Mastering the Language of Shopping: Bargains, Returns, and More

Ever felt lost in the labyrinth of retail language? On our latest adventure, we'll untangle the jargon of the shopping sphere, guaranteeing your mastery over clothing vocabulary, sales talk, and so much more. We'll play out real-life shopping scenarios, letting you in on essential phrases for price inquiries, sales, discounts, and even the daunting world of returns, exchanges, and bargaining.

Joining us is Betty, prepping for her own shopping spree, she offers an authentic perspective on creating a shopping list and manoeuvring through shopping obstacles. We'll be your guide, showing you how to navigate the tricky waters of bargaining, using phrases like "Can you knock a few dollars off?". We'll also explore a hectic day in a boutique and how to gracefully handle common shopping complaints. So, buckle up and get ready to become a pro in the language of shopping!


  Quiz Answers

. Check your understanding answers >Shop assistant or Customer

 1. Shop assistant

 2. Customer 

3. Shop assistant

 4. Shop assistant 

5. Customer

 6. Customer 

7. Shop assistant

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Going shopping is not only an essential and even enjoyable everyday activity unless you really hate it but as a person who struggles with English and needs to go and buy new clothes in an English speaking country, it might turn into a real challenge. So I invite you to join this podcast, practicing Shopping Conversation. I broke this lesson into parts full of dialogues and explanations to help you learn new phrases and clothes vocabulary. You will try something on and discuss the price. Maybe you will get a discount or a bargain. And I'm excited to announce for the first time this lesson includes a quiz to check on your understanding. So let me know in the comments below if you managed to answer all the questions. The answers will be waiting for you in the description box. So what are you waiting for? Put on your headphones, listen to the characters and enjoy your listening. Hey, can I help you? Yes, I have to got this t-shirt in other columns. Let me see what we've got here Black, red and purple. What size do you want? Medium, okay, medium. We've got black and red. Can you check if you have any purple? No, just black and red, okay, then I'll take red. Can I try it on? Yeah, of course, the changing rooms are over there, is it okay? Uh, yeah, I think it's good. I'll take it Right. That's £10.95. Would you like to pay by credit card or with cash? Cash, please? Here's 20. Okay, thanks, that's £9.00. Fight, pick, change and here's your receipt. Yep, thanks, cheers, bye-bye.

Speaker 1: 2:08

We have ridged the quiz part. Check your understanding. Who said that? The shop assistant or the customer? Write down your answers Now. We'll leave the answers in the description box so you can check them later. Number one is it okay? The customer or the shop assistant? Number two, and in purple the customer or the shop assistant. Number three would you like to pay with a credit card or cash? The customer or the shop assistant. Number four can I help you? The customer or the shop assistant? Number five yes, have you got this t-shirt in other colors? The customer or the shop assistant. Number six can I try it on? The customer or the shop assistant? Number seven what size do you want? The customer or the shop assistant? Talking about the price Hi there, listeners.

Speaker 1: 3:19

Clothes shops have sales when some or all the clothes are discounted. Here are a few examples you can use. Is this in the sales? Is this in the sales? Is this on sale? Is this on sale. There's a discount of 20% on this. There's a discount of 20% on this. These jeans are discounted by 20%. These jeans are discounted by 20%. It's a bargain Means. The low price is a surprise. It's cheap Means. It doesn't cost much money. It's expensive. It means it costs a lot of money. Now let's learn where you can buy clothes.

Speaker 1: 4:16

There are different types of clothes shops. Here are some common ones Shopping centre A large building with lots of different shops inside. Shopping mall. In American English, a boutique it's a small shop, often expensive, with designer label clothes. A charity shop it means goodwill. In American English, it's a shop where you can buy second hand, not new, clothes. The money you pay for them goes to charity. The factory outlet this is a shop where you can buy clothes directly from the factory that makes them. Often these clothes or shoes are samples. A department store this is a large shop with departments for men's clothes, women's clothes, households, objects, etc. And there's a chain store, a brand that has shops in many different towns, such as Zara or Aegean M.

Speaker 1: 5:21

Here are some useful phrases. A shop assistant says Can I help you? Are you looking for anything in particular? Do you need any help at all? We don't have any of these left in stock. It means there is no more of something. Here are some useful phrases. A customer says I'm looking for, I'd like to buy that, indicating a piece of clothing. Let's say do you have this in? Let's say, medium, large, small, extra large, or do you have it in blue, black, beige, other colors, etc.

Speaker 1: 6:05

Meet Betty. She is planning a vacation to an unknown destination. She has to be prepared for any scenario and that is why she has to go shopping and buy new clothes for any occasion. But before doing her shopping, she is putting in her purse a credit card. Betty is sitting and writing her own shopping list Hmm, knickers, pants, oh um.

Speaker 1: 6:36

One G string, three briefs plus three spanks um, one bra, one pusher bra and one vest, oh, and a tank, one skirt, one t-dress, oh, a fit flare dress, oh oh. One wonderful ball gown, oh um. Seven tops, one v-neck, one polo, one boat neck, one strappy, one blouse, one t-shirt, one crop top, one jumper, joggers, trousers, red leggings oh um. One raincoat and one ski jacket, one jeans jacket, trainers, boots, sandals and flip flops. What about accessories? Hmm, some glasses. Oh, woolly bobble hat and a scarf. Hi again listeners In this part where we learn other shopping vocabulary and how to return or exchange an item and how to bargain. So pay attention.

Speaker 1: 8:18

To suit it means to be in your style or to complement your body, shape or skin or hair color. That dress really suits you. That dress really suits you. Let's move on. To fit, it means to be the right size. These jeans don't fit very well. These jeans don't fit very well. Now. Clothes can be too big, like size large when you are size small. Too small, small size when you are large. Size too tight Waste measurement like 34 when you are waist 38. Too loose it means waist measurement 38 when you are waist 34. Too long Jeans leg measurement 34 when your leg measurement is 32. Too short Jeans leg measurement 32 when your leg measurement is 34. To go well with or to match it means to look good with your other clothes. This jumper goes well with my trousers. This jumper goes well with my trousers. This color jumper matches your new trousers. This color jumper matches your new trousers.

Speaker 1: 10:07

It is a bad busy day in the Lafay boutique. People keep on coming with all kinds of complaints. Listen to the conversation and learn how to return or extend an item. Hi, I'd like to change this to a different size, please? Sure, can I have your receipt, please? And you know what? I'd like to return the skirt as well. The skirt. What seems to be the problem with it? Well, I don't know, the stitching is coming undone. Excuse me, miss. I'd like to return these trousers, please, the trousers. What seems to be the problem with them? Well, they shrink a lot after I wash them. Did you follow the instructions? Sure, I have. Look. So do I get a refund? Or what? Excuse me, miss. I was standing here also.

Speaker 1: 11:09

Queer people, what's going on today? Oh, yes, how can I help you? Well, I'd like to return this cardigan. It got turned in a few places the first time I washed it. Oh goodness, not again. What temperature did you wash it at? You know what? Never mind, you can have something else instead. Have a look. No, no, no, no, no. I'd like to return the sweater for a refund, please, okay, okay, can I have your receipt please? Uh, we, uh, here you are. Look, I'm afraid you bought it more than two weeks ago, so we can't give you a refund. Oh la la, oh, my God. Yes, sorry, okay, who's next? God, what a day. Hi there, listeners stitching a piece of thread.

Speaker 1: 12:11

So in cloth, to come undone means become untied, to shrink, to become smaller, to get torn. If a clothing item gets torn, it gets holes in it. Queue up, it means Standing line. How to bargain? Excuse me, sir, how much is it? 30 dollars, that's pretty stick. Can you knock a few dollars off? Okay, you can have it for 28. How much is this vase? Ah, this vase is 100 dollars. It's a bit more than I wanted to pay. You know what? How? About 70 dollars? No, no, no, no, no, you can have it for 85 dollars. I'm afraid that's still too much. How much are these gloves? These gloves are 30 dollars. Would you take it for 20 for them? You know what? For you, I make it 25. Best price. I'm afraid that's still too much. How much are these gloves? These gloves are 30 dollars, 25. Best price. What do you say? Okay, it's a deal. Hi there listeners. Step means high and to knock off means to reduce the price.