If you’re looking for really fresh produce, you can shop at local markets, which many towns host once or twice a week. Saturday is a popular market day. Markets sell fresh fruit, vegetables and regional specialities. You can buy fresh meat and cold cuts, such as salami and ham, at supermarkets or at the butcher's Glossary . Fresh bread is available at bakeries.

In small towns and villages, bakeries, butchers and other small shops often close early, or they open only for a few hours every day. Markets normally run from early morning until the afternoon. Remember that all shops are closed on Sundays. Only bakeries and shops in train stations and petrol stations are sometimes open on Sundays and public holidays.

If your nearest supermarket is too far away or you don’t want to leave to shop, you can use a delivery service. Groceries are then delivered directly to your home. Search online for “Lieferservice Lebensmittel” (food delivery services) in your town. You usually place an order by filling in a form online. Many supermarkets also offer a delivery service. However, ordering groceries is more expensive than buying supplies in the shop. There are also delivery services that deliver ready-made meals. You can order by phone or online.

In Germany, you pay a deposit on all drinks cans, plastic bottles, and many glass bottles. The deposit is usually between 8 and 25 cents per can or bottle. You get this money back when you return the empty containers to the shop.

Most supermarkets or drinks shops have machines where you can return your empty bottles and cans. After returning them, you receive a slip of paper which you hand in at the checkout. You will get your deposit refunded. Glass bottles without a deposit should be taken to the glass recycling bin.

If you want to buy items like a cupboard, a computer or a pair of shoes, you can go to a department store or a specialist store. Department stores offer a wide variety of products and can be found mainly in towns. Specialist stores specialise in particular products. For example, there are furniture stores, electronics outlets or shoe shops. Typically, opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., although some shops may close at 6.30 p.m. 

Nowadays, you also can buy most items on online. You usually only have to wait a few days before the products are delivered to your home.

In Germany, you can also buy a lot of items second-hand, for example clothes, electrical appliances, furniture, books and much more. This is often much cheaper.

Flea markets are often held at weekends, especially in larger cities. And there is a growing number of second-hand shops. Search online for “Flohmärkte” (flea markets) or “second hand” in your town.

You can also find affordable second-hand items online. But be careful, not all offers are trustworthy. Popular platforms include:  

In Germany, various methods of payment are accepted. You can usually pay everywhere with cash or a  girocard Glossary . If you have a  current account Glossary with a bank or savings bank Glossary , you will be given a girocard or debit card and often a credit card (MasterCard or Visa) too. Credit cards are accepted in many supermarkets, department stores and specialist stores. Mobile payment methods, in other words paying via smartphones, are also common in Germany.

You can pay for online purchases by credit card and debit card, but also by direct debit or invoice. If you wish to pay by direct debit, you must enter your account details online. The money will then be debited from your account. If you receive an invoice, you can transfer the money from your account. There are also other payment methods, such as PayPal. For more information, go to Bank account and finances.

In most shops in Germany, there are fixed prices for all products. You can sometimes negotiate prices at markets or when making large purchases in specialist stores. However, haggling is not a common practice.

Have you bought something that’s faulty? If so, you have a two-year statutory warranty Glossary  on new goods. This means that you are entitled to a new product, or you can return the faulty product and get your money back. Alternatively, you can pay less. For second-hand goods, this period is 12 months. Sometimes, products are covered by a guarantee Glossary . For example if a television breaks down during the guarantee period, it will be repaired free of charge, or you get a new television. The guarantee period is 12-24 months from the date of purchase.

If you decide that you don’t like the product and you haven’t used it yet, you can exchange it for another item. You can also return a product and get your money back. Goods should usually be exchanged or returned within 14 days. To do this, you will need to present your receipt or invoice. Remember that it’s not always possible to exchange special offers.