💡 At a copy shop they ask schwarz-weiß oder farbig (black and white or colour) and einseitig oder doppelseitig (one-sided or two-sided).
💡 At a copy shop they often accept a file on a USB-Stick or by email to the shop; ask what suits them.
💡 Laminieren is laminating; DIN A4 (said DIN A vier) is the standard sheet, DIN A5 half of it.
💡 Scannen is scanning, einscannen und mailen is scanning and emailing; at a copy shop it is usually cheap.
💡 A beglaubigte Kopie (certified copy) is made by an authority (for example the Bürgeramt) or a notary: you bring the original and the copy; a copy shop only copies, without a stamp.
💡 Offices ask for a beglaubigte Übersetzung (certified translation) by a sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer): look in the online database of translators of your federal state; the price depends on the length.
💡 German hair salons almost always work by appointment; they ask Haben Sie einen Termin? Without one you can try asking whether there is a free slot.
💡 Spitzen schneiden means trimming the tips; kürzer shorter; Fransen a fringe; Ansatz the roots.
💡 Tips (Trinkgeld) are normal at the hairdresser: add a few euros and say the amount you hand over, for example Machen Sie 30.
💡 At the barber say an den Seiten kurz (short at the sides), oben länger (longer on top), mit der Maschine (with the clippers); a beard trim costs extra.
💡 Many hairdressers have a children's price (Kinderpreis); you may sit next to your child and ask for scissors only; ask about the price beforehand.
💡 Before agreeing, ask for the total price including call-out (Festpreis): at night and weekends it rises.
💡 A key marked Schließanlage (central locking system of the building) will not be copied without the security card (Sicherungskarte); ask your landlord.
💡 A lost house key (Schließanlage) must be reported to your landlord at once: replacement is expensive and if a stranger has found the key the whole lock may have to be changed; check your liability insurance (Haftpflicht).
💡 Kürzen is to shorten, enger machen to take in, Saum a hem. Such workshops are called Änderungsschneiderei.
💡 At a cobbler (Schuster or Schuhmacher) they repair heels (Absatz), soles (Sohle) and fastenings; it usually takes a day or two and the price is named at once.
💡 The dry cleaner gives you an Abholschein (a ticket); without it they often won't hand the items back, so don't lose it.
💡 At a Waschsalon (self-service launderette) you choose a machine, put your washing in and pay at the machine; detergent is sold there; the dryer (Trockner) is paid for separately.
💡 At the dry cleaner (Reinigung) the Abholschein shows the collection date; duvets (Bettdecken) take longer; they ask about the material: down (Daunen) or synthetic.
💡 At a repair shop the phone is examined and the price is named at once; Display is the screen; make a Backup of your data before the repair.
💡 To buy a prepaid SIM in Germany you must show an ID: the provider registers the number; check the rates for calls abroad, including to Ukraine.
💡 A mobile contract has a Laufzeit (term) and a Kündigungsfrist (notice period, usually a month); you cancel in writing or online giving the Kundennummer (customer number) from the bill.
💡 Akku is the battery, Ladekabel the charging cable, Anschluss the port; the repairman first checks the cable and the port and then names the price of a new battery.