Buying Furniture in German: Asking for Advice and a Better Price

Everyone who moves to Switzerland ends up in a furniture shop within the first month. It's one of the very first real German conversations most newcomers have — and it comes with a price tag attached, which raises the stakes nicely.

Einkäufe is one of the eleven official FIDE topics, and this scene is a favourite: you want something, you have a budget, and you have to say so out loud without sounding rude.

The good news is that a Swiss shop assistant expects you to say a price is too high. Nobody is offended. You just need the right sentence.

Key phrases to know

• Ich suche ein neues Sofa. – I'm looking for a new sofa.
• Haben Sie bestimmte Vorstellungen? – Do you have something specific in mind?
• Es sollte nicht zu teuer sein. – It shouldn't be too expensive.
• Das ist mehr, als ich ausgeben wollte. – That's more than I wanted to spend.
• Gibt es gerade einen Rabatt? – Is there a discount at the moment?
• Können Sie mir die Modelle zeigen? – Can you show me the models?
• Ist die Lieferung inklusive? – Is delivery included?
• Ist die Montage inklusive? – Is assembly included?
• Wann können Sie liefern? – When can you deliver?
• Der Schrank wurde beschädigt geliefert. – The wardrobe was delivered damaged.

How it sounds in practice

In the shop, between a Kunde (K — customer) and a Verkäufer (V — salesperson):

K: Ich suche ein neues Sofa. 
V: Haben Sie bestimmte Vorstellungen? 
K: Es sollte dreisitzig und nicht zu teuer sein. 
V: Unser günstigstes Modell kostet 899 Franken. 
K: Das ist mehr, als ich ausgeben wollte… 
V: Wir haben gerade 20% Rabatt auf alle Sofas. 
K: Das klingt schon besser. Können Sie mir die Modelle zeigen? 
V: Gerne, folgen Sie mir.

The sentence to memorise is "Das ist mehr, als ich ausgeben wollte." It's polite, it's honest, and — crucially — it doesn't criticise the shop or the product. You're describing your budget, not their prices. Notice what happens next: the salesperson volunteers a discount. That's a real pattern, not a fantasy. Saying nothing gets you nothing.

Also worth stealing: "Es sollte … sein." ("It should be…"). It's the softest way to state requirements — Es sollte nicht zu gross sein. Es sollte hell sein. Es sollte schnell verfügbar sein.

Swiss culture note

Two things about Swiss shops surprise newcomers.

The first is the opening hours. Most shops close around 18:30 or 19:00 on weekdays, close early on Saturday, and are shut all day Sunday. Late-night shopping (Abendverkauf) is usually one evening a week, often Thursday. Plan your furniture trip accordingly, or you'll arrive at a locked door.

The second is the Kassenbon (receipt). In Switzerland, a return or exchange without a receipt is usually simply not possible. There is no legal right to return something just because you changed your mind — shops that accept returns are being generous, not obeying a law, and they set their own window (often 14 or 30 days).

Common mistake to avoid: assuming delivery and assembly are included. They frequently are not, and the extra can be a few hundred francs on a big order. Ask both questions before you sign anything: "Ist die Lieferung inklusive?" and "Ist die Montage inklusive?"

One more phrase worth having ready if something arrives broken: "Ich möchte einen Ersatz, keine Reparatur." ("I'd like a replacement, not a repair.") Being specific about the outcome you want is what moves these conversations along.

Try it yourself

You need a wardrobe. Your budget is 500 francs, you live on the fourth floor with no lift, and you need it within two weeks. Practise saying out loud:

• I'm looking for a wardrobe. It shouldn't be too expensive.
• That's more than I wanted to spend. Is there a discount at the moment?
• Is delivery included? I live on the fourth floor.
• When can you deliver?

Then the harder scene: it arrives with a scratch and the door doesn't close. Say what's wrong, and say what you want instead.

What's next

Furniture is a once-a-year conversation. Clothes are a monthly one — and they come with a specific problem: something doesn't fit and you have to take it back. The next lesson covers buying and exchanging clothes, including how to ask for a different size and what to say when they don't have one.

This lesson is part of Module 3 (Einkäufe) of the FIDE A1/A2 Exam Prep. The full book covers all 11 FIDE topics with dialogues, vocabulary, and cultural notes. It's available here and as an interactive app with audio practice at app.fide-prep.ch.