Everyday lifeGermany

Shopping in Germany

Einkaufen in Deutschland

Supermarket, deposit, Sunday closure and return rights: knowing the rules lets you shop calmly and cheaply.

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Overview

Shopping in Germany has conventions that differ from many countries: most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, drink bottles are collected to reclaim their deposit, people bring their own bags, and many prices are paid by card or cash. And you have clear consumer rights on returns, warranty and distance purchases.

This guide explains the types of shops and their opening hours, how to pay, the deposit system, how to find halal products and good prices, how to return what you bought, what applies to online shopping and then some phrases that make it easier to talk to the seller.

1

Types of shops and opening hours

There are economical supermarket chains such as Aldi and Lidl, supermarkets with a wider choice such as Rewe and Edeka, drugstores (Drogerie) such as dm and Rossmann for hygiene and care, weekly markets in squares selling vegetables and fruit, bakeries, and Turkish and Arab shops that offer familiar products.

  • Most shops open Monday to Saturday until the evening and close on Sundays and public holidays by law, except petrol stations, railway stations and some small shops.
  • So plan your purchases by Saturday to avoid surprises.
2

Payment, bags and prices

In a supermarket you pay by debit card (Girocard), credit card or cash, and foreign credit cards may not be accepted in some small shops, so carry some cash.

  • Plastic bags cost a small amount, and it is better to bring a cloth bag or basket.
  • Do not leave a shopping trolley without a coin or token, since it works with a small deposit.
  • Goods are placed on the belt and you pack them yourself quickly after paying.
  • Written prices include value-added tax, and you may find the price per kilo shown to compare products.
3

The deposit system (Pfand) and recycling

When you buy drinks in plastic or glass bottles or cans, you pay a deposit (Pfand), usually between eight and twenty-five cents per item, which is refunded when you return the empty container to the return machine (Leergutautomat) in the shop, giving you a voucher to deduct at the checkout.

  • Do not throw these containers in the bin.
  • Waste separation is applied strictly: a bin for paper, another for plastic and metals, a third for organic waste and the remainder.
  • Glass containers for bottles without deposit are distributed by colour, and quiet hours are respected.
4

Halal, familiar products and saving money

To find halal meat there are Arab and Turkish butcher shops in most cities, and most large supermarkets offer a corner for halal or vegetarian products.

  • Read the ingredient list (Zutaten), since gelatine or alcohol may contain ingredients not acceptable to you, and look for halal labels and for words such as Schwein, meaning pork.
  • To save money compare prices between shops, take advantage of weekly offers (Angebote) and cheap own brands, shop at the end of the day for reductions on bread and products near expiry, and use apps such as Too Good To Go.
5

Returns, warranty and online shopping

When buying in shops there is no general legal right to return a sound item, but many give a voluntary exchange period if you keep the receipt (Kassenbon).

  • For a defective item you have a statutory warranty (Gewährleistung) that usually lasts two years, obliging the company to repair or replace.
  • In online shopping you have a right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) within fourteen days of receiving the goods without giving a reason.
  • Read the seller's terms, check their reputation, use safe payment methods, watch out for fraud sites and keep all proofs of purchase.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Plan your shopping before Saturday since Sunday is closed.

  2. 2

    Carry a cloth bag, some cash and your bank card.

  3. 3

    Return deposit containers to the return machine and keep the voucher.

  4. 4

    Read the ingredient list and look for halal in your preferred shops.

  5. 5

    Keep the purchase receipt for exchange or warranty.

  6. 6

    When buying online note the delivery date and the fourteen-day period.

Documents checklist

  • A bank payment card and some cash.
  • Purchase receipts (Kassenbon).
  • Deposit vouchers from the return machine.
  • Loyalty cards and shop apps.
  • Order confirmations and warranties for larger purchases.

Key vocabulary

  • derSupermarkt
    supermarket
  • dieKasse
    checkout
  • derKassenbon
    receipt
  • dasPfand
    deposit
  • dasAngebot
    offer
  • derEinkaufswagen
    shopping trolley
  • dieTüte
    bag
  • dieRückgabe
    return
  • dieGarantie
    guarantee
  • Zutaten
    ingredients
  • geschlossen
    closed

Useful phrases

  • Wo finde ich Milch?Where do I find milk?
  • Ist das halal?Is that halal?
  • Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Can I pay by card?
  • Ich brauche keine Tüte, danke.I do not need a bag, thank you.
  • Kann ich das umtauschen?Can I exchange this?
  • Haben Sie den Kassenbon noch?Do you still have the receipt?

At the checkout

  • Kassiererin

    Guten Tag. Das macht dreiundzwanzig Euro fünfzig.Good day. That comes to twenty-three euros fifty.

  • Sie

    Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Can I pay by card?

  • Kassiererin

    Ja, natürlich. Brauchen Sie eine Tüte?Yes, of course. Do you need a bag?

  • Sie

    Nein danke, ich habe meine eigene. Ich habe noch einen Pfandbon.No thank you, I have my own. I also have a deposit voucher.

  • Kassiererin

    Dann sind es zwanzig Euro fünfzig. Hier ist Ihr Kassenbon.Then it is twenty euros fifty. Here is your receipt.

  • Sie

    Vielen Dank, schönen Tag noch!Thank you very much, have a nice day!

Common mistakes

  • Arriving at the supermarket on a Sunday or public holiday and finding it closed.
  • Throwing deposit containers in the bin and losing money.
  • Not keeping the receipt so that exchange or warranty is impossible.
  • Buying goods from unknown sites at tempting prices without checking their reputation.

Cultural tips

  • Make a shopping list before you go to avoid impulse buying and save money.
  • Try shops' own brands, which are cheaper and often of good quality.
  • Use shop apps to get coupons and weekly discounts.
  • For furniture and appliances look at the second-hand market (Kleinanzeigen) and charity shops.

Official links

Check yourself

Question 1 of 5

What do you do with an empty deposit bottle?

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