How Do You Start Shopping?

When you visit a shop or an online store, you often just look. This is called browsing. You don’t always buy something when you browse.

• Example: I like to browse online before I go to the shops.

If you want to find the best price for something, you should shop around. This means visiting different shops or websites to compare prices.

• Example: It’s smart to shop around for a new phone.

Finding Good Prices: Bargains and Sales

A bargain is something you buy for a very good price, often less than its usual cost. When you try to find these good prices, you look for a bargain.

• Example: I found a great bargain on a new jacket!

When items are sold at a reduced price, they are on sale. This is a common way for shops to sell more products.

• Example: Those shoes are on sale this week.

Sometimes, shops have a special offer. This could be a lower price, or something like “buy one, get one free.”

• Example: The supermarket has a special offer on fruit.

Can You Afford It? New Products and Availability

To afford something means you have enough money to buy it. If it’s too expensive, you can’t afford it.

• Example: I really want that car, but I can’t afford it.

New items that just arrived in shops are called latest products. When a new product becomes available, we say it comes out.

• Example: The new smartphone comes out next month.

If a shop has an item ready to sell, it is in stock. If they don’t have it, it is out of stock.

• Example: Is this book in stock? No, it’s out of stock.

What If You Don’t Like It? Returns and Refunds

Before buying clothes, you often try them on to see if they fit and look good.

• Example: I need to try on these jeans before I buy them.

If you buy something and it’s wrong or you don’t like it, you can return it. This means taking or sending it back to the shop.

• Example: I returned the shirt because it was too small.

When you return an item, you might get a refund. A refund is when the shop gives your money back.

• Example: The shop gave me a full refund for the broken toy.

How Do You Pay?

You can pay by card (credit card or debit card).

• Example: Do you want to pay by card or in cash?

Or you can pay in cash (with physical money like notes and coins).

• Example: I prefer to pay in cash for small things.

Examples

• I like to browse online before I go to the shops.
• It’s smart to shop around for a new phone.
• I found a great bargain on a new jacket!
• Those shoes are on sale this week.
• The supermarket has a special offer on fruit.
• I really want that car, but I can’t afford it.
• The new smartphone comes out next month.
• Is this book in stock? No, it’s out of stock.
• I need to try on these jeans before I buy them.
• I returned the shirt because it was too small.
• The shop gave me a full refund for the broken toy.
• Do you want to pay by card or in cash?
• I prefer to pay in cash for small things.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

On sale vs. For sale: Spanish speakers sometimes confuse these. On sale means the price is reduced (en oferta). For sale means something is available to buy (en venta).

• Incorrect: This car is on sale. (If you mean it’s just available, not cheaper)
• Correct: This car is for sale. (It’s available to buy)
• Correct: This car is on sale this week. (It has a reduced price)

Afford: In Spanish, you might say “no puedo pagarlo” (I cannot pay for it). In English, use I can’t afford it to mean you don’t have enough money for it.

• Incorrect: I cannot pay this new phone.
• Correct: I cannot afford this new phone.

Frequently asked questions

What does browse mean when shopping?

To browse means to look at items in a shop or online without necessarily planning to buy anything. It’s like looking around.

What is the difference between in stock and out of stock?

If an item is in stock, the shop has it available to sell. If it is out of stock, they do not have it right now.

Can I say “I want to return my money”?

No, you should say I want to get a refund. A refund is the money you get back when you return an item.

What is a bargain?

A bargain is something you buy for a very good price, usually cheaper than its normal cost.