One of the amazing things about technology is the ability to shop without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. In Germany it is as common as in other developed nations to shop online, out of catalogs, and off of television programs.
Catalog Shopping
Catalog shopping is actually quite popular in Germany. There are many catalogs available to you, should you choose to shop this way. Catalog shopping is so popular that it is likely you will get solicitations in the mail to order catalogs, if not get the catalogs themselves in the mail. If you do decide to sign up for a catalog, be prepared to get many requests in the mail to sign up for more. If there is a specific catalog you are looking for, you can often order the catalog off of its website.
Some of the major German catalog companies include Otto, Klingel, Wenz, Bader, and Schwab, which send out the larger catalogs. There are also many smaller specialty catalogs that individual companies will also send out. Most German catalogs are only available in German, while some extend to the surrounding countries.
You only need to know very little German to order from German catalogs, as the system for ordering is very simple and straightforward. To place the order, simple fill out the form and mail or fax it in, or if you prefer you can call in the order as well. For some catalogs, you can order products online if you have the item number.
Teleshopping
Germany has many shopping channels available to those who prefer to order products they see demonstrated on television. If you have a satellite television, there are even more shopping channels available to you. If you should choose to order off of a shopping channel, be sure to pay attention to the shipping fees and the like, as there are sometimes hidden fees for some products.
Online shopping
Online shopping in Germany is the same as online shopping in most other developed countries. There are websites that offer a wide variety of products, specialty online shopping websites, online shopping only websites, and online shopping options for existing physical stores. There are even German versions of Ebay and Amazon available. Ordering items online is easy. Simply select the item you wish to purchase, add it to your cart, and when you are ready to check out, input your payment information. Then sit at home and wait patiently for your packages to arrive.
The best part of shopping from home is that when your package finally does arrive, opening it can feel like Christmas. There are multiple shipping companies in Germany, so your packages should arrive in a decent amount of time, depending from where your package is being shipped.
For information on return policies, consult the catalog, television program, or website from where you ordered the item.
Shopping from home is great. You can stay in your pajamas and shop while you have breakfast, and no one has to know.
