Swiss Online Garantie
A Swiss seal from HANDELSVERBAND.swiss with a catalogue of criteria across 7 areas.
The test takes one click. A genuine seal leads to a page of the issuer, and that page names your shop.
Genuine seal
Clicking the seal opens:
The page sits on the issuer’s domain. The path differs per shop, so the diagram shows only the domain. The page has to name the shop you are visiting.
Image without a link
Clicking the seal opens:
Anyone can place the logo on a page. Without a link there is no proof, and the shop cannot back up the seal.
At a glance
What sets Swiss Online Garantie apart from the other seals: who issues it, what is checked behind it and how you recognise the proof.
| Issuer | HANDELSVERBAND.swiss (formerly VSV) |
|---|---|
| Since, region | current since 2024 (criteria version), CH |
| Type | Shop certification |
| Proof | The Swiss Online Garantie homepage lets you search the certified shops by sector. |
How to check whether it’s genuine
HANDELSVERBAND.swiss keeps an overview of certified online retailers with the date of the most recent certification.
- Click the seal. It should lead to a record at the association.
- Look the shop up in the official list of certified retailers and check the certification date.
Verification route with the issuer: HANDELSVERBAND.swiss (formerly VSV)
- List of certified shops
- Swiss Online Garantie: shop search
What this seal checks
catalogue of criteria across 7 areas
- Imprint/contact: company per the commercial register, a Swiss phone number, reachable from any page in one click
- Truthful product descriptions, no counterfeits, a transparent checkout
- The full final price incl. VAT in line with the Price Indication Ordinance
- A 14-day return policy with a defined list of exceptions, at least one fee-free payment method
- A privacy policy compliant with the Swiss FADP, with a cookie banner and data-subject rights
- Advertising compliance: email marketing only with consent, no misleading promises of winnings
Process
The initial audit is carried out by an independent third party. Re-certification then takes place every three years via a self-declaration that is checked on a spot-check basis.
Known forgery patterns
How the Swiss Online Garantie seal is misused in shops.
- Report a seal with no entry in the official retailer list, or with a heavily outdated certification date, to HANDELSVERBAND.swiss.
Switzerland has two separate seals: “Swiss Online Garantie”, which is tied to membership of the association, and “swiss.certified” (zertifizierte-shops.ch, over 80 criteria, annual audit).
Four checks apply to every seal, regardless of the provider. To the checks
Is a shop entitled to carry this seal?
The shop check detects known seals and asks the issuer whether a valid certification exists. On top come the rest of the 39 check modules, each finding with its reasoning.
More trust seals
Trusted Shops
Issued by Trusted Shops SE in Cologne. The seal has existed since 1999, and certified shops come with the issuer’s buyer protection.
EHI „Geprüfter Online-Shop“
Issued by EHI Retail Institute GmbH in Cologne. The seal has existed since 1999 and covers over 200 individual criteria.
TÜV Süd „s@fer shopping“
TÜV Süd discontinued the programme in 2021. An s@fer-shopping seal shown today is a warning sign.