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Learn German with our street interviews: In this episode, the participants of our Summer School are out and about in Berlin for you. They want to find out whether people in Berlin prefer to shop online or in stores and what the reasons are. What is it like for you? We look forward to your comments!

Lernt Deutsch mit unseren Straßeninterviews: In dieser Episode sind die Teilnehmenden unserer Summer School für euch in Berlin unterwegs. Sie möchten herausfinden, ob die Menschen in Berlin lieber im Internet oder im Geschäft einkaufen und was die Gründe dafür sind. Wie ist das bei euch? Wir freuen uns auf eure Kommentare!
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Easy Languages is a video and podcast series that showcases language as spoken in the streets and among friends. Our goal is to help you learn languages in a fun and authentic way. We are based in Berlin, Germany, but operate with a global network of producers. Learn more about us and check out our other channels:
http://www.easy-languages.org
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Hosts of this episode: Janusz Hamerski, Carina Schmid, Gina Klabunde & the participants of our summer school
Camera & Edit: Chris Thornberry & Rawad Sabbagh
Translation: Ben Eve

Janusz, did you order something online today?

2 days ago I ordered something, namely little blocks.

And they came today and they made me feel very bad because they came in a huge box and that was not necessary.

Today we want to know from people on the street if they like to shop online and if so, what and how they feel about it.

We have with us the wonderful participants of the Easy German Summer School and we're going to go out on the street in Berlin.

Do you prefer to shop online or in the shop?

I prefer online, I think it's a bit more clear.

I prefer shopping in the shop when I buy something new.

Unless I buy something again, then I can also order online.

I like to go to shops, but I also like to buy something online.

I want to keep my CO2 footprint as low as possible and want to try things on, for example clothes, then

to buy or if I try it on, if it fits or not.

the quality And because I'm still pretty old-fashioned.

the store you sometimes don't have the choice, the sizes or the colors or something.

But I think it's a shame for the small shops.

So shopping online is from my point of view destroyed the environment, of course all the boat services and I also want to talk to people.

You can do that anyway on the alarm clock at the airport.

You have to do everything yourself, talk to machines, check in.

We always buy in the store because we want to support the local economy.

That's why we made a very conscious decision not to do that.

Sometimes it's easier from home, but sometimes you want to be inspired when you're in the store.

And my clothes don't fit, because I also shop online and never meet.

I like to be alone when I shop, so to speak.

Do you prefer to shop online or in a shop?

I always shop in my shop and also prefer to shop in shops anyway.

And is there anything you would like to buy online?

I buy some things that are uncomfortable to buy online.

It's too big, I have to transport it, I don't have a car.

Do you prefer to buy online or in the store?

Because I find this package flood terrible and the blocked streets and because I would like to try it.

It also has a personal flair when you go to a small shop.

They have something you didn't know existed.

I would never come up with the idea of shopping online as a food.

If it's something more specialized, for example furniture or a certain piece of clothing that I don't get in the store, then online.

Which things do you prefer to buy online and which in the store?

So I often buy books online, scientific books for work, because they are often not available in the book store anyway.

I stopped buying clothes online, because that usually doesn't fit, and then you don't send it back and get angry if you have something in the closet that you don't wear.

Yes, and I usually buy groceries in the supermarket, but I order my organic vegetable box online.

What do you buy online and what do you buy in the store?

I only buy things above my shoes in the store because I want to try them on.

In the store I would buy a bicycle, for example.

In the app store in front of my cell phone, I just bought the Seedling annual membership.

And if you feel like learning German, step by step, with grammar, with vocabulary, then we would like to recommend the Seedling app to you.

It is a holistic learning experience with a complete dictionary.

All vocabularies are recorded as a video, example sentences.

There are stories in which you learn grammar and There is even a trivia game with me as a host.

You can test your German knowledge there.

And the whole thing is available for your mobile phone, both for Android and for Apple.

The basic version is actually free, but if you like it, there is a membership.

It only costs a few euros a month and it's really great because you get all the features unlocked in the app.

What happens with the things you buy online and send back.

They end up in Africa, either thrown into the sea or they end up in Chile and are infected, burned.

I've seen several documents about it and I've been smart about it.

Because I look at which brands I shop at and usually the more sustainable brands are not available in normal streets.

Do you feel a bit bad when you shop online, For example for the environment?

That's why I try not to buy a lot online.

Because transporting the goods back and forth is what the environment is burdening.

So not on a budget, Although it would probably be better to have a bad conscience.

But if it's a brand that is characterized by organic production or sustainable production, then I have a slightly better conscience at least.

You don't know the working conditions and how people who work for Amazon are treated.

And then you know that it's cheap because someone has to suffer.

I try to shop in small shops because I also do handmade.

And I know how much it is worth to shop in small shops.

Especially if it's something I could get somewhere else, in the stationary market.

And especially when you're walking down the street and you see these tracks of some Prime, DHL and UPS wagons, you think to yourself, maybe it's not the way to go.

I think I feel bad when it comes to packaging.

But sometimes I feel very comfortable with it, for example if it's a bulky piece of furniture.

But normally I still have the kindness to go up and help.

But in general, yes, I feel a little bad.

think that the small local shops will disappear at some point or do they still have a chance?

I think vintage and second-hand clothing definitely have a chance, especially because of climate change and the awareness that the way and the way clothes are made is simply terrible.

Nevertheless, I can already see in shopping centres that there is a lot of empty space, which

Do you think that real businesses will disappear in the future?


Speaker 0: Janusz, did you order something online today?

Speaker 1: Yes, actually. 2 days ago I ordered something, namely little blocks. And they came today and they made me feel very bad because they came in a huge box and that was not necessary.

Speaker 0: Today we want to know from people on the street if they like to shop online and if so, what and how they feel about it. We have with us the wonderful participants of the Easy German Summer School and we're going to go out on the street in Berlin.

Speaker 1: Let's go!

Speaker 2: Do you prefer to shop online or in the shop?

Speaker 3: I prefer online, I think it's a bit more clear.

Speaker 4: I prefer shopping in the shop when I buy something new. Unless I buy something again, then I can also order online.

Speaker 5: Oh, that's the same for both. I like to go to shops, but I also like to buy something online.

Speaker 6: I prefer to shop.

Speaker 7: I prefer

Speaker 8: to buy online.

Speaker 9: I actually prefer to shop.

Speaker 1: And what is the reason for that?

Speaker 9: I want to keep my CO2 footprint as low as possible and want to try things on, for example clothes, then

Speaker 10: I know what size fits.

Speaker 11: I prefer to shop.

Speaker 12: That's good and why?

Speaker 11: Because I see right away what I want

Speaker 13: to buy or if I try it on, if it fits or not. I see

Speaker 11: the quality And because I'm still pretty old-fashioned.

Speaker 14: I often

Speaker 15: shop online. Because in

Speaker 16: the store you sometimes don't have the choice, the sizes or the colors or something. That's why I like

Speaker 15: to shop online.

Speaker 16: But I think it's a shame for the small shops.

Speaker 1: Do you prefer to shop online or in the shop?

Speaker 17: In any case in the shop.

Speaker 1: And what is the reason?

Speaker 17: The personal contact. So shopping online is from my point of view destroyed the environment, of course all the boat services and I also want to talk to people. You can do that anyway on the alarm clock at the airport. You have to do everything yourself, talk to machines, check in.

Speaker 1: Even in the store you

Speaker 17: have to weigh everything. I prefer personal contact in the store.

Speaker 14: Definitely not online. We always buy in the store because we want to support the local economy. And we will never support Amazon. That's why we made a very conscious decision not to do that.

Speaker 1: A very conscious decision. Who else does that?

Speaker 3: Both.

Speaker 6: Online. Wow.

Speaker 12: Why? Sometimes it's easier from home, but sometimes you want to be inspired when you're in the store. So me.

Speaker 1: Yes, totally. And you? But your clothes fit. And my clothes don't fit, because I also shop online and never meet.

Speaker 6: I like to be alone when I shop, so to speak. I don't want people around me. That's the reason, yes.

Speaker 2: Do you prefer to shop online or in a shop?

Speaker 3: Well, I have a shop. I always shop in my shop and also prefer to shop in shops anyway.

Speaker 2: And is there anything you would like to buy online?

Speaker 3: Well, I would... I buy some things that are uncomfortable to buy online. Like my iron. It's too big, I have to transport it, I don't have a car. I buy things like that online.

Speaker 1: Do you prefer to buy online or in the store?

Speaker 18: In the store.

Speaker 1: What is the reason?

Speaker 18: Because I find this package flood terrible and the blocked streets and because I would like to try it.

Speaker 12: It also has a personal flair when you go to a small shop. They have something you didn't know existed.

Speaker 8: And then it's something beautiful. Which products do you prefer

Speaker 19: to buy online? What do you prefer to buy in the store?

Speaker 8: Things for everyday needs in the store. Primary food supplies. I would never come up with the idea of shopping online as a food. If it's something more specialized, for example furniture or a certain piece of clothing that I don't get in the store, then online.

Speaker 15: Which things do you prefer to buy online and which in the store?

Speaker 7: So I often buy books online, scientific books for work, because they are often not available in the book store anyway. I stopped buying clothes online, because that usually doesn't fit, and then you don't send it back and get angry if you have something in the closet that you don't wear. I stopped doing that. Exactly. Yes, and I usually buy groceries in the supermarket, but I order my organic vegetable box online.

Speaker 20: What do you buy online and what do you buy in the store?

Speaker 11: I often buy shoes

Speaker 4: online, because I know my shoe size. I only buy things above my shoes in the store because I want to try them on.

Speaker 16: I buy books or office items online. I prefer clothes in the store.

Speaker 6: In the store I would buy a bicycle, for example. And online I would buy

Speaker 1: a pair

Speaker 6: of new socks.

Speaker 4: Online shopping?

Speaker 1: I

Speaker 0: do that too. In the app store in front of my cell phone, I just bought the Seedling annual membership. Janusz, do you know Seedling?

Speaker 1: Of course. Who doesn't?

Speaker 0: What do you do at Seedling?

Speaker 1: I practice Spanish vocabulary.

Speaker 0: And if you feel like learning German, step by step, with grammar, with vocabulary, then we would like to recommend the Seedling app to you. And Janusz too.

Speaker 1: And with fun.

Speaker 0: Right. You also learn with fun. You will find everything there. It is a holistic learning experience with a complete dictionary. All vocabularies are recorded as a video, example sentences.

There are stories in which you learn grammar and There is even a trivia game with me as a host. You can test your German knowledge there. And the whole thing is available for your mobile phone, both for Android and for Apple. You can download it. The basic version is actually free, but if you like it, there is a membership.

It only costs a few euros a month and it's really great because you get all the features unlocked in the app. Try it out. The link is up here.

Speaker 2: Do you feel bad when you shop online?

Speaker 1: No, not

Speaker 17: at all. Why?

Speaker 1: No.

Speaker 4: Not at all? Not at all.

Speaker 20: Not at all.

Speaker 14: No. I can give a long speech now. What happens with the things you buy online and send back. They all end up on the garbage dump. They end up in Africa, either thrown into the sea or they end up in Chile and are infected, burned.

I didn't just read it. I've seen several documents about it and I've been smart about it. And I just reject it. So, we don't do it. Period.

Speaker 1: Do you feel bad when you shop online?

Speaker 19: No, not really. Because I look at which brands I shop at and usually the more sustainable brands are not available in normal streets. That's why I feel quite good.

Speaker 20: Do you feel a bit bad when you shop online, For example for the environment?

Speaker 4: Definitely. That's why I try not to buy a lot online. Because transporting the goods back and forth is what the environment is burdening.

Speaker 8: It depends on where I order. So not on a budget, Although it would probably be better to have a bad conscience. But if it's a brand that is characterized by organic production or sustainable production, then I have a slightly better conscience at least. Yes, a little bit.

Speaker 12: Why?

Speaker 21: For example, like Amazon. You don't know the working conditions and how people who work for Amazon are treated. And then you know that it's cheap because someone has to suffer.

Speaker 12: Do you feel bad when you shop online?

Speaker 22: A little bit. I try to shop in small shops because I also do handmade. And I know how much it is worth to shop in small shops. That's why I try to be a bit careful.

Speaker 1: Do you feel bad when you buy online?

Speaker 20: Definitely. Especially if it's something I could get somewhere else, in the stationary market. And especially when you're walking down the street and you see these tracks of some Prime, DHL and UPS wagons, you think to yourself, maybe it's not the way to go.

Speaker 23: I think I feel bad when it comes to packaging. But sometimes I feel very comfortable with it, for example if it's a bulky piece of furniture. But normally I still have the kindness to go up and help. But in general, yes, I feel a little bad. Do you

Speaker 1: think that the small local shops will disappear at some point or do they still have a chance?

Speaker 18: I think vintage and second-hand clothing definitely have a chance, especially because of climate change and the awareness that the way and the way clothes are made is simply terrible. Nevertheless, I can already see in shopping centres that there is a lot of empty space, which

Speaker 17: wasn't the case

Speaker 18: before. And that has to do with it.

Speaker 4: Do you think that real businesses will disappear in the future?

Speaker 6: No, absolutely not.

Speaker 9: As long as I go shopping, no.

Speaker 1: As long as

Speaker 8: there are people, it will stay.

Speaker 6: What else should we do with the street?

Speaker 5: My heart would say no, but I'm afraid that some will stay on the road.

Speaker 12: Do you think that the real businesses will disappear in the future?

Speaker 22: I hope not, but I'm already afraid of it. That can happen, definitely. Me too, I'll disappear too.

Speaker 2: And do you think that real businesses will disappear in the future?

Speaker 14: No. Why not?

Speaker 3: I think many people are like me. As a shop owner I can say that many people come again and again because they like to get advice, an honest opinion, a selection. In my case it's a small shop, it's my taste, it's a lot of special. And the people who come, they know that and they know that they like a lot of things And not at H&M, for example, you like 5% and you have to see the rest. And then you're exhausted and tired and maybe you don't feel like it anymore.

So I think that with the small, at least the small shops that are special shops, selling niche products, that will continue to work. And do

Speaker 2: you have the feeling that online shopping will make shops disappear in the future?

Speaker 8: Definitely. So, from different industries. Let's take a look at pharmacies for example. Pharmacy will possibly change a lot. Drug shopping, probably even food.

But it It depends on where you are. In the city it's more of a topic than in rural areas. The landscape will change a lot. The stationary trade will

Speaker 14: never disappear completely.

Speaker 8: Yes, it will change. Yes, definitely.

Speaker 7: I hope not. When I look at an area like this, it is of course also the case of small businesses. I think it's a shame when the big online platforms push these small retail businesses out of competition. You can see that here, I think, too, that some chains are being pulled into larger shops because the rents are so high that you can't survive as a small provider. But of course that also affects the flair of the district.

Speaker 20: Difficult question. I think, unfortunately, that this is a bit of a time-gap and the developments we have. In Berlin, I have to say again, it's something else. Because here you still have so many retail stores. In other German cities, or in general in European cities, It's disappearing more and more.

I'm actually from Frankfurt and it's really disappearing there. You only have big shops there. And if you go to smaller towns, smaller villages, you only have the big shopping areas where there's only H&M and stuff like that. And those are just the chains that are going through in the end. I do believe that, unfortunately, retail will be very difficult in the long run.

Speaker 0: Now it's your turn. We want to know from you what it looks like for you. Do you like to order online? Do you have a bad conscience? Or do you prefer to go into business because you think real businesses should definitely survive?

Write us a comment and if you want to continue learning with Easy German, you can do that. For example online. You can actually buy an online membership with us and then do interactive exercises for this video and also for all other videos. Thanks for watching and see you soon! Bye!

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