If you are a tourist in Berlin and want to reall experience what goes for "charme" around there, go shopping at Balloonerie. The first rule of engangement for shop clerks in Berlin is "courtesy must be disguised" and this lady is truly a master at the art: it takes no longer than 30 seconds to get the true customer-in-Berlin-feeling, this wonderful mixture of "you are a worthless piece of junk" and "you must make good for this intrusion with a rather large purchase". And of course, a large purchase would only make it worse., since with money comes accounting, which is the one thing more unbearable to the clerk than you. The facts: when trying to return a used bottle of balloon gas for a friend, I was greeted with "Ventil fehlt (valve missing)". This were the actual first words. No greeting. No assumption, that I could have the valve in the car or that the valve has been returned earlier - Berlin charme at its best. I recommend this shop as a training ground for people new in Berlin and trying to adjust to the general service level: this is your boot camp, the lady is you drill sargeant and yoou will learn how to serve as a customer. For people that just want a nice balloon and some Helium: go elsewhere. The further, the better. read more