When I was a kid (centuries ago-it seems), my aunt and uncle toured Europe, and had several gift items shipped back to the states. The prevailing thought back then was that you got a better deal by buying items there, at the source, and have them sent back. Nowadays with online purchasing, I’m not sure that approach still applies. We will be visiting Germany later this year, and wondering if there are any pluses to purchasing a German cuckoo clock there, verses simply ordering one from the Internet? We’ve also read about cuckoo clocks that are made by hand (by old-world crafts people), rather than being more mass-produced; are such handmade clocks difficult to find? Thanks for your suggestions!
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
Salesman at any clockshop in Triberg will be happy to explain the ins and outs of cuckoo clocks.
http://www.black-forest.org/certificate
Posted by
Berlin
2232 posts
Watch this cartoon to get sure that you really want to have a German cuckoo clock. The dream can become a nightmare.
The obvious simplest advantage for buying offline is that with a human being you can negotiate and find the best kind of cuckoo clock for you - they are not all the same. Very often in that cases you buy a story you like. An exemplary overview of the different ones you can find on the specialised web pages. The prices on these pages include VAT which is excluded for shipping but you have to pay customs.
By the way: as a German I personally know no German who is owner of a cuckoo clock :-) A real German thing is a Miele washing machine. 3-4 times expensive than the regular ones but it is a household status symbol. Older women like to present their 20-20 year old one which is still running. If you say something nice about that and the people's sense for real quality a piece of cake is guaranteed.
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1290 posts
If you want a good clock, handmade, craft work and are prepared to pay the price $$$, then get it from a real shop in the Black Forest. Good reputable factory clocks are OK and online probably works. Shopping in the Black Forest can take days to find what you want factory or otherwise. You can take a chance on eBay.de for an older clock, provided the seller will ship outside Germany.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5262 posts
A real German thing is a Miele washing machine. 3-4 times expensive than the regular ones but it is a household status symbol.
It's the same here, my Miele vacuum cleaner is unlike any I've owned before but I 'downgraded' to AEG for the washing machine and dishwasher. However, as is true with much in life, you get what you pay for.
I don't think I would have a cuckoo clock, I'd find it incredibly annoying and wouldn't really fit in with the rest of the house