Cheat sheet

A2 French shop notices: read the exchange conditions

Read a French shop’s exchange notice, learn four condition phrases and compare purchase cases. Includes a printable sheet, picture vocabulary and four questions.

In short

Check four points in the shop’s notice: the time limit, the item’s condition, the label and the receipt. Then check the exception for personalised items. An échange means replacing the item with another one.

What do French return and exchange notices say?

Boutique des Lilas : pour un échange en magasin, rapportez l’article non porté, avec son étiquette et le ticket de caisse, dans les dix jours suivant l’achat. Les articles personnalisés sont exclus de cette offre d’échange.

Boutique des Lilas: for an in-store exchange, bring back the unworn item with its label and receipt within ten days of purchase. Personalised items are excluded from this exchange offer.

Lire les conditions d’un échange

1 · Check the time limit

Dans les dix jours suivant l’achat links the return window to the purchase. A recent purchase can meet this condition while still missing another one.

il y a trois joursthree days ago
dans les dix jourswithin ten days

J’ai acheté ce pull il y a trois jours.I bought this jumper three days ago.

2 · Check the item’s condition

Non porté means unworn. In a full sentence, the participle agrees with the clothing item.

Le tee-shirt n’a pas été porté.The T-shirt has not been worn.

La veste n’a pas été portée.The jacket has not been worn.

3 · Keep the label and receipt together

The notice asks for both. Avec introduces what must accompany the item; et joins the two things to bring.

Voici l’étiquette et le ticket de caisse.Here are the label and the receipt.

4 · Read the exception

Exclus de cette offre names the boundary of this shop’s offer. A T-shirt printed with a customer’s name is a personalised item.

Ce tee-shirt porte mon prénom.This T-shirt has my first name on it.

Four things to recognise at the till

The customers at the counter
CustomerPurchase and conditionLabelReceipt
NoraStandard T-shirt, three days ago, unwornPresentPresent
AdamStandard T-shirt, two days ago, unwornPresentMissing
LinaPersonalised T-shirt, two days ago, unwornPresentPresent
ÉricStandard jumper, fifteen days ago, unwornPresentPresent
Question 1No account needed
Who meets every condition of this exchange offer?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Nora. Nora has a standard unworn item, its label and receipt, bought within ten days.

Question 2No account needed
What is missing in Adam’s case?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The receipt. Adam has the label, but the table says his receipt is missing.

Question 3No account needed
Why is Lina’s item outside this offer?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It is personalised.. The notice excludes personalised items, even with a receipt and label.

Question 4No account needed
Which condition does Éric miss?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The time limit. Fifteen days is longer than the ten-day window stated in this notice.