toll free? try again
In the states, just about every business has a toll free number. In Germany, almost no businesses have a toll free number (only two come to mind, the phone company and the train) In fact, not only is it not free, you have to pay to call, usually between 15 and 20 cents a minute. That is more than the direct call would cost. That goes for ordering stuff per telephone, too. If you want to purchase a 800 euro couch from Ikea, you pay 20 cents a minute to call them and order it. Lufthansa also charges if you want to call and book a flight, or change your reservation.
There is one advantage of course, you almost never have to wait on hold. People don’t jabber as much when they are paying for the call.