FEATURED/3 Levels

Asking About Offers or Discounts

Learn how to politely ask a store employee or shopkeeper if there are any sales, offers, or discounts on an item. This lesson provides simple dialogues for a successful shopping experience.

SpeakItGo2 years ago6 min

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Dialogue Practice

Interactive session for daily mastery

BEGINNER

Checking for Sales

Customer :

Excuse me. Is this on sale?

Employee :

No, it's not on sale. The price is thirty dollars.

Customer :

Oh, okay. Are there any offers on shoes?

Employee :

Yes, all shoes are 20% off today.

Customer :

That's great! Thank you for the information.

Employee :

You're welcome. Let me know if you need help.

Customer :

Thanks. I will take these shoes then.

Employee :

Alright. The price will be fifty dollars with the discount.

Asking for a Bundle Deal

Customer :

Hello, how much are these t-shirts?

Employee :

They are fifteen dollars each.

Customer :

Do you have any special offers if I buy three?

Employee :

Yes, we have a 'buy two get one free' deal.

Customer :

That sounds perfect. I'll take three.

Employee :

Excellent choice. Which colors would you like?

Customer :

I'll take blue, white, and black, please.

Employee :

Sure, let's head to the register.

Vocabulary

sale :A period when a store sells goods at reduced prices.

"Is this book on sale?"

discount :A deduction from the usual cost of something.

"Can I get a student discount?"

Using 'On Sale' vs. 'For Sale'

'For sale' means available to buy. 'On sale' means available at a reduced price.

Corrections

✕Saying 'How much discount?'

✓Say 'Is there a discount on this?'

Key Takeaways

Always start with 'Excuse me' to be polite.
Check for signs or tags before asking.
Smile when asking for a deal; it helps!

INTERMEDIATE

Inquiring About Membership Rewards

Customer :

Hi, I'm interested in this jacket, but it's a bit over my budget.

Employee :

It is a premium item, but are you a member of our rewards program?

Customer :

Not yet. Does membership provide any immediate discounts?

Employee :

Yes, new members get 15% off their first purchase today.

Customer :

That's helpful. Are there any other ongoing promotions?

Employee :

We also have a seasonal clearance in the back section.

Customer :

I'll sign up for the membership and take the jacket.

Employee :

Great, I just need your email address to get started.

Negotiating a Minor Defect

Customer :

Excuse me, I noticed a small scratch on this display unit.

Employee :

Let me see. Oh, you're right. I apologize for that.

Customer :

Since it's the last one, would you consider a further reduction?

Employee :

I can offer an additional 10% off the current price.

Customer :

Could we make it 15%? I'll buy it right now.

Employee :

I'll have to check with my manager. One moment, please.

Manager :

We can agree to 15% since it's a floor model.

Customer :

Thank you, that's a fair deal. I'll take it.

Vocabulary

promotion :A specific activity to encourage sales.

"What is the current holiday promotion?"

clearance :A sale to get rid of old stock.

"I found these jeans in the clearance section."

Conditional Sentences in Negotiation

Use 'If... then...' to negotiate. E.g., 'If I buy two, can you give me a better price?'

Corrections

✕Saying 'Give me discount.'

✓Say 'Is there any flexibility on the price?'

Key Takeaways

Mention defects politely to ask for lower prices.
Membership programs are a great way to save.
Know the difference between a sale and a clearance.

ADVANCED

Bulk Purchase Price Negotiation

Customer :

Good afternoon. I'm looking to source fifty units of these tablets.

Employee :

That's a significant order. Are you looking for a wholesale rate?

Customer :

Exactly. I'd like to discuss a tiered pricing structure for bulk orders.

Employee :

For fifty units, we typically offer a 20% markdown from retail.

Customer :

Is there any room for maneuver if we commit to a long-term contract?

Employee :

We could potentially increase that to 25% with a recurring order.

Customer :

That sounds promising. Let's look at the terms and conditions.

Employee :

Certainly. I'll prepare a formal quote for your review.

Discussing Price Matching

Customer :

I noticed your competitor is offering this model at a lower price point.

Employee :

We do have a price-match guarantee. Do you have the advertisement?

Customer :

Yes, I have the digital flyer right here on my phone.

Employee :

It seems they are offering it for $899. We can certainly match that.

Customer :

Excellent. Does the price match include their extended warranty?

Employee :

Our policy only covers the base price of the hardware itself.

Customer :

I see. If you can include the shipping, we have a deal.

Employee :

I can waive the delivery fee as a gesture of goodwill.

Vocabulary

wholesale :The selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others.

"We buy our supplies at wholesale prices."

markdown :A reduction in price, typically to encourage buying.

"The end-of-season markdown was very generous."

Subjunctive Mood in Negotiation

Use phrases like 'I would appreciate it if...' to sound more sophisticated.

Corrections

✕Using 'cheapen' instead of 'reduce'.

✓Say 'Would you be willing to reduce the price?'

Key Takeaways

Use 'room for maneuver' to discuss price flexibility.
Always ask about price-matching if you've seen a better deal.
Tiered pricing is common for large business-to-business orders.