Cash or charge / Paper or plastic?
At the checkout line, the cashier at the supermarket. Many Japanese people feel nervous about their English so when they hear even simple English, they panic and only hear dktjierlksdjf? Usually, the cashier will only ask you what kind of bag do you want. To Japanese people, “plastic” is like a table or bottle. They call a plastic bag “vinyl.” Before, they would ask “paper or plastic?” because you could have a choice. Now, there is a shortage of trees. They want to save paper, so they have changed the questions to “Is plastic ok?” And usually the person will say yes. Also, nowdays, you can get a discount if you have a membership card. They will ask you if have that card.
They will say: Do you have a makai card? Do you have Royal card? Do you have a Safeway card?
Also, when something is out, Americans ask for “rainchecks.” This is a slip of paper that allows the person to buy the same item for the discount price when the item comes in. Usually you have to buy it within 30 days from the date of the raincheck. First go look for your item. If you don’t find it, then you should ask a store worker. Sometimes they put it in the front on display and you miss it. Or they might be out of an item but have more in the back which they forgot to move to the front. Sometimes they will give you another brand as a substitute. If none of this is possible, you should go to the customer service and ask for a raincheck. They will usually ask these questions: For what item do you want a raincheck? How many do you want? They will sometimes ask your name, number or zip code. They also might ask if you checked if the item was out. If you can’t find an item, you may say to the store worker: May I have a raincheck? So the questions asked at a supermarket will be: “Cash or charge?” = Do you want to pay by cash or by credit card? “Is plastic ok?” = Is a plastic bag ok? “Do you have a makai card? = Do you have a discount card? “ Is that all?” (If you have one small item, they might ask you this.) These are all “yes” or “no” answers.
スーパーマーケットのレジでの出来事です。１００ドルも買い物をしていないので、１００ドル札を握っていれば、英語で余計なことを聞かれることもなかろうと考えていました。ところが、いろいろな質問をされたので大汗をかきました。尋ねられることはは単純な質問だけです。予想されることを挙げてみましょう。 お支払いは、現金ですか、それともクレジットカードですか？ おしはらいは、げんきんですか、それともクレジットカードですか？
Cash or charge?
例えば、By cash とだけ答えればよいのです。
Nowadays, most supermarkets have a machine at the checkout counter where the customers can swipe their own cards if they want to use them. And so, the clerks usually don´t ask the customers if they are paying by cash or charge. If you do choose to pay by card, you have to know which button to press. Most Japanese visitors would probably choose ¨credit,¨ then swipe their card, and press ¨OK¨ after the amount is displayed.
紙袋に入れますか、それとも、ビニール袋に入れますか？
かみぶくろにいれますか、それとも、ビニールぶくろにいれますか？
紙袋にいれて欲しい時には、Paper please と答えます。
Most stores nowadays, just give out plastic bags unless the customer requests paper. In this case, you might ask, ¨Can you put that in a paper bag.¨
クーポン券をお持ちですか？
クーポンけんをおもちですか？
Do you have any coupons?
持っていない場合は、No, I don’t.
Most supermarkets now have their own store cards that automatically give discounts to members. Foodland has the Maika´i Card, Safeway has the Safeway Club Card, Times has the Times Royal Card, etc. Most visitors from Japan will not have these cards so, when the clerk asks for the card, they can just say, ¨No.¨ If they are shopping with a someone who lives here, the local can use their card at checkout.
これだけですか？
Is that all?
Yes と答えれば十分です。
スーパーマーケットではよくセールを行います。万一、売り切れの場合には、rain check／レインチェックを請求すると、次回その商品が入荷した時、セールの価格で買うことができます。長期滞在なさる場合は試して見るのも面白いでしょう。
3/1/1992
（ジャパニーズビーチプレス連載）
