💡 Bags at the till cost extra in Germany, so many people bring their own bag.
💡 Some shops take only German Girocard cards; with a Visa or Mastercard it is better to ask first.
💡 In a shop Gang is the aisle between shelves and Regal is the shelf; signs above the aisles show a number and the goods.
💡 When you have few items it is normal in Germany to ask politely: Darf ich vor? People usually agree.
💡 If the price at the till differs from the shelf, calmly tell the cashier: they often correct it straight away.
💡 At the counter you order by weight: hundert Gramm (a hundred grams) or zwei Scheiben (two slices). Darf es etwas mehr sein? is the standard question.
💡 On Sunday almost all shops in Germany are closed; bakeries (a few hours), petrol stations and shops at stations are open.
💡 At a Selbstbedienungskasse (self-checkout) you scan the goods yourself; if something goes wrong you call an employee; put your bag in the weighing area, otherwise the machine stops.
💡 Trolleys in German supermarkets are released with a one-euro coin or a token (Chip): you get it back when you return the trolley to the row.
💡 The Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum (MHD) means "best before": after the date the product is often still fine; the Verbrauchsdatum means "use by": after it you must not eat it.
💡 You return deposit bottles to the machine near the supermarket entrance; hand the slip to the cashier. Bottles without a deposit sign are not accepted.
💡 The slip from the machine is called a Pfandbon; it is taken off your total or paid out.
💡 At the market prices are per kilo or per piece; you can often taste, but ask first: Darf ich probieren?
💡 At markets you often see aus der Region (regional) or Bio (organic); you can simply ask the seller.
💡 Ein Pfund is five hundred grams, ein halbes Pfund two hundred and fifty; at the market weight is often given in Pfund or Kilo and the price per kilo.
💡 When visiting, Germans bring flowers or sweets; you can have a bunch made up (gebunden) at the market or at a florist; just name the amount you want to spend.
💡 Drugstores (dm, Rossmann, Müller) sell cosmetics, baby goods and cleaning products, but not prescription medicine.
💡 On packaging look for ohne Parfüm (fragrance-free), für empfindliche Haut (for sensitive skin), dermatologisch getestet.
💡 In a drugstore (Drogerie) the goods are arranged by area (Körperpflege is body care, Mundhygiene oral hygiene); you may ask the staff: Wo finde ich ...?
💡 Fitting rooms (Umkleidekabinen) are usually at the end of the section; staff count the items and give you a tag.
💡 German sizes are numbers or letters: S, M, L or 38, 40, 42; eine Nummer größer means one size bigger.
💡 In a shop an exchange is the seller's goodwill (Kulanz), not an obligation; the receipt (Kassenbon) and tag help. Online purchases can be returned by law.
💡 In Germany shoe sizes (Schuhgröße) follow the European system (Größe achtunddreißig): have your foot measured in the shop, because sizes differ.
💡 For reduced goods (reduzierte Ware) a shop often gives only a Gutschein (voucher) and not money; ask about the exchange period and keep the Kassenbon (receipt).
💡 A new device is covered by a legal warranty (Gewährleistung); bring the receipt and the device to the shop and just explain what is wrong.
💡 Connectors: USB-C and Lightning; cables and chargers are in the Zubehör (accessories) section.
💡 The base of a bulb (Sockel) is marked E14 (small) and E27 (large); LED bulbs warmweiß give a warm light; bring the old bulb to match it.
💡 In an electrical shop delivery (Lieferung) and connection (Anschluss) cost extra; you can order the removal of your old appliance; the driver usually phones before arriving.
💡 In classified ads (Kleinanzeigen) you see VB (Verhandlungsbasis, price negotiable) and Abholung (collection); meet in a busy place and pay on the spot.
💡 In a Second-Hand-Laden or Sozialkaufhaus the goods are used and cheap; at a Flohmarkt (flea market) you haggle and pay in cash; bring small change.