The bike lanes….. well! Can you imagine what will happen when a bicycle and a pedestrian have an accident? The separation between the cycle path and the sidewalk ensures that this does not happen, as it can lead to serious injuries. So a cyclist will shout if you are in the wrong lane to save you both from a collision. And yes, he might not just shout, he might yell. He can't know that the system is new to you. And imho it's much more pleasant than finding yourself in hospital, eh?
Shopping on Sundays actually is still quite possible in Berlin due to the many supermarkets situated in train stations, which are open on Sundays. Ullrich at Berlin Zoo is a prime example – but don't go to the REWE in the Ostbahnhof.
Hello from Switzerland, well, using cash or credit cards is certainly a question of generation and trust. Personally, I hardly ever pay with a card (especially not the contactless methods), so there are actually no incorrect bookings, which are always possible. We have, among other things: Twint, (very similar to Apple Pay) which is very common and accepted practically everywhere, even in cafes, bakeries, etc. As far as I know, the EC card is not a credit card in this sense, but a means of payment that debits your account directly (simultaneously, so to speak), or the payment fails if your account does not have the appropriate balance (unless you can also fall into the red). Recycling works a little differently for us, all without a deposit on PET bottles and aluminum cans, but it still works. Why? Because with us you pay for the volume of household waste (chargeable waste area), so the more you recycle, the less you pay for household waste (i.e. fewer waste bags you need). The thing about the bicycles on the "sidewalk" irritates me just as much in Germany, I still don't understand it (although I'm rarely in Germany). In our case it is separated (structurally by a height difference from the sidewalk) or marked throughout with lines and markings so that it is obvious at all times. This is also the case with us, that there are no checkpoints for tickets on public transport (nationwide), however, if you get caught during a check, it will be quite expensive and you can be excluded from using it if you travel several times without a ticket. If you do it anyway, you may face criminal proceedings.
I never do shopping on Saturdays and also not for an entire week. Supermarkets are so widespread here that you can easily purchase your stuff on a daily basis. And as ever: Checkouts in Germany are not meant nor designed for you to pack your stuff. Put it back in the cart and bag it elsewhere !!! Fun fact: EC Cards are debit cards. You may only have an issue if the payment provider is foreign or sometimes when using credit cards (because of the fees)
"No pharmacies are open on sunday" is FALSE … there are EMERGENCY PHARMACIES that are staffed and you can get medicine by ringing a bell. Every pharmacy will have a sign which one is the nearest emergency pharmacy/when they are on duty.
Switzerland looked at the deposit machines for physical items. At that time, I think it was around the 80s, they had a can machine that took the cans and pressed them together.
The secret to be able to match the speed of the cashier is to use a cart until you are beyond the checkout, then bag your groceries and bring the cart back to the cart storage booth(-s), grab your goods packed in your own (non-plastic) bags and carry them home ….
You make it sound like, that you have to buy stuff from the shop, when you bring your bottles back for the Pfand. You don't! You are not forced to spend any money at the shop! You can just give the receipt of the machine to the cashier and they will give you the money.
There is no video on youtube where Americans don't touch the subject of shopping.It's shocking and scary how the American consumerism is affecting them.Thank God we don't have this here in Germany.
Recycling: There is a deposit system ("Pfand") on bottles and cans – and this is the reason, why You will not see these as trash on our streets or in our nature. And if someone just throw it away, there will be soon someone to pick it up. And yes: Meanwhile it is regarded as some kind of good manner to suppress it besides a trash can in public instead of throwing it inside … someone who needs it, will pick it up soon. Recycling may be uncomfortable for some comtemporaries, but it is necessary, because in the end there is no way of "throwing away" of non-decomposing materials. Esp. in such a rich country with its high population density as Germany. And even if You manage only the simpliest way of trash separation (bio, glass, metal, plastic, paper), You will realize soon: The amount of the resting trash is very, very small.
2:30 Step 1: when you enter the building, you either grab one of the shopping Baskets or a shopping cart, wich usually is available there. Step 2: Go Shopping. Fill your basket with the Items you want to buy. Step 3: put your stuff on the counter. once it is your turn, you move to the exit of the counter with your basket/shopping cart ready to be filled with your items again. (Dont even try to put them directly into your personal bag or backpack, because the others dont want to wait all day) Step 4: Put the scanned items into your basket, once the cashier sends them down the slope. Step 5: Now you pay. Step 6: once you have paid, you leave the counter and move to the battery return table wich can be found in pretty much every german grocery store. Step 7: Now it is time for your personal game of Tetris. Have fun! In case you came by car AND you are using a shopping cart, you obviously go to your car instead and play a much more boring version of Tertris.
Sidenote: If you REALLY want to use a personal bag all the way, make sure its a very big one, where you can just throw your stuff in.
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The bike lanes….. well! Can you imagine what will happen when a bicycle and a pedestrian have an accident? The separation between the cycle path and the sidewalk ensures that this does not happen, as it can lead to serious injuries. So a cyclist will shout if you are in the wrong lane to save you both from a collision. And yes, he might not just shout, he might yell. He can't know that the system is new to you. And imho it's much more pleasant than finding yourself in hospital, eh?
Welcome in Germany
Shopping on Sundays actually is still quite possible in Berlin due to the many supermarkets situated in train stations, which are open on Sundays. Ullrich at Berlin Zoo is a prime example – but don't go to the REWE in the Ostbahnhof.
Hello from Switzerland, well, using cash or credit cards is certainly a question of generation and trust. Personally, I hardly ever pay with a card (especially not the contactless methods), so there are actually no incorrect bookings, which are always possible. We have, among other things: Twint, (very similar to Apple Pay) which is very common and accepted practically everywhere, even in cafes, bakeries, etc.
As far as I know, the EC card is not a credit card in this sense, but a means of payment that debits your account directly (simultaneously, so to speak), or the payment fails if your account does not have the appropriate balance (unless you can also fall into the red).
Recycling works a little differently for us, all without a deposit on PET bottles and aluminum cans, but it still works. Why? Because with us you pay for the volume of household waste (chargeable waste area), so the more you recycle, the less you pay for household waste (i.e. fewer waste bags you need).
The thing about the bicycles on the "sidewalk" irritates me just as much in Germany, I still don't understand it (although I'm rarely in Germany). In our case it is separated (structurally by a height difference from the sidewalk) or marked throughout with lines and markings so that it is obvious at all times.
This is also the case with us, that there are no checkpoints for tickets on public transport (nationwide), however, if you get caught during a check, it will be quite expensive and you can be excluded from using it if you travel several times without a ticket. If you do it anyway, you may face criminal proceedings.
I never do shopping on Saturdays and also not for an entire week. Supermarkets are so widespread here that you can easily purchase your stuff on a daily basis.
And as ever: Checkouts in Germany are not meant nor designed for you to pack your stuff. Put it back in the cart and bag it elsewhere !!!
Fun fact: EC Cards are debit cards. You may only have an issue if the payment provider is foreign or sometimes when using credit cards (because of the fees)
You forgot to tell everyone where you are from…the most important thing!
"No pharmacies are open on sunday" is FALSE … there are EMERGENCY PHARMACIES that are staffed and you can get medicine by ringing a bell. Every pharmacy will have a sign which one is the nearest emergency pharmacy/when they are on duty.
You just put your stuff BACK IN THE SHOPPING CART … then you move out of the way (after paying) to LET THE NEXT CUSTOMER get his stuff scanned.
It is about EFFICIENCY … NOT "your COMFORT".
There is no bad weather … only bad / inappropriate clothing. Stop living your life for convenience / fun.
People in Berlin always sound more rude than they mean it. If they yell at you smile and say something nice in english. Helps instantly.
Switzerland looked at the deposit machines for physical items. At that time, I think it was around the 80s, they had a can machine that took the cans and pressed them together.
Berlin is not Germany. Berlin is Berlin. Don't get me wrong, it's our capital but this city is not how Germany in general works…
there isn´t bad weather just bad cloth XD
If you are standing in the middle of the road someone will honk at you. That is different in the USA?
The secret to be able to match the speed of the cashier is to use a cart until you are beyond the checkout, then bag your groceries and bring the cart back to the cart storage booth(-s), grab your goods packed in your own (non-plastic) bags and carry them home ….
THE GERMANS GO TO THE NETHERLANDS ,FOR SHOPPING. ON ZONDAGS.
You make it sound like, that you have to buy stuff from the shop, when you bring your bottles back for the Pfand. You don't! You are not forced to spend any money at the shop! You can just give the receipt of the machine to the cashier and they will give you the money.
There is no video on youtube where Americans don't touch the subject of shopping.It's shocking and scary how the American consumerism is affecting them.Thank God we don't have this here in Germany.
You just put your groceries back in your cart and bag them in peace after paying
Recycling: There is a deposit system ("Pfand") on bottles and cans – and this is the reason, why You will not see these as trash on our streets or in our nature. And if someone just throw it away, there will be soon someone to pick it up. And yes: Meanwhile it is regarded as some kind of good manner to suppress it besides a trash can in public instead of throwing it inside … someone who needs it, will pick it up soon.
Recycling may be uncomfortable for some comtemporaries, but it is necessary, because in the end there is no way of "throwing away" of non-decomposing materials. Esp. in such a rich country with its high population density as Germany.
And even if You manage only the simpliest way of trash separation (bio, glass, metal, plastic, paper), You will realize soon: The amount of the resting trash is very, very small.
2:30 Step 1: when you enter the building, you either grab one of the shopping Baskets or a shopping cart, wich usually is available there.
Step 2: Go Shopping. Fill your basket with the Items you want to buy.
Step 3: put your stuff on the counter. once it is your turn, you move to the exit of the counter with your basket/shopping cart ready to be filled with your items again. (Dont even try to put them directly into your personal bag or backpack, because the others dont want to wait all day)
Step 4: Put the scanned items into your basket, once the cashier sends them down the slope.
Step 5: Now you pay.
Step 6: once you have paid, you leave the counter and move to the battery return table wich can be found in pretty much every german grocery store.
Step 7: Now it is time for your personal game of Tetris. Have fun! In case you came by car AND you are using a shopping cart, you obviously go to your car instead and play a much more boring version of Tertris.
Sidenote: If you REALLY want to use a personal bag all the way, make sure its a very big one, where you can just throw your stuff in.
And ALWAYS remember Berlin is NOT Germany!
Berlin ist irre…. 😆😆😆