as our submitter peter points out, the residents of berlin — with their trademark berliner schnauze — are not known for mincing words. but this sign, found at a coffee shop of sorts in the u-bahn station kottbusser tor, takes that characteristic berliner directness one step further.
peter’s rough translation: “anyone who doesn’t buy anything PLEASE leave the store!!! thanks.” (that’s at least one request we haven’t seen at a starbucks…yet.)
related: danke!!! [for the sarcasm]
EMAIL THIS POST TO A PAL!








93 responses so far ↓
#1 unholyghost2003

I think the real difference between this place and Starbucks is that THIS sign says “Please” and “Thank You”
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:22 pm rating: +4 
#2 RunBarbara

this doesnt strike me as particularly passive or aggressive. i think it is polite, to the point and magnificent as a young show pony! in fact, i am going to post that sign every where i go. unless you intend to buy something you shouldn’t go into a shop. that classifies you as riff-raff and, as you all know, i have no patience for riff-raff! i also have no patience for hippies as they smell like a fake leg full of fish sticks.
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:26 pm rating: +18 
#3 TC
…except David Hasselhoff. He can loiter all day and buy nichts!
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:27 pm rating: +4 
#4 GhostWriter

…and just like that, all the German baristi walked out of the shop.
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:29 pm rating: +4 
#5 zchamu
This could be applied to numerous situations. Unless you plan to give me money PLEASE LEAVE MY HOUSE! Unless you plan to mow my lawn PLEASE GET OFF MY PROPERTY! Unless you plan to give me sparkly presents PLEASE GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!
I’m going to start using this.
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:29 pm rating: +21 
#6 zombieBlanco

✔ Block letters
✔ Hasty underlining
✔ Extra exclamation marks
Passive-aggressive = the universal language
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:31 pm rating: +23 
#7 GhostWriter

“Please, Bin Laden- Thank You! ”
Those Germans can never be counted on in our War on Terror.
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:33 pm rating: +2 
#8 GhostWriter

Is it my imagination, or does the photographer reflected in the window have a huge Herman Munster-like head?
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:36 pm rating: 0 
#9 Mishee

“Hurry up and buy!!”
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:38 pm rating: +2 
#10 Kev Orng
WENN SIE DICH DIE MONGOLEI POTLUCK SORGEN MÖCHTEN, HOLEN SIE BITTE 5 EURO ZU CASEY IM PERSONAL FÜR IHREN HUT.
DNK SANDRA
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:43 pm rating: +47 
#11 Canthz_B

Scram you dirty browser!
What do you mean you’re looking for the perfect gift?
Figure it out and come back when you know!
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:45 pm rating: +8 
#12 paranoiagirl

I love that “please” is the only lowercase word, as if they’re dragging it out slowly and quietly before exploding into “LEAVE THE STORE! Scheiße!”
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:46 pm rating: +3 
#13 Quite Contrary
So, in PAN land, does this mean I need to leave the bathroom if I’m not going to do drugs there?
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:47 pm rating: 0 
#14 Mishee

ooh, I see on the menu that they have chocolade…
Well, it is the Land of Chocolate, after all!
Jun 19, 2008 at 12:53 pm rating: +2 
#15 claw71

Germans are very efficient people. There’s no such thing as shopping to them, only purchasing. Shopping is for the French and it is why the French were defenseless in WW2.
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:04 pm rating: +17 
#16 claw71

or
You learn something new everyday.
Who would have thought that there are Korean store owners in Germany too?
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:06 pm rating: +5 
#17 Ana
Where is that café anyway? Everything’s so cheap! A sandwich for 15 Cents?! How great is that? I wouldn’t even mind the rude sign…
Ana, Leipzig
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:47 pm rating: 0 
#18 ErikaBlare

Vee haf ovens een ze back for people who loiter.
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:23 pm rating: +3