SHOPPING
Shopping in France can be interesting, time consuming and from time to time baffling. While there are definite similarities to shopping in any other country, there are still differences that you need to be aware of upon your arrival in France. Opening hours and the kinds of shops you’ll be going to may differ from those you are used to. Check in advance as there will be variances. In most small villages, shops are open Tuesday through Saturday all day from 8:00 or 8:30 until 19:00 or 19:30 EXCEPT during lunch time: 12:30 – 14:00 or 15:00 or even 16:00. They may open fifteen to twenty minutes after the hour posted. Many village food-related shops like Casino (as opposed to those in the city) are open Sunday morning. There is a definite relationship between being open on Sunday morning and being closed on Mondays. Bakeries have all sorts of hours. Most post offices will close for lunch. Major supermarkets such as Leclerc and Carrefour, gas stations and stores in downtown Toulouse stay open all day.
Come July and August, many shops close for extended periods to enjoy “les vacances”. So in all cases, be aware.
Large commercial shopping centers (centres commerciaux) are open Monday through Saturday without a lunch break, but are closed on Sundays. They usually open at 9:00 and close at 19:00 or 20:00. This makes them the place to go for late or last minute shopping. But watch out, as winding your way through these giant “hypermarkets” is rarely a speedy affair, and they should be avoided, if at all possible, on Saturdays! Remember to have a one euro coin ready when going to a supermarket or hypermarket. The French have a very efficient method for assuring that shopping carts (caddie) do not leave the premises. Each cart has a lock mechanism into which you insert the euro, which will free your cart from the chain holding it in-place. When you return the cart and reconnect the chain, your euro is returned. Should you need some change, don’t be afraid to ask “Est-ce que je peux avoir une pièce pour le caddie?” You can obtain a free token (jeton) at the information desk of big supermarkets or hypermarkets, which you can keep, and use in the shopping cart instead of a coin.
Your French shopping adventure should be fun. Don’t worry about your language ability or lack thereof. Many French people either understand and/or speak a little English and shopkeepers, especially in the Southwest of France, are quite sympathetic and patient with foreigners. Remember, poor French is more useful than good English. Just keep your sense of humor!
A word of warning: areas like Portet sur Garonne, Roques (IKEA), Labege is congested on week-ends and when there are holidays when the stores are open exceptionally, the congestion is exceptional as well – shop at another time or come equipped with PATIENCE.
CONVENIENT SHOPPING CENTERS
Note: A “centre commercial” is always anchored by a large/huge supermarket such as Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan or Géant Casino with a large number of specialty shops incorporated into the “mall” and surrounding areas.
Carrefour, Route de Bayonne, PURPAN Mall with hypermarket and several smaller shops. There’s a GIFI store (discount store with a little bit of every thing) across the street.
Carrefour, LABEGE
Mall with many shops, including a C&A department store and a large hypermarket. Many large shops on the parking lot, including sporting goods, a carpet store, a baby store, a large movie theater complex and a bowling center. H & M clothing store nearby with good prices on children’s clothing.
Carrefour, PORTET-SUR-GARONNE
Largest shopping mall in Toulouse, with the largest hypermarket in Europe. (Can you believe 100 check-out counters ?). Stores in the vicinity include Kiabi, (a reasonably priced family clothing store), home-centers stores, sporting good shops, hi-fi centers and more. Toys ‘R Us is located across the street.
Hyper U, Plein Centre, COLOMIERS City shopping center with a smaller supermarket, good hardware stores, several shops, a café, a cafeteria and excellent free parking. Picard is a good quality frozen (surgelee) food market across the street.
Géant Casino, FENOUILLET Large supermarket.
Géant Casino, MIRAIL Large supermarket.
Géant Casino, PONT des DEMOISELLES Medium sized supermarket.
Géant Casino, Place Arnaud Bernard, Downtown TOULOUSE Medium sized supermarket.
Géant Casino, Centre Commercial St. Georges. Central downtown TOULOUSE Medium sized supermarket in a fairly expensive area.
Leclerc and Castorama, ST. ORENS
Very large showcase store for this hypermarket chain. Wide variety. Mall includes a variety of shops and restaurants. On the lot there is a very large Castorama home center store.
Leclerc and Castorama, BLAGNAC (near the airport) Plenty of clothing stores (including C & A), toys shops, Decathlon sporting goods store, cafeteria, two pizzerias, and a large movie theater complex. One of the best selections of products from around the world.
Leclerc, ROQUES Mall Hypermarket with IKEA, a big household and furniture goods.
Leclerc, ROUFFIAC Medium-sized hypermarket.
Auchan, GRAMONT Large hypermarket in mall with some shops.
Many of these shops now have an aisle for “Produits de monde,” or “Products of the World.” You will find British, Asian and Mexican foods as well as some American items (at high prices).
Note: There is a German food store chain called LIDL. They have less expensively priced foods, and often have great finds such as cream cheese, German sausages, holiday cookies, candies and other treats. Other such disount food places are ALDI (Ramonville and Colomiers) and NETTO. Another chain is Leader Price.
DEPARTMENT STORES
Galeries Lafayette, Toulouse Center
Clothing and cosmetic store with moderate to high prices. There is a supermarket in its basement having a good variety of international foods.
Monoprix, rue Alsace Lorraine, Toulouse Center
Small department store. The supermarket upstairs is small, but it has a good international variety as well as the basics in fruit, vegetable, meat, cheese, and dairy products.
DOWNTOWN TOULOUSE
There are two shopping malls in Toulouse center, both complete with supermarket and underground parking garage: Compans-Caffarelli and Centre Commercial St. Georges (under the Place Occitane) near the Place St. Georges, a pretty square surrounded with sidewalk cafes and the center of fashion shops on the Rue de La Pomme.
There are two covered “farmers’’ markets in downtown Toulouse: marché Victor Hugo and marché des Carmes with both open mornings only, Tuesday – Sunday. Each is on the ground floor of a multi-level parking lot. Victor Hugo is not to be missed for its wide variety of fresh fish, meats, and cheeses. Les Carmes specializes in fruits and vegetables. While at Victor Hugo, make sure you go up to the mezzanine the staircase in the middle of the market for an inexpensive but delicious lunch made from the fresh ingredients found in the market below. These restaurant “stalls” are only open for lunch.
ASIAN PRODUCTS
If you’re looking for more “exotic” ingredients try the Asian food markets. There are two located on the Rue Denfert-Rochereau in town, where there are also good Chinese restaurants. There is another good Chinese restaurant on the Place du Cimetière. Lastly, in the Mirail neighborhood, there’s Mon Asie and Hyper Asia at 22 route de St. Simon. On the other side of town, an Asian supermarket has opened at the St. Orens exit of the Rocade.
Other exotic and foreign goods can be found at the épiceries fines, gourmet food shops. While they may have the things you’re looking for, you may find them relatively expensive.
Some addresses:
Bacquié – 5 pl. Victor-Hugo La Bonne Maison – 42 rue de Metz
Busquets – 10 rue de Rémusat
The Marché Gare on the Route de Paris is open to the public every Saturday from November to Easter. It sells trees, plants, shrubs and other plantings at wholesale prices. Each car is charged a small entry fee.
WHERE TO FIND AMERICAN AND BRITISH INGREDIENTS
Leclerc Supermarket (St. Orens, Rouffiac, Blagnac) and Carrefour (Portet, Labège & Purpan): Items can often be seasonal or vary from week to week, depending on what is imported.
Champion, PIBRAC
Galeries Lafayette, TOULOUSE CENTER
In magasins diététiques (health food stores) you can usually find molasses and whole wheat and buckwheat flour as well as other whole-wheat items, tofu and herbal teas.
Les surgelés Picard (Blagnac, Colomiers, Ramonville, Tournefeuille, Toulouse): excellent quality and diversity of multinational frozen food products. In some areas they will deliver.
OPEN-AIR MARKETS
You will find these all over France and Europe in general. Every village surrounding Toulouse seems to have one, one morning a week. The village markets tend to sell produce, cheese, and meats (look for the farmers’ wives selling farm-fresh poultry and eggs). There are certain specific markets, however, that have a broader selection of products, as do the open air markets in Toulouse. Here are the major ones:
Boulevard de Strasbourg ,TOULOUSE The biggest (and least expensive) in Toulouse center, every morning except Monday.
St. Aubin, TOULOUSE Real farmers’ market, complete with live poultry and wonderful fresh herbs. Every Sunday morning.
BALMA Saturday mornings.
BLAGNAC Tuesday & Sunday mornings.
Plein Centre COLOMIERS Thursday & Saturday mornings.
GRENADE Saturday mornings.
Plein Centre TOURNEFEUILLE (non food markets) Sunday mornings
PIBRAC Wednesday morning, with British specialties.
L’UNION Centre ville Every Sunday morning. Farmer’s market and more.
Place du Capitole, TOULOUSE Bio (organic) market, Saturday mornings.
Place du Capitole, TOULOUSE Clothing, pottery, leather goods, used books. Every morning except Monday. Wednesday, all day.
St. Sernin, TOULOUSE Every Sunday morning.
Same as above plus ‘flea market’.
Allees Jules Guesde, TOULOUSE Brocante (not-quite-antiques) market the first weekend of every month (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). A week-long version is held twice yearly (May and October) around the St. Sernin Basilica.
EVERYDAY PHRASES YOU’LL HEAR AND USE AT THE MARKET
Shopping in France can be a pleasant experience if you attempt to develop a rapport with the vendors and shopkeepers. You’ll find greetings like “bonjour” and “bonne journée” (on leaving) really make a difference. When you say “excusez-moi, je ne comprends pas” (excuse me, I don’t understand) the shopkeepers will be quite understanding and very helpful.
These little phrases will help make your visit more enjoyable:
Avec ceci? Or avec ça?……………………………………………………. What would you like with this?
Combien en voulez vous ?………………………………………………………How many … do you want?
C’est tout, merci …………………………………………………………….. That’s all, thanks.
Ne touchez pas ……………………………………………………………… Don’t touch.
Je peux vous aider? ………………………………………………………….. Can I help you?
Vous cherchez quelque chose? …………………………………………. Are you looking for something in particular?
Merci, je regarde ……………………………………………………………….. I’m just looking.
C’est combien? ………………………………………………………………….. How much is it?
Écrivez-le, s’il vous plaît ……………………………………………………… Write it, please
Cinq cent grammes (500 grams) or une livre …………………………. 1 lb
SHOPPING TIPS
You will find many new foods that you may have never seen before, both fresh and prepared. It is fun to try them! There are wonderful varieties of cheese and pâté – in most shops they’ll be glad to let you taste a little bit (especially cheese) – just say “est-ce que je peux goûter?” (Can I taste?) French wines are also a pleasure – there’s a wide variety available in the hypermarkets but you can also go to the local cave for more service. Try visiting some of the vineyards in the nearby wine regions if you really want to “discover” French wine. A dégustation is an invitation to sample.
Be prepared to bag your own groceries. For environmental reasons, many shops no longer supply plastic bags. Most stores sell reusable bags for a small price (ask for ‘un sac’ or ‘une poche’). At LeClerc, when the bags are damaged, you can exchange your old bag for a new one at no cost. This is an effective system, except on those occasions when you are in the store and realize that your bags are still in your car! Of course, you can bring your own basket, or other form of container, to any of the super/hyper markets. For farmers’ market shopping you’ll need to bring your own bag or, better yet, a basket. Save your egg cartons from the supermarket if you want farm-fresh eggs – otherwise, they’ll give them to you in a brown paper bag and you’ll probably break half of them before you get home.
Methods of payment may be different from your home country as debit cards and machine-written checks are common in the larger stores here. See Chapter 11, Banking, for more information.
DUTY FREE SHOPPING
Visitors to France can obtain an approximate 20% sales tax refund on goods purchased. Residents of the EEC or those holding work permits in France are not eligible for this refund. However, the total price of purchase or purchases, with the exception of food products, must total 305 Euros or more, from one store, but can be made over a period of up to 6 months. Keep all receipts.
The shop from which you made your purchase(s) will, after a check on your passport, fill out all of the necessary forms for the refund. You will pay the sales tax at the time of the purchase, but once the store has proof that you have left the country with the goods (having received a form stamped by the customs officials at the airport détaxe office, and mailed back to the store by you) they will send you back your un-cashed French check (covering the sales tax portion of the purchase) or a French check written by the store or they will deposit the refund into your French bank account, or that of a friend if you have given them the necessary information. If you are to receive your reimbursement by deposit on a French bank account, it is suggested that you make a photocopy of your receipt and mail it to the friend who is acting on your behalf. Sometimes the store will need a reminder to issue the refund.
Make sure to leave extra time at the airport if you are having such refund forms stamped, as customs officials may ask you to show them the goods being exported.
SHOPPING REFERENCES IN TOULOUSE
Arts and Crafts:
Beaux-arts Service, 70 rte de Bruguieres, Castelginest Tel: 05 61 70 57 26
Tout pour le dessin, 7 rue des Lois, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 61 21 15 39
Crayons et Images, 4 rue Gilet, COLOMIERS Tel: 05 62 74 03 45
Cultura, 12 blvd de l’Europe, PORTET SUR GARONNE Tel: 05 61 72 39 48 (best selection in area for scrapbooking)
Petits Points, 17 rue Pasteur, BLAGNAC Tel: 05 62 74 19 45 (everything for cross-stitching)
Cousines et compagnie, 13 rue Sainte Ursule, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 61 29 82 92 (cross-stitch, patchwork and fabrics)
Quilt & Patch, 87 ave de Fronton, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 34 40 80 91 (patchwork)
Children’s toys, etc.
Espace Milan, 23 rue des Puits Clos, TOULOUSE (children’s books)
Imaginarium, 40 rue de Metz, TOULOUSE
Nature et decouvertes, 64 rue de la Pomme, TOULOUSE
Toys R Us, PORTET SUR GARONNE
C & A (in the basement), downtown TOULOUSE
Books and Music:
Cultura, PORTET SUR GARONNE (opposite side of Carrefour)
FNAC, 16 allées F. Roosevelt, TOULOUSE www.fnac.com (English and foreign language book selection)
Household:
See the yellow pages in the “Bricolage” section for more addresses.
Midica, 13 place Esquirol, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 61 14 82 82
(Everything for home decoration)
Castorama, PORTET SUR GARONNE, BLAGNAC, L’UNION, ST. ORENS
(Do it yourself – similar to Home Depot)
Leroy Merlin (similar to Home Depot, formerly HDB), COLOMIERS
Gardening:
See the yellow pages in the “Jardinerie” section for more addresses
Truffaut, Route de Lavaur, BALMA Tel: 05 34 25 59 60
Les Espaces Verts du Languedoc, 243 route de Bayonne, ST. MARTIN DU TOUCH Tel: 05 61 49 21 71
Jardiland, Route de Revel, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 61 54 29 60
Jardiland, 295 route d’Espagne, TOULOUSE Tel: 05 62 87 15 87
Open on Sundays
jardiland.fr
Firewood in small quantities:
Etablissement Massonnaud, ST. LYS Tel: 05 61 85 47 10
Transport St André, MARQUEFAVE Tel: 05 61 87 86 40 or 06 08 71 14 91
SERVICE-ORIENTED VOCABULARY
Alterations ………………………………………….. Les retouches
Auto repair shop/car service ………………… Le garage
Automatic teller (ATM) …………………………… Le distributeur de billets (DAB)
Bakery ……………………………………………….. La boulangerie (often one in the same with cake shop) Boulangerie/Pâtisserie
Bank, banker ………………………………………. La banque, le banquier
Bar, restaurant ………………………………………. Le café/le bar, le restaurant
Bar, light meals …………………………………….. La brasserie (brewery)
Body shop (for autos) …………………………… L’atelier de carrosserie
Bookstore ……………………………………………. La librairie
Butcher shop ……………………………………….. La boucherie
Candy, confectionery ……………………………. La confiserie
Clothing store ……………………………………….. Le magasin de vêtements
Cheese shop ……………………………………….. La crèmerie
Decorator ……………………………………………. Le décorateur
Delicatessen ………………………………………… Le traiteur (ready-made dishes, fancy cold cuts and meats, caterer)
Dentist …………………………………………………. Le chirurgien-dentiste
Doctor …………………………………………………. Le médecin
Do-it-yourself ………………………………………. Le bricolage
Drapery fabrics, sheets & wallpaper ……… Le tissu, voilage/rideaux, papier peint
Drugstore ……………………………………………. La droguerie (more like a hardware store, no drugs)
Drugstore/Chemist ………………………………… La pharmacie (prescriptions & over-the-counter baby & pet care supplies)
Dry-cleaning ………………………………………… Nettoyage à sec (also see pressing)
Emergency repairs ……………………………….. Dépannage
Fish shop ……………………………………………. La poissonnerie
Florist ………………………………………………….. Le fleuriste
Food store ………………………………………….. L’alimentation, l’épicerie
Framing ……………………………………………….. Encadrements
Furniture …………………………………………….. Les meubles
Furniture refinishing …………………………….. L’ébénisterie
Garden Center ……………………………………. La jardinerie
Game ………………………………………………… Le gibier
Green grocer ……………………………………… Le primeur
Hairdresser ………………………………………… Le coiffeur
Hardware store ………………………………….. La quincaillerie
Insurance ……………………………………………. L’assurance
Jewelry store …………………………………….. La bijouterie
Laundry ……………………………………………… La blanchisserie, la laverie / Lavomatique (laundromat)
Leather goods …………………………………….. La maroquinerie
Key duplication …………………………………… Clés minute
Library ………………………………………………. La bibliothèque
Market (open air, farmers) ……………………. Le marché
Mending, reweaving ……………………………. Le raccommodage, le stoppage (for furniture)
Newsstand, tobacco shop …………………… Le kiosque à journaux / magasin de presse, le tabac
Notion shop/haberdashery …………………… La mercerie
Nursery (plants, shrubs) ……………………… La pépinière
Pastry shop ………………………………………… La pâtisserie
Pork-based cold meats, pâtés ……………… La charcuterie (often combined with the butcher shop)
Poultry ……………………………………………….. Volailles
Plumber …………………………………………….. Le plombier
Rug, carpet ……………………………………….. Le tapis, la moquette
Self-service cleaning ………………………….. Le nettoyage self-service
Shoe repair, quick repair ……………………… La cordonnerie, le bar à talons
Stationery store ………………………………….. La papeterie
Tobacco shop …………………………………….. Le tabac
Tools …………………………………………………… L’outillage
Upholsterer ………………………………………… Le tapissier
Watches and clocks ……………………………. L’horlogerie
Wine, liquor store ………………………………… La cave (à vins)
MISCELLANEOUS Vocabulary
Screwdriver ….. Le tournevis Hammer …………. Le marteau
Wrench …………. La clef à molette Hacksaw ……….. Scie à métaux
Hand saw ……… Scie égoïne Electric saw …… Scie électrique
File ………………… La lime Drill ……………….. Une perceuse
Wire cuter ………. La cisaille Scissors ……….. Les ciseaux
Screw ……………. La vis Screw hook ……… Crochet à vis
Bolt ……………….. Le boulon Fuse ………………. Un fusible
Nail ……………….. Le clou Plug ……………….. Une prise
Picture hooks …. Crochets Lamp ……………… Une lampe
Plastic inserts …. La cheville Light switch …….. L’interrupteur
Battery ………….. La pile Car batteries …….. La batterie
Lock ……………… La serrure Light bulb ………….. L’ampoule*
Lamp shade …….. L’abat-jour Key …………………. La clé
Female Plug ……. La prise femelle Male plug …………. La prise mâle
Picture Frame …. Le cadre Wallpaper ………… Le papier peint
Glue ………………. La colle Brackets …………. Les tasseaux
Paint brush …….. Le pinceau Paint enamel ……. L’émail
*There are two kinds of bulbs, one with threads as in the USA, called ampoule à vis. The other has two little prongs called ampoule à baïonnette. Check your sockets before you attempt to buy.
Floor polishing and rug shampooing machines can be rented in large grocery stores or in home centers (magasins de bricolage) such as Castorama and Bricorama.
CLOTHING – Sizes
The following charts are comparable sizes. Remember that sizes vary between manufacturers and you should always try clothing on before buying. This guide should help you to determine your correct size.
Women’s Dresses, Knitwear and Blouses
| France | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 |
| UK | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| USA | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Women’s Hosiery
| France | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| UK | 8 5 | 9 | 9 5 | 10 | 10 5 |
| USA | A | B | C | large | extra-large |
Woman’s Shoes
Woman’s Shoes
| France | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 |
| UK | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| USA | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Children’s Clothing
| France | 92 | 104 | 116 | 128 | 140 | 152 |
| UK | 16 to 18 | 20 to 22 | 24 to 26 | 28 to 30 | 32 to 34 | 36 to 38 |
| USA | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
Children’s Shoes
| France | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| UK/USA | 11 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 13.5 | 1 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
Men’s Ready to Wear, Sweaters
| France | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 |
| UK/USA | 44 | 46 | 48 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 59 |
Men’s Suits
Men’s Suits
| France | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 |
| UK/USA | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 42 |
Men’s Shirts
| France | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| UK/USA | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | 17 |
Men’s Underwear
| France | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| UK | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
| USA | S | S or M | M | M or L | L | L or XL | XL |
Men’s Shoes
| France | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 |
| UK | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 10 |
| USA | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |