Shopping at German supermarkets involves specific customs and systems that newcomers frequently get wrong — visibly, awkwardly, and sometimes expensively. A 10-minute briefing prevents months of faux pas.
Bring Your Own Bag
Germany’s plastic bag reduction campaign has been highly effective. Plastic bags are not free and not offered by default at checkout — you’ll be asked “Haben Sie eine Tüte?” (“Do you have a bag?”). Reusable bags (Stoffbeutel) cost €0.15-0.50 at checkout if you need one. German shoppers routinely carry a Beutel or backpack. This is the most visible newcomer mistake at checkout.
Weighing Produce at Self-Weigh Stations
At Rewe, Edeka, and many other German supermarkets, loose produce (Obst und Gemüse) must be weighed and labeled before checkout. Find the scale in the produce section, place your items, select the correct button (either by name or a numbered code on the product label), and peel the sticker. Items without a weight label will delay everyone at checkout.
Leergut (Deposit Returns)
Bottles and cans with Pfand symbols: return them to the Pfandautomat (bottle return machine) before shopping, get a Pfandbon (receipt), and redeem it at checkout or the service counter. Don’t put deposit bottles directly on the conveyor belt — they require separate processing.
Checkout Conveyor Belt Etiquette
Use the Trennstab (checkout divider) placed by the previous customer — or place one from the supply at the end of the belt to separate your items from those behind you. Speed matters at German checkouts: have your payment ready, bag your own items quickly, and don’t hold up the line. German checkers scan faster than most people expect — start bagging immediately.
Payment
Girocard (EC-Karte, the German bank card) is the most commonly accepted payment method. Most supermarkets now also accept Visa and Mastercard contactless. American Express is less commonly accepted. Cash (Bargeld) is still widely accepted and used; some smaller stores are still cash-only.
Kaufland, Globus, and Hypermarkets
For larger monthly shopping runs: Kaufland and Real (acquired in some regions) offer a broader selection than discounters, at prices between Aldi and Rewe. Useful for: larger pack sizes, specialty items, non-food household goods. The Kaufland hot food counter (rotisserie chicken, etc.) is popular and economical.
