Shopping for Clothes

When you are at  a department store, you usually need to "try on" clothes before you buy them.   Read this conversation at a department store:

Clerk:  Hello, may I help you?
Customer:  Yes, May I try this on?
Clerk: Sure, go ahead.
Customer:  Where's the dressing room?
Clerk: It's over there on the right wall.

If the customer wants to try something on.  Read these example conversations:

Michiko:  May I help you?
Michael:  May I try this on?

Michiko:  Can I help you?
Michael: Can I try this on?

Michiko:  May I help you?
Michael: I'd like to try this on.

If he doesn't want to buy anything, he can say:

"I'm just looking"

or
"No thanks, I'm just looking"


If the customer doesn't know where the dressing room is, they should ask one of the clerks.   For example:

Customer: Where is the dressing room?
Clerk:  It's over there on the right. When asking a question, it's more polite if you say "excuse me" first.

Read this example conversation:

Customer:  Excuse me, where's the dressing room?
Clerk: It's over there on the right.

Another way to say the same thing is:

"Excuse me, where can I try this on?"


Read these example conversations:

Customer:  Excuse me, where's the dressing room?
Clerk:  It's over there on the right.

Customer:  Excuse me, where can I try this on?
Clerk:  The dressing room is over there on the right.

Once the customer is in the dressing room, if they need help, again they should ask the clerk.  Read this next conversation:

Clerk:  How are you doing in there?
Customer: Could you help me?
Clerk:  Sure.
Customer: Do you have another size?
Clerk: Yes, what size do you want?
Customer: I want a size 7.







If the customer wants to try on something else, they should ask the
clerk.  They can say:

"Do you have another color?"

or
"Do you have another size?"









Even after you "try on" some clothes, you have a choice to make.  Read these conversations in the dressing room:

Clerk:  Did you decide on anything?
Customer:  I'm not going to get anything.

Clerk:  Did you decide on anything?
Customer:  I don't want anything.

When the customer is trying on something, sometimes they want another opinion.  In that case, they will ask the clerk what they think.  Read this short conversation:

Customer:  How does it look?
Clerk: It looks nice on you.






With this question, the clerk will usually give a complimentary answer.  In this case, the clerk said:

"It looks nice on you"


Read these example conversations:

Customer:  How does it look?
Clerk: It looks nice on you.

Customer:  How do I look?
Clerk: You look good in it.

Customer:  What do you think?
Clerk:  It's very becoming.

If the clothing doesn't fit, the customer should tell the clerk.

Read these example sentences:

Michael:  The waist is a little bit tight.  Do you have a bigger one?
Audience:  The waist is a little bit tight.  Do you have a bigger one?

Michael:  This shirt is too small.  Do  you have a larger one?
Audience:  This shirt is too small. Do you have a larger one?

Michael:  This coat is too big.  Do you have a smaller one?
Audience:  This coat is too big.  Do you have a smaller one?

There may be times when you need to alter some clothes before you buy them.  This is called alterations. It means to fix the length or size of something.

Read this conversation:

Customer: Could you make alterations in these pants?
Clerk: Sure, what would you like done?
Customer:  Could you let out the hem?
Clerk: Certainly, that's no problem.

Sometimes it's cheaper to buy something and to make alterations than to get a different size.  When you want to ask for alterations, you can say:

"Could you make alterations in these pants?"

"Could you alter these pants?"


Now, before buying something, you should check the label and see what kind of material it is made out of and also how it is to be washed. You can also ask the clerk.  Read this conversation:

Customer:  What kind of material is this?
Clerk:  It's 100% wool.







Another way to say the same thing is:

"What's this made of?"


Read this example conversation:

Customer:  What kind of material is this?
Clerk:  It's silk.

Customer:  What's this made of?
Clerk:   It's made of polyester.







It's also important to know if it's possible to wash in a washing machine or if you have to wash it by hand.  Some materials like silk and wool, require washing by hand.  However, most kinds of material are ok to wash in the washing maching.  If you are unsure, you can ask the clerk.  Read these example conversations:

Customer:  Can I wash this in the washing machine?
Clerk: Yes, you can.  It's made from cotton.

Customer:  Should I wash this dress by hand?
Clerk:  Yes, it's better not to wash this in the washing  machine because it's made out of silk.

Now the customer is ready to buy.  Read these example conversations:

Clerk:  Did you decide on anything?
Customer:  Yes, I'll buy this one.
Clerk:    OK, will that be cash or charge?
Customer:  Cash.

Clerk:  Would you like to buy anything?
Customer:  I'll buy this one.

Clerk:  Did you decide on anything?
Customer:  I'll take this one.

Finally, if the customer is not satisfied with the item, they can return it for a refund or an exchange.  Most stores will exchange an item for another item while a refund or getting cash back is rare.

Read this conversation:

Clerk: Hi, May I help you?
Customer: Yes, I'd like to return this.
Clerk: What's the reason for the return?
Customer: There is a button missing on this shirt.

After the customer says,

"I'd like to return this",


the clerk will ask the reason for the return.  Then the customer should give the reason.







Read these example conversations:

Clerk:   What's the reason for the exchange?
Customer:  There is a button missing on this shirt.
Clerk:  Why do you want to return this?
Customer:  There is a stain on these shorts.

Clerk:  What's the reason for the exchange?
Customer:  The seam is ripping on these pants.