I forgot about these, but absolutely key, you don't want your bread being squashed by a big bottle of milk.
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Moved to Germany; why are the cashiers so fast? Please help.
- Thread starter Huncho_Houdini
- Start date
I forgot about these, but absolutely key, you don't want your bread being squashed by a big bottle of milk.
Aldi in the US are like that as well. Guess you've never been to one. I believe they are timed during training and have to meet a certain threshold of scans/minute to stay on. And the cashier also stocks, cleans, etc. With the exception of the manager, everyone does everything. It's just a very different approach compared to the typical American experience.
Don't get stressed out at the cash register. Remember that every minute you take packing your groceries is a little break for the cashier within a stressful shift of conveyor belt work. They appreciate it if you take your time.
"Bio" means "biohazard" btw. Hope you didn't eat any of that poison.
"Bio" means "biohazard" btw. Hope you didn't eat any of that poison.
It is best to learn the language via a course. You should also watch some kids tv like the KiKa channel.
As for the groceries, that's the way it is done at German discounters. Just go with the flow or you'll earn a lot of nasty stares. Speaking of stares - Germans stare. A lot. No idea where this comes from but they don't mean any harm. Another thing, once you have learned a bit of German you'll notice that Germans can be quite blunt. You'll hear "nein" a lot and this is not seen as rude. Small talk isn't really a thing either. Oh, and German government agencies are the absolute worst. German bureaucracy is not a stereotype.
Yes. But only after the following:
Me: "Sprechen Sie Englisch? Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut."
German: "Ja ich spreche ein bisschen Englisch, aber nicht so gut."
Switch to English and find that said German can speak English better than most native English speakers.
Huncho_Houdini They are that fast because they don't want to let people keep waiting. Especially when at Aldi, just pack that shit back into your cart and pack them into your bag away from the line. It's labeled bio because either it's the brand that's called that or it's from places that adher to a standard of production that, at least in theory, doesn't completely fuck the environment.
Sign up at a VHS (Volkshochschule) to learn German if you don't feel like spending a lot. If you got the money, depending on where you live go for something like the Carl Duisberg Centren.
Other recommendations, looking at your PS, as I nativ speaker I would have recommended to learn German before moving because it's hard as fuck lol. Which city do you live in anyway? Also sign up for A1 if you don't even know the articles.
How did you pull that off? It's nearly impossible to move there unless you are sponsored by a company, marry someone or have a ton of money. One of the three, if not, one is SOL on that front.
People in Germany are great, they do tend to be up front with what they think/say, so don't duck around any issues, be up front they seem to respect that more if not expect it. Also if you say you are going to meet someone soon be aware they will likely expect just that, not simple plesantaries.
I think Aldi's store brands actually have bar codes on all sides of the packaging, so their cashiers can scan them in without having to pay attention to where the bar code is.
The insane speed really is a Lidl and Aldi thing, though. Rewe, Edeka and the likes are usually much slower.
The insane speed really is a Lidl and Aldi thing, though. Rewe, Edeka and the likes are usually much slower.
Speak english and take your time to learn german, it is a pain in the ass to learn it in a course.
Always use a shopping cart at Aldi and position it correctly at the cashier to just shove your stuff into it. After that you have all the time you need.
Always use a shopping cart at Aldi and position it correctly at the cashier to just shove your stuff into it. After that you have all the time you need.
Lidl and Aldi are known for this. The cashiers have to be able to scan at a certain speed. At EDEKA or whatever they don't have to be that fast.
Put your stuff up in a strategic way as somebody said before.
Stuff that can't be crushed goes on the belt first, so you can put it at the bottom of your bag.
Or just get a cart and put everything in there and pack up your stuff after you've paid.
Put your stuff up in a strategic way as somebody said before.
Stuff that can't be crushed goes on the belt first, so you can put it at the bottom of your bag.
Or just get a cart and put everything in there and pack up your stuff after you've paid.
Yep.
Get everything back in your trolley and walk to the shelf. Pack at your leisure.
Aldi checkouts are always like that, the checkout people have lines per hour as their KPI.
OP
OP
Well I think that would be Er/Sie/Es/Ihr, not really equivalent.
Work and study program is in English. Learning German is an idea of my own volition.
because the product and the Producer are bio certified. It's not a perfect certification but better then nothing.
Welcome to Germany. I hope you have a good time here.
Oh and be glad that you didn't lived in Germany when the cashiers in also didn't scan but knew every code for every product and they just hacked them into the register. That was fucking super fast. Good old time.
Aldi are fast in UK too, its just there style.
What I do is keep my basket/trolly, after they have scanned it I put it back in the basket, I then bag it up on the counter at the end of the checkouts.
What I do is keep my basket/trolly, after they have scanned it I put it back in the basket, I then bag it up on the counter at the end of the checkouts.
That's 6€ above minimum wage. additionally a 13th salary for Christmas and other bonuses.
They are not worked to death like amazon workers and I don't see many new faces in the discounter. Some of them I know for 15 years. Amazon workers have a shell life of 6 to 24 months.
Same with callcenters, THAT is stressful work for minimum wage. And you always meet new people! (because the old ones are getting fired, get an early retirement because of depression/stress or just quit.)
After a couple of years you will be staring at the person ahead of you, knowing they ain't got their wallet ready and its in their backpack. Or cursing some fucker for buying a carton of milk with a debit card. It's all about speed here people.
Thats still faster than "ich habs passend". Those people should be banned from buying groceries.
It's actually part of the "Discounter" stores that behind the cashier there is almost no room for stuff to go. its supposed to go right into your cart again.
You find this at Lidl, Aldi, Penny, Netto etc.
At EDEKA, REWE and whatever, the pricier stores, theres lots of room for your stuff after the cashier
You find this at Lidl, Aldi, Penny, Netto etc.
At EDEKA, REWE and whatever, the pricier stores, theres lots of room for your stuff after the cashier
OP
OP
I'm in grad school and it's a specialized extended study program. It covered all living expenses as well. I realize it's a pretty sweet deal. But it's not permanent.
Your*
Correct, but there is some nuance.
It's sometimes important to have the mouth filled with chewed bits of cheeseburger so that it flutters from the mouth while shouting. It's considered a display of close friendliness or intimacy to project them hard enough to pepper someone's cheeks with the bits. It's also occasionally performed in business to show sincerity. Most American businessmen keep a cheeseburger in their pocket during important meetings. In less formal conversations between friends or coworkers, it's customary for the valediction to be "U.S.A.!" However in business it's typically the more formal "The star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave."
It used to be common to also carry small american flags on toothpicks to be held while emphasizing questions, but younger generations have relaxed on these kinds of formalities.
And yet everyone knew exactly what me meant with no confusion, only pedantry.
The chosen language did its job regardless.
Always choose the line with the least amount of old people. In true german fashion i hate standing around in line wasting my time.
At a German Aldi or Lidl? Good luck finding one that has self check out.
I think the real issue is American cash lines are slow as heck! also Americans use cash, tap and go was common when i was in Berlin.
Heh it's funny, when Lidl came to Finland it was the same as it was in Germany. But because customers demanded it, they had to modify the checkouts to have room for your groceries. Though it took quite a while before those were added, but every Lidl store has them here.
Never mind then, I keep forgetting that Germany is like 4 steps behind on electronic stuff.
Americans still have people that bag their shopping too I believe? Suppose when you have over 300 million people you have to create more jobs.
The Aldi and Lidl cashiers are the same in the UK, So quick.
As others have said the shelf I used the shelf until you getthe hang of it, just throw all of your items in the trolley and then pack at the shelf.
Once you have a bag packing system down you'll easily be able to keep up with the cashiers, it's all about what order you place items on the belt.
As others have said the shelf I used the shelf until you getthe hang of it, just throw all of your items in the trolley and then pack at the shelf.
Once you have a bag packing system down you'll easily be able to keep up with the cashiers, it's all about what order you place items on the belt.
Part of the reason I avoid that dump. Just to be clear though, no store will bag for you in Germany.
It's the subject of satire:
As others have mentioned, heavier items at the front, lighter at the back. For advanced packing, organise by kitchen destination on the belt (freezer, fridge, store/pantry) for optimal unpacking
As others have mentioned, heavier items at the front, lighter at the back. For advanced packing, organise by kitchen destination on the belt (freezer, fridge, store/pantry) for optimal unpacking
Nah, as someone who worked as a German cashier for half a year, I can tell you that people actually adore a little bit of small talk.
HOWEVER! You better keep up your speed while doing so, because otherwise the other customers will get pissy as fuck.
Also @ topic: Being fast has can be a godsend sometimes. I can't tell you the amount of times I managed not to get yelled at by a customer for their inability to properly read the ads we put out, simply being by appearing to be too concentrated to talk while scanning items.
I almost miss the job. Then I see the literal hell that's going on before holidays and then I remember why I quitted in the first place.
OP: It could be worse. I mean you could be shopping at this Penny store in Hamburg:
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