What to do? I want to order something from a shop in germany but when i called they dont speak english...?

Question

but when ordering online, when you enter your details in (ie name, address, birth date, etc. ) it is NOT a secure site (ie no lock appears in the upper right hand side to indicate its a secure website...)

WHAT SHOULD I DO? i wanted to place my order over the phone, but when i called and asked "do u speak english?" she said no, then i asked if anyone at the shop did, and she said no, GRANTED she had to speak some English to know what i was saying!!!

she suggested me emailing her. but that will NOT change the fact that i would have to order online from a site which is supposedly NOT secure..?

what to do?! i cant find this thing any where else to buy it from =(

Answer 1

Be prepared for the fact that they may not even take credit cards!  When I order something over here, they send me a bill along with the merchandise.  I'm not kidding!  Then you're supposed to take this bill to a local German bank and pay it through a system they have over here.  I don't know how you could ever do that from the States.  It may be impossible.

Answer 2

Hi,I`m from Germany!I can translate everything for you,if you tell me exactly what you want to say...

For example:

Guten Tag,ich möchte gerne.....bestellen (Hello,I would like to order..)Ich lebe in....,meine Adresse ist...(I live in....,my adress is...)

If you need some other phrases just let me know....by the way,it`s really weird that she doesn`t speak any english...usually everybody in Germany learns a bit english in school....I guess she will understand simple phrases like "hello,i would like to order...." if you just speak slow and clearly...sorry for any mistakes,my english is bad;-) but if you need more phrases or any other help,just let me know

PS: Maybe you can fax them your credit card number and your adress?

Answer 3

There are FREE online translation programs. Type in what you want to say, click on translate. Copy and paste the results to Microsoft Word so you have a record, then paste to your email. Then email it to them. When you get a response reverse the process. Use easy words and sentences, nothing complicated for the translation program.

Answer 4

Giving your credit card number over the phone is not secure either. So send your order with e-mail in English, there is I'm sure understand somebody English. They let you know what they need, I believe the payment. Some German Websites have also English version and many people speaking English. Try that way and wait what they say.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

Well I think all the clues to the answer are in your question.

Do you know anybody who speaks German who can call them for you?

Answer 6

find someone who speaks german or email her and tell her about your concerns - see if theres some way that you can work it out with them if they have someone who speaks english that is around every so often or whatnot

Answer 7

google language tools

work out what your going to say,  then work out their likley answers....go from there

Answer 8

Hi, RED...

That's almost impossible to believe, that "noone" was able to communicate in english, because most folks over here speak english, especially in stores... Unbelievable! However, if you can't find anyone in your "neighborhood", who can speak german, give me a call (49-651-5614333) or email me at :[e-mail] & let me know their Tel.No.-I will call & give them your order, etc.-no problem, I'll be glad to help you!!

Send you lots of greetings from Germany... Annette****

Answer 9

Personally, I would email her and take the risk

Answer 10

There are a lot of very small German companies starting to conquer the very local market via internet. The butcher around the corner or so. But beliefe me, it is very complicated to export 1 pound of German meat to US and then they prefer saying °sorry, don`t understand English" then "we are to stupid to process your order".

My mail is open --- mail me details --- perhaps I  can help you.

Greetings from Hamburg, Germany

Heinz

Answer 11

What are you trying to order?  Maybe I could get it for you and send it to you through the mail?

I live in Germany, and had to get something from the US from WalMart and paid someone there to do this for me.  Maybe we could work something out?

Answer 12

When I e-mail something and I'm not sure it's a secure site, I send 2 e-mails. The first has my name and the type of credit card and the first 8 digits. The second e-mail again identifies my name, refers to the 1st one and then gives the rest of the credit card and the expiration date. It's probably no more secure than sending it all at once, but I feel a little better about it. No one has ever objected to that when I explain in the beginning what I'm doing, and indeed, the suggestion came from someone in Italy.

Answer 13

Get their address (E-MAIL OR SNAIL MAIL).  Type up your order in Alta Vista's Babel fish and convert English to German.  It isn't perfect, but hey should understand.

Answer 14

speak english badly, then you're basically speaking german

lol trust me i know, i learnt german for 2 years

Answer 15

That's pretty strange because most Germans know a little English, the woman was probably just being stubborn!!!! Don't you know anyone who speaks German to phone the order through for you, I'd do it for you......... hope you get what you where after, if not there then maybe somewhere else!!

Answer 16

My German spelling is bad but you could prepare some stock phrases, for example:

Enschuldegung Sie, bitte = excuse me, please

Ich kann nicht Deutsch sprechen = I can't speak German

Konnen Sie mir hilfen? = Could you help me?

Ich wolte _____ = I want ______

Maybe you'll get understood enough that way? If not you need to find a German speaker for you.

Answer 17

If it is a serious shop, no deceiver, you will find the name, mailing address and telex number of the owner on the website.

Why don't you just order by sending a letter or a telex.

If you are not sure about the seriousity, why don't you just add the website link to your question so German speaking users could check for fraud on the net.