Most of electronics truly are, if they are sold officially here, even if eshop margins are a bit higher. And its closer to 8% on non-essential items (food, books) where its below 3%.

That's how you do VAT, compared to all EU countries around who screw their population left and right because they have big public debts and getting worse, while employing armies of unemployable bureaucrats who do almost nothing and have ridiculous safety and social nets.

The world could learn a thing or two on how Swiss run things in general and especially government stuff, but the problem is this is not transferable elsewhere, people are simply... different to be polite.

But they are. At the risk of getting into specifics, all electronics I buy here are cheaper than in surrounding EU countries, the 256 GB version iPhone 14 Pro is cheaper than 128 base model in the EU, the Ultra watch is 850 at Apple store Switzerland (799 digitec), 999 at apple.de. Yes you can find rare counter examples, but I love Switzerland as a tech nerd, especially since CHF reached parity with EUR.

People always get that wrong. Switzerland is more expensive when human labor is involved, cheaper or same as surrounding countries when not. However that extra money also ends up with the labor, so it's a good thing for everyone.

Best example is a Brezel. A fresh Brezel is like $4, but a buttered one (done by human) $8-$9.

Not the butter is expensive. Humans just get proper money for their work.