1. My husband insists that we keep all boxes and receipts for everything. We have bought a few things second-hand since we got here, and all came with original receipts and in the case of smaller items, in the original boxes. This annoys me quite a bit as in an apartment this size, we don't really need extra things like this taking up space. However, he insists that "all Germans keep all their boxes and receipts for everything"! He doesn't know why, but the guess is for taxes. I'm thinking we're not going to need the box from our second-hand iron - the box has a price tag in Marks and says "Made in West Germany" - for tax purposes. Ever. My question: Is it true that Germans keep boxes and receipts for even things they've had for ages or got second-hand? If so, what is the reason? Could we really need our Ikea receipt for taxes?
2. I read before coming, in a little book called When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do by Hyde Flippo, that Germans are terrified of drafts that will make them sick. I was kind of glad because I don't care for the American habit of "cracking a window" to get fresh air when it's below freezing outside. Fresh air is great and all, but I'll go outside if I really need it - being cold inside is no fun, and it's just wasteful and silly to have the window open when the heat is on. However, when we moved here I found that the opposite of what the book said is true. Germans are always cracking the window on the coldest days, or even just leaving it open all day! They insist on having the office doors closed, but then opening the windows, while the heat is running. Why not open the office door to get more air circulation instead? It's more social anyway, and it cools it down without me having to get my winter jacket on. Very strange. So what's with the open windows all the time?
3. Do they put crack in that Russisch Brot? Damn, it's addicting.
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11 comments:
Germans, generally, keep the original boxes and receipts in case the product in question breaks down during the warranty period, which is 24 months. So beyond that, i.e. your iron, feel free to toss out the box and receipt. Also, if it's a low-price item, such as a hair-dryer, I'll use it for a week or two, and then decide that if it breaks down it's less hassle to just throw it out than try to get customer service here in Germany, so after that trial period I throw away the receipt/box, too.
For big ticket items like TV's etc. you should at least save the receipt. The box isn't necessary, but if you're asked to send something in for repair, then having the box and those made-to-fit styrofoam pieces will come in handy.
I can't imagine that you'll need the receipts for your taxes. Unless you buy something work-related and can offset the expense against your tax return.
Ah, but opening the office door would cause air circulation, also known as "a draft". So Germans open a window, but close off all other openings to the room. Don't ask me why. I've never managed to figure it out.
:-)
Unfortunately, I'm now in one of those apartment where you don't need to open a window to get some fresh air.
ah! you said husband! weird! ;)
According to my mother, when she and Dad lived in Berlin, parents would put their babies in strollers and then put the strollers out on their apartment balconies with just a little shade kind of thing over them. In December. While it was snowing. Apparantly, fresh air (especially very cold fresh air) is supposed to be good for you.
Martina: Ha! These boxes have to go. So it's only a draft if it comes from a door, but not a window? Strangely, I think of it the opposite way!
Mary: Oh dear....actually our place in Boston was like that. (Especially the second place we had there - long story behind that one.) Very hard to heat, but it would have been great for air-drying clothes!!
Sara: Three and a half years later.... ;)
Dru: Hahah! They would have gotten along with Damon's crazy grandparents, who made their kids run around the house barefoot every morning even in snow. "To harness the magnetic power of the earth."
At this point the partnerin, who is reading over my should and practically rolling on the floor laughing, because she is now convinced it is an American male thing to save boxes and receipts, which is something I do to a Tee. In fact, she just called me mega-German after I admitted to also cracking the window of my office every morning.
<< So it's only a draft if it comes from a door, but not a window? >>
No, apparently it's a draft if it comes in one opening and goes out through another, i.e. if you have 2 windows open, or a window and a door. It it's just a window, or just a door, then it's not a draft, it's letting fresh air in.
And I swear I'm *so* assimilated into the German culture and *still* can't figure out the reasoning behind it.
Get rid of those boxes :-)
Ok, am also very assimilated to the German culture and the draft is still one of my biggest peeves. They think you get sick from a draft. One of my former colleagues insisted she had to have a root canal due to a draft on the train. I do open the windows in my German office in the morning though, because I am always hot, and everyone else is cold. But they think Americans are always hot. My kids always had on way fewer clothes than their German counterparts, and I, as the mother would get "in trouble" for it!
Sarah,
I hear you. My husband has had stiff necks, conjunctivitis (pink eye), colds, headaches, and knee problems, all caused by drafts. When he drives my car he turns all the vents away from him - you know, they cause a draft - so that when I drive it again I have to go and re-adjust everything.
When we first moved to Dresden we were in temporary housing for about 2 months. In the manual they provided for general care of the flat it said... especially during winter... to open windows for at least 30 minutes per room in order to prevent the growth of mold.
I guess when it's steamy/muggy all the time it creates a perfect environment.
Do you have a cellar space where you could throw all your empty boxes & receipts?
Mike B, you were clearly a born German! Just face it! :)
A root canal from a draft? hehehe. It's rather quaint in a way. Actually one of my first experiences in Germany was almost passing out on an S-Bahn because it was so stuffy in there. I would say that might be worse for your health. I am still not all for opening windows in the winter, though. Heat is on = window should not be opened.
Eurotrippen, off the subject of drafts, it's really nice that they gave you some guidelines when you moved into your temporary place! We didn't get anything and were confused about everything - so were a lot of other residents if the state of the garbage area behind the building was any indication (pretty much all were restmuell despite the labels).
We do have a Kellarraum. Actually it's full of all the Ikea boxes from when we moved in because the Hausmeister asked that we not throw them all away at once. We had no place in the apt for them in the meanwhile. And of course now they just sit because we can't remember that we're supposed to be slowly dragging each one out to the trash over the course of months.
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