Swiss efficiency

Stereotypes can be very misleading. For instance, the stereotype of Switzerland is that everything here is very efficient and streamlined. 

Trying to make sense of their national train website would totally put the lie to that.

If you've ever wondered why someone would go on a murderous rampage without any apparent provocation, consider that the trigger may have been trying to use the Switzerland train system website.

Here is a recent experience I had, after giving up on the website and just going down to the train station ticket counter.

Ticket salesman: How can I help you? 

Me: We want to buy the special 36-franc tickets to Venice. 

Salesman: Oh, the one on the website? You can only buy that on the website. 

Me: But on the website it says you can buy it at the counter. 

Salesman: Sorry, but only on the website. 

Me: But on the website the cheap ticket does not come up. 

Salesman: What day did you want to travel? 

Me: Whatever day has the cheap ticket. 

Salesman: Oh, it does not work that way. You have to put in which dates you want to travel and then see if the cheap ticket comes up. 

Me: You mean you can't just click on the cheap ticket and see which days it is offered? 

Salesman: No. You must type in your dates of travel first. 

Me: So, I would have to actually go into every single day from now through the next four months to see if the cheap ticket is hidden in one of those days? 

Salesman: Well, yes. I guess you have some work to do.