Shoe Shine in Zurich?

Quirkleeah · 1 February 2010 23:25

Winter weather.... the shoes are in need of some tender lovin' care.

Anyone know a place in Zurich where I can drop off a bunch of shoes and boots for a good shine? How much is the going rate?

Cremme · 2 February 2010 07:06

Serious disposable income needed for labour of this sort. You'll find obliging shoe shine chaps at any Schumacherei or the ubiquitous Mr Minit. Best to sit on a step with a rag, brush and Tin of Kiwi and save yourself a blue note or two.

Quirkleeah · 2 February 2010 09:52

Thanks Uncle Max...guess I'll have to take out the old Kiwi tin.

leophillalo · 2 February 2010 10:08

Walk into any hotel (especially 4 star for some reason) and they'll have one of those automatic shoe cleaners in the bathroom. You have to be wearing the shoes but they do come up well. I clean my shoes at the gym changing room on one of these machines. Quite fun as well.

thiams · 2 February 2010 10:21

This is Switzerland. Not too many guys shining shoes...

The Politics of the Shoe Shine

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of societies: those where you can get a shoe shine and those where you can’t.

[...]

Germany is much like France in its resistance to the shoe shine. That makes 145 million Europeans or so, spread from Bordeaux to Berlin, with scant access to this particular micro-service. Odd when you think about it.

Or perhaps not, for the shoe-shine rule goes something like this: if you can’t find one, you are probably in a society with a developed sense of egalitarianism and social solidarity, high taxation, a broad safety net, universal health care, extensive entitlements and high unemployment. Read a European society like France or Germany.

If you can, you’re probably in a place with low unemployment and little of the above social security, a place where capitalism is crueler and more vital, a place not unlike America.

steefrdus · 2 January 2014 08:41

Old thread I know but can you buy kiwi in Zurich?

leophillalo · 2 January 2014 10:22

You can buy shoe polish in any supermarket, yes. Kiwi brand is one I'm sure I've seen in Coop at least, but they're all pretty much the same, so why would the make matter?