. This is over 5 francs, so it is collected.
- Customs clearance fee by the post: 16 francs plus 3% of about 97 francs, so just under 19 francs.
- Additional at the door: about 26 francs, depending on the exact calculation, a little more.
Thus, 90 francs quickly become around 116 francs, and you wait two to three weeks for it. However, if an order remains below about 62 francs shipment value, the import tax does not apply. We have summarized more about customs and exemptions in our guide K-Beauty, Customs, and Switzerland.
DAP or DDP: Who Pays?
In the fine print of some foreign shops, you will find the abbreviations DAP and DDP. With DAP, you pay tax and fee upon delivery. With DDP, the retailer has already covered the duties and usually included them in the price. If you order abroad, it is worth looking at this because it determines whether you can expect an invoice at the door.
Why Packages Take Longer Than Stated
Even if everything is correctly declared, a delivery can be delayed. DHL Switzerland mentions three typical causes for international shipments in its answers to tracking and delivery: weather, customs, and backlogs in operations. In certain cases, they can delay a delivery by up to 10 days.
There are also peak times that you can plan for yourself:
- Discount weeks in November and the weeks before Christmas when package volumes increase significantly
- Holidays in the shipping country when warehouses and delivery services are closed
- Holidays in Switzerland when no packages are delivered
- Orders on Friday evening or the weekend, which are only processed on the next business day
If you are looking for a gift or need your moisturizer by a certain date, it is best to order a few days earlier during these phases, even within Switzerland.
How to Read Tracking Correctly
After shipping, you usually receive a tracking number. Don't be surprised if the tracking initially remains empty: According to DHL, the first tracking events usually appear 24 to 48 hours after receiving the number. Only when the package has been physically scanned do you see movement.
For international shipments, the tracking number sometimes changes once the package is handed over to the post or another Swiss delivery service. If a status like "Customs clearance" or "Clarification" appears in the tracking for a longer time, information about the goods is often missing. Then it is worth actively inquiring with the post instead of just waiting.
What to Check Before Ordering
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO recommends reading the delivery, return, and warranty conditions in the terms and conditions before purchasing. For drop-shipping from China, SECO explicitly mentions the risk of counterfeits, poor quality, and delivery delays. This is particularly important for K-Beauty because popular products are often copied.
These questions help you choose a shop:
- Where is the warehouse located? A warehouse in Switzerland means short distances and no customs clearance.
- What delivery time is stated, and does it apply from order or from shipping?
- Are taxes and fees included in the price, or do you pay them upon delivery?
- From what order value is shipping free?
- Where do the products come from, and how does the shop prove their authenticity?
How to distinguish originals from copies is shown in our guide recognizing Korean cosmetics as fakes.
If the Delivery Fails
If a package arrives significantly later than announced, it is best to proceed step by step. SECO describes the steps to take in case of problems after purchase and distinguishes whether a fixed delivery date was agreed upon or only an approximate deadline applies.
- Check tracking: Is the shipment stuck in customs or delivery?
- Contact the shop and inquire about the status.
- For an approximate deadline, remind the retailer verbally or better in writing. If a specific delivery day was agreed upon, no reminder is necessary.
- Set a reasonable grace period.
- If this also passes without delivery, you can withdraw from the contract according to Art. 107 para. 2 OR.
With a shop abroad, this path is usually more cumbersome because language, time zone, and foreign law are involved. If you are unsure how to proceed in your case, consumer advice or legal advice can help you further.
Our View on Fast K-Beauty Deliveries
If you are starting a new skincare routine or your favorite serum is almost empty, you don't want to wait three weeks. That's why we decided from the beginning to have a warehouse in Switzerland. We source our products directly from verified suppliers so that you get originals and don't have to guess what's exactly in the tube.
For you, this means: We ship within Switzerland, and your order usually arrives within 2 to 3 days. Shipping is free for orders over 80 francs. And because the package doesn't have to cross the border, you don't wait for customs clearance and don't get a bill for taxes and fees at the door.
For us, time is not the only thing that matters in skincare. Creams, serums, and sunscreens don't like weeks-long journeys through freight centers with changing temperatures. A short route from the warehouse to you is part of the quality we promise.
Aleksejs
K-Beauty Without Long Waiting Times
In our assortment, you will find everything you need for a Korean routine: cleansing, toner, serum, moisturizer, masks, sunscreen, makeup, and hair care from brands like Cosrx, Beauty Of Joseon, and Purito. If you want to start with cleansing, the Purito From Green Avocado Cleansing Balm is a good first step. For the day, the Enough Collagen 3x Moisture Sun Cream SPF50+ is suitable. If you put together a whole routine, you quickly exceed 80 francs and pay no shipping. It's best to browse directly in our K-Beauty catalog.
Not sure in what order to apply the products? Our guide to Double Cleansing explains the first step, and the 10-step routine shows you the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does delivery take at Rammilav?
We ship within Switzerland, and your order usually arrives within 2 to 3 days. During peak times like the weeks before Christmas, it may take a little longer. Shipping is free for orders over 80 francs.
Do I have to pay customs on an order from Korea?
For shipments from abroad, an import tax of 8.1% is due once the tax amount exceeds 5 francs, i.e., from approximately 62 francs shipment value. In addition, there is the customs clearance fee of the transport company, for the post for countries outside the EU 16 francs plus 3% of the value. Both are usually paid upon delivery.
Why has my package been at customs for days?
Customs clearance by the post usually takes 3 to 4 working days. If information about the goods is missing or the declaration is incorrect, the shipment goes into clarification, and it takes longer. Keep the invoice ready in case the post requests it.
When is a delivery considered late?
This depends on whether a fixed delivery date was agreed upon. If not, you first remind the retailer and set a reasonable grace period. Only then can you withdraw from the contract.
Is K-Beauty from a Swiss shop more expensive than directly from Korea?
At first glance, prices abroad often seem lower. However, if you add shipping, import tax, and customs clearance fee, the difference quickly melts away, as the calculation example above shows. Also, when buying in Switzerland, you only wait a few days instead of several weeks.
Sources
- BAZG: Receiving Letters and Packages
- BAZG: Postal Shipping, Internet Shopping, Courier Traffic
- The Post: Shipments from Abroad
- The Post: Import Customs Clearance and Clarification Process
- The Post: FAQ Import, Customs, and VAT
- The Post: PostPac Priority
- Swiss Post: Cross-border e-commerce logistics to Switzerland
- DHL Switzerland: Questions about Tracking and Delivery
- SECO: Before Purchase and Contract Conclusion
- SECO: Problems After Purchase
