John Fuerst Kapitel 7 Article Response

Upon reading “Bargain Buys: No-Frills Shopping, German Style”, I was both shocked at the negative and sneering attitude of the author towards low-cost German supermarkets and entertained at his lack of reservation in criticizing the German people’s attempt at a traditionally American idea. The description of the environment, service, and overall behavior of both clients and staff was uncensored, sometimes causing me to laugh and other times, to cringe. It seems that what in the U.S. is considered a representation of a consumer-driven economy, survives in Germany thanks only to its affordability, something that makes up only a small portion of the appeal of American supermarkets.

Continuing in the vein of German interpretation and imitation of American ideas/traditions, my attention was caught on the “USA Kulinarisch” page by the “Super Bowl Party- Was dazu servieren?” This article, along with the commentaries of proud Germans sharing their ideas of what should make up a Super Bowl party meal, offered excellent insight into what Germans see as “American”, and I have to say, that for the most part, they were spot on. This article, in conjunction with the following articles, “Take it from a German: How Not to Die on German Roads” and “What Discipline: Of German Lines and Pythons”, I think provides the two elements which, in the author’s eyes, make up Germans’ failure at emulating American Bargain stores: A very good understanding and appreciation of what is American but a culturally different way of doing things that grossly separates German’s imitations of American things from the originals. The rule-abiding, socially responsible but at times, dismissive and impatient, German attitude causes the bargain shopping experience to lose some of its American feel-good ambience. The aggressiveness and impatience of German shoppers, drivers or those waiting in queues hinder the ability of the nation to adopt quintessentially American things without molding it into something completely different.

These readings, while I think they were harsh on the German people, their adoption of American things and their behaviors in places like the Autobahn and grocery store, provided an entertaining discussion for the reader. I find nothing wrong with the German’s way of doing things, in fact, I find a great deal right with it, but can understand the humor in the cultural differences that exist between the nation and the United States.