train ticket

Today I went to the train station to ask the cost of a train ticket. I just needed a rough estimate.
When you ask this kind of information in Italy, it may result in this kind of dialog.
Me: "I need a rough estimate for a train ticket from A to B"
The italian, "well, after consulting my crystal ball, I think it should be around 100 euro"
Me, "are you sure?"
"Not really, the cost depends but I don't remember what it depends on."
"Well, thank you"
Total time 2 minutes. Real cost of the ticket: 90 euro.

In Switzerland, you get something like this:
Me: "I need a rough estimate for a train ticket from A to B"
The Swiss guy at the counter, "We don't give rough estimate, we give just the exact price"
Me, "ok, may I have the exact price of the train ticket from A to B"
The Swiss guy, "Are you traveling alone?"
Me, "yes"
The Swiss guy, "Which class do you want to travel?"
Me, "Second class, please"
The Swiss guy, "Do you have any reduction?"
Me, "yes"
The Swiss guy, "Which one"
Me, "half price for all Switzerland"
The Swiss guy, "That gives you 20% discount on all German train, excluding
the ICE, the fast train. When do you want to travel?"
Me, "middle of April"
Looking at me furiously, the Swiss guy, "I need the exact days"
Me, "Let say I go the 20th with return the 22nd"
The Swiss guy, "what time do you want to leave?"
Me, "In the evening of the 20th"
The Swiss guy, "17:12 is ok?"
Me, "yes"The Swiss, "what time do you want for the return?"
Me, "In the evening of the 22nd"
The swiss "15:41 is ok?"
Me, "yes"
The Swiss can now give me the price but the procedure is complex. He has to:
- print the details of the trip on two sheets, one for each way;
- bind together the two sheets with swiss precision;
- write the cost details (using a ruler to trace lines!!!!);
- rubber stamp the sheet;
- sign the sheet.
The entire procedure takes 10 minutes but the result is stunning


Yes, it is not a joke. It happened for real!