Getrank-WHAT?

Living in Germany equates to basically the same as living in the States, just an ocean apart. Of course, there is the language difference, but in many ways the shopping experience is not that drastically different, but there are some major differences.

This is a picture of our local store, Globus.  This is as close as we get to American shopping, yet it is very different.  Of course, we always have our PX Military store and the Commissary to use also, but for quick runs we go here.

As you enter Globus, you go thru automatic gates (very common in Germany).  To get out, the service desk has to "buzz" you out, or you exit and pay thru the check out lanes. This is Germany's way to avoid shoplifting, and I have to say it works.

Globus has mainly rows and rows of food items, but also a:

*small book section
*small appliance section
*small toy section
*small clothing and shoe sections
*small housewares section

Outside of the main store, but still inside the interior, is the "Getrankecenter". You can see it to the left in the picture above.

The Getrankecenter  (say it and it sounds alot like drink ) and it is where you will purchase bottled water, soda, beer, wine and liqueur, etc.  It is odd to me that they have their own stores for drinks, but Germans are very straightforward thinkers.  Why would you want to enter the grocery store, if you just need a rack of Coca Cola?  Or in German's case, a rack of Bier that they drink just like cola?  Makes sense to some.....

These stores are not just stocked with drinks, but also where you turn in your bottles. This "rack" of coke was about 7 Euros.   At the current rate, the rack cost about $9.53 for 12 liter bottles of coke, not including that $4.00 deposit that you get back and apply towards your next rack.  We don't drink coke in the states, but Germany and Italy's coke are made differently and have much more carbonation.  It is very popular, and I would say the favorite here.

Their system is somewhat like American bottle turn in stations, but a little more high tech.  And... this is no joke. This is a busy, busy area, you pull in with your cart, send your rack on a belt and out spits a ticket and you quickly move out of the area. It is clean, efficient and automated, and it works for them.

As you purchase your next rack, you turn in your ticket and it gets credited to your bill.

Shopping in the States is an experience, it is filled with all of our American freedoms.  You can go to countless stores and find something different at each one. Germans are much more efficient, and group their stores into more of a convenience experience than a shopping experience.  The Germans seem to relish in the sequence of steps, and I have to say you never see any mayhem happening, so we willingly oblige as guests in their Country, but I will always miss the variety and ease of our American stores!