Things to buy in Germany - unavailable in the USA
Dec 2, 2009, 2:56 pm
#48
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8
Wait, electronics have a 2-year warranty? Really?
My washing machine has never worked right, and the last time I went in Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!). I've been resigned to owning a 600-euro doorstop, but if I could get it fixed or replaced or...
I know this is off-topic, but could someone point me at a relevant set of regulations?
My washing machine has never worked right, and the last time I went in Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!). I've been resigned to owning a 600-euro doorstop, but if I could get it fixed or replaced or...
I know this is off-topic, but could someone point me at a relevant set of regulations?
Dec 2, 2009, 3:04 pm
#49
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8
Um, and on-topic, for Christmas I'm taking back large quantities of marzipan, some complicated paper advent calendars from the downtown Weinachtsmarkt, and packets of interesting powdered sauces that should amuse and intrigue my friends.
I'd take interesting alcohols, but I really don't want to check a bag.
I'd take interesting alcohols, but I really don't want to check a bag.
Dec 2, 2009, 3:11 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Karlsruhe / Germany
Programs: BahnCard Comfort, Bahn Bonus, Enrich Blue
Posts: 327
Reply to the off-topic question:
>Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!)
Didn't you have the receipt?
To claim warranty at a shop you have to present the receipt, as proof where and when exactly you bought the thing. Without receipt no shop in the whole country will accept any claims.
>Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!)
Didn't you have the receipt?
To claim warranty at a shop you have to present the receipt, as proof where and when exactly you bought the thing. Without receipt no shop in the whole country will accept any claims.
Dec 2, 2009, 3:23 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC (home), DUS (office), XXX (customer)
Programs: LH, AB, SPG, CC, Sixt, EC
Posts: 6,334
Reply to the off-topic question:
>Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!)
Didn't you have the receipt?
To claim warranty at a shop you have to present the receipt, as proof where and when exactly you bought the thing. Without receipt no shop in the whole country will accept any claims.
>Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!)
Didn't you have the receipt?
To claim warranty at a shop you have to present the receipt, as proof where and when exactly you bought the thing. Without receipt no shop in the whole country will accept any claims.
Dec 3, 2009, 3:11 am
#52
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8
I have the receipt, but I didn't have it with me. I actually just went in to ask if they had a spare manual, as mine got lost somewhere in the 2 installation attempts they made and the 1 "successful" installation my handyman made, and I thought maybe I had some setting wrong. They said they would never carry such a "cheap" brand, and were just so nasty I didn't want to deal with it.
I had assumed it only had a six-month warranty. If in fact it has a two-year warranty I've recovered my courage to go argue further. I see from Google searches that after six months it's my responsibility to demonstrate it never worked; perhaps my handyman will vouch for me.
I had assumed it only had a six-month warranty. If in fact it has a two-year warranty I've recovered my courage to go argue further. I see from Google searches that after six months it's my responsibility to demonstrate it never worked; perhaps my handyman will vouch for me.
Dec 3, 2009, 9:30 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
Answer agreed - it depends.
I finally bought Birkenstock (3 pairs) this past summer for the first time in 20 years, and not for work wear.
They are the fashionable ones ie the Madrid and one other style, not the big clown shoe ones. All three were purchased online from American stores for less than I have seen in Germany.
And herein lies a big problem for me. I have been laughed out of shoe stores all over Bavaria and Austria. I favour GEOX, and finding them in my size is near impossible.
But the good news? I can generally find them online in America in my size, and for about 1/3 to 1/2 less than we pay in Germany. The only time I see them cheaper is during summer sales in Italy.
tfar, can you tell that I do this quite a lot?
I am often on 'restocking' trips and will be doing so again this week, purchasing things which are not found in America. Canada in general has a better selection and seems more sensible about what they sell (ie fewer additives and less restrictive limits and labelling).
On the subject of Nutella, the American version gets gummy after about a week. In fact, I once left a jar in my parents cupboard, and my father actually called me to ask 'what is wrong with this Nutella you left behind?!' I realised that it was a bad American jar; he thought that there was actually something off about it as he had never seen Nutella that gummy consistency before. Poor Americans!
And on a side note, some things are very cheap in Germany compared to America, like the aforementioned toothpaste. Also coffee filters (I don't use them as I have a french press, but was shocked at how cheap they are whilst shopping with my grandmother recently at ALDI)
On another side note, perhaps we need a thread about where to find German products in other countries. I try and eat local, but we all have our comfort foods. A few years ago we had quite the drama trying to find Nutella in remote India; not a good thing for a German and an Italian travelling together!
I have for instance kept an informal list of places to buy decent Laugengebäck in America, such as Wegman's stores in PA, Whole Foods in Miami, Ralf's Bakery in WA, etc etc. Since I travel all around America (as well as the rest of the world), I am always looking for interesting places, and such a thread might be of interest? Also suggestions like the South German Bakery in Beijing, etc may be of interest?
I finally bought Birkenstock (3 pairs) this past summer for the first time in 20 years, and not for work wear.
They are the fashionable ones ie the Madrid and one other style, not the big clown shoe ones. All three were purchased online from American stores for less than I have seen in Germany.And herein lies a big problem for me. I have been laughed out of shoe stores all over Bavaria and Austria. I favour GEOX, and finding them in my size is near impossible.
But the good news? I can generally find them online in America in my size, and for about 1/3 to 1/2 less than we pay in Germany. The only time I see them cheaper is during summer sales in Italy.
tfar, can you tell that I do this quite a lot?
I am often on 'restocking' trips and will be doing so again this week, purchasing things which are not found in America. Canada in general has a better selection and seems more sensible about what they sell (ie fewer additives and less restrictive limits and labelling).On the subject of Nutella, the American version gets gummy after about a week. In fact, I once left a jar in my parents cupboard, and my father actually called me to ask 'what is wrong with this Nutella you left behind?!' I realised that it was a bad American jar; he thought that there was actually something off about it as he had never seen Nutella that gummy consistency before. Poor Americans!
And on a side note, some things are very cheap in Germany compared to America, like the aforementioned toothpaste. Also coffee filters (I don't use them as I have a french press, but was shocked at how cheap they are whilst shopping with my grandmother recently at ALDI)
On another side note, perhaps we need a thread about where to find German products in other countries. I try and eat local, but we all have our comfort foods. A few years ago we had quite the drama trying to find Nutella in remote India; not a good thing for a German and an Italian travelling together!
I have for instance kept an informal list of places to buy decent Laugengebäck in America, such as Wegman's stores in PA, Whole Foods in Miami, Ralf's Bakery in WA, etc etc. Since I travel all around America (as well as the rest of the world), I am always looking for interesting places, and such a thread might be of interest? Also suggestions like the South German Bakery in Beijing, etc may be of interest?
Last edited by exbayern; Dec 3, 2009 at 9:39 am
Dec 3, 2009, 1:04 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AGB, MUC, FKB
Programs: US *G (AF, BA)
Posts: 282
Wait, electronics have a 2-year warranty? Really?
My washing machine has never worked right, and the last time I went in Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!). I've been resigned to owning a 600-euro doorstop, but if I could get it fixed or replaced or...
I know this is off-topic, but could someone point me at a relevant set of regulations?
My washing machine has never worked right, and the last time I went in Saturn just blew me off (as in, implied I was lying about buying it there!). I've been resigned to owning a 600-euro doorstop, but if I could get it fixed or replaced or...
I know this is off-topic, but could someone point me at a relevant set of regulations?
In germany you have two kinds of warranty/guarantee. As translations are not consistent between "Gewährleistung" and "Garantie", you might check at pages like leo and the according forums.
You will have "Gewaehrleistung" claims towards the merchant who sold you a product that has some defect as to quality, it lasts for two years with new products (by law!). It deduces from the act of sale. The merchant therefore guarantees the product is ok. If you claim Gewaehrleistung within 6 month after the purchase, it can be assumed the product was already defect when then customer bought it. After the 6 initial months the burden of proof shifts to the customer, who has to proove the product was already defect the moment of purchase.
"Garantie" is granted by the manufacturer of the product. It's an additional, voluntary benefit. It grants functionability within the "Garantiezeitraum" The merchant might regulate "Garantie", but does not have to. In this case you have to address the manufacturer. In case someone claims for "Garantie", the customer has to proove, the defect was not present the moment of purchase.
Just trying to remember some law lectures, mixing the memory with self-established semi-knowlede...
I won't take any Garantie for anything!
Dec 3, 2009, 2:14 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
Not from Germany but from Switzerland and France I always stock up on Génie Gel Express hand wash liquid as I mostly hand wash clothes in a hotel sink and rarely use a washing machine. I haven't found a comparable German product oddly enough so do make runs across the border (also to stock up on DIM tights - not found in Germany OR America, but in limited supply in Canada)
Dec 3, 2009, 2:29 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: FRA
Programs: LH FTL, BA Blue, UA Corpse
Posts: 1,423
Answer agreed - it depends.
I finally bought Birkenstock (3 pairs) this past summer for the first time in 20 years, and not for work wear. They are the fashionable ones ie the Madrid and one other style, not the big clown shoe ones. All three were purchased online from American stores for less than I have seen in Germany.
[...]
I finally bought Birkenstock (3 pairs) this past summer for the first time in 20 years, and not for work wear.
They are the fashionable ones ie the Madrid and one other style, not the big clown shoe ones. All three were purchased online from American stores for less than I have seen in Germany.[...]
Wegman's stores also offer some German stuff: Seitenbacher Müesli, Ritter Sport Chocolate, Schwarzbrot, Pfanni dumplings, Zentis jam. Nothing too special, but some very basic stuff, well hidden under the label "European".
Dec 4, 2009, 1:43 am
#58
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: FRA
Programs: LH FTL, BA Blue, UA Corpse
Posts: 1,423
Dec 4, 2009, 4:43 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
I am a little embarassed to admit how much I like them. My sister recommended wearing them as Hausschuhe and they were so comfy that I purchased a few pairs from I believe Amazon.com and either Zappos.com or their outlet site 6pm.com. QVC.com has a wide assortment of 'unique' styles apparently made just for them.
I recently spent a few days shopping all the shoe sales with my grandmother and at the end of it she agreed with me on both fronts - no shoes to be easily found in my size in Germany, and far cheaper to purchase my preferred brands in America.
Dec 4, 2009, 5:59 am
#60
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, QR Gold
Posts: 3,731
Quite OT again...sorry
In germany you have two kinds of warranty/guarantee. As translations are not consistent between "Gewährleistung" and "Garantie", you might check at pages like leo and the according forums.
You will have "Gewaehrleistung" claims towards the merchant who sold you a product that has some defect as to quality, it lasts for two years with new products (by law!). It deduces from the act of sale. The merchant therefore guarantees the product is ok. If you claim Gewaehrleistung within 6 month after the purchase, it can be assumed the product was already defect when then customer bought it. After the 6 initial months the burden of proof shifts to the customer, who has to proove the product was already defect the moment of purchase.
"Garantie" is granted by the manufacturer of the product. It's an additional, voluntary benefit. It grants functionability within the "Garantiezeitraum" The merchant might regulate "Garantie", but does not have to. In this case you have to address the manufacturer. In case someone claims for "Garantie", the customer has to proove, the defect was not present the moment of purchase.
Just trying to remember some law lectures, mixing the memory with self-established semi-knowlede...
I won't take any Garantie for anything!
In germany you have two kinds of warranty/guarantee. As translations are not consistent between "Gewährleistung" and "Garantie", you might check at pages like leo and the according forums.
You will have "Gewaehrleistung" claims towards the merchant who sold you a product that has some defect as to quality, it lasts for two years with new products (by law!). It deduces from the act of sale. The merchant therefore guarantees the product is ok. If you claim Gewaehrleistung within 6 month after the purchase, it can be assumed the product was already defect when then customer bought it. After the 6 initial months the burden of proof shifts to the customer, who has to proove the product was already defect the moment of purchase.
"Garantie" is granted by the manufacturer of the product. It's an additional, voluntary benefit. It grants functionability within the "Garantiezeitraum" The merchant might regulate "Garantie", but does not have to. In this case you have to address the manufacturer. In case someone claims for "Garantie", the customer has to proove, the defect was not present the moment of purchase.
Just trying to remember some law lectures, mixing the memory with self-established semi-knowlede...
I won't take any Garantie for anything!