Dialogue
French dialogue in a charity shop: buying something with no price
Ask the price of an unlabelled item in a French charity shop or flea market, check its condition, pay cash and ask for a bag. Full dialogue with practice mode.
- A1
- 14 lines
- Practice mode
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In short
When there's no price label, ask C'est combien, celui-ci ? or Vous le vendez combien ? Check the condition with Il fonctionne ? (Does it work?) and pay with Je peux payer en espèces ?
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- Vendeuse
Bonjour ! Je peux vous aider ?
English
Hello! Can I help you?
- You
Bonjour. Cette lampe n'a pas de prix. C'est combien ?
Say the lamp has no price and ask how much.
English
Hello. This lamp has no price. How much is it?
- Vendeuse
Ah, je regarde… Huit euros.
English
Ah, let me look… Eight euros.
- You
Elle fonctionne ?
Ask if it works.
English
Does it work?
- Vendeuse
Oui, on l'a testée hier. Il faut juste une ampoule.
English
Yes, we tested it yesterday. It just needs a bulb.
- You
D'accord. Et ce vase bleu, il est à combien ?
Ask the price of the blue vase.
English
OK. And this blue vase, how much is it?
- Vendeuse
Cinq euros. Si vous prenez les deux, je vous fais douze.
English
Five euros. If you take both, I'll do twelve.
- You
Très bien, je prends les deux. Je peux payer en espèces ?
Accept and ask to pay cash.
English
Great, I'll take both. Can I pay cash?
- Vendeuse
Bien sûr. Vous avez la monnaie ?
English
Of course. Do you have the right change?
- You
J'ai un billet de vingt.
Say you have a twenty-euro note.
English
I have a twenty-euro note.
- Vendeuse
Pas de souci. Huit euros de monnaie. Vous voulez un sac ?
English
No problem. Eight euros change. Would you like a bag?
- You
Oui, merci. Le vase est fragile.
Accept the bag; say the vase is fragile.
English
Yes, thanks. The vase is fragile.
- Vendeuse
Je l'emballe dans du papier journal. Voilà !
English
I'll wrap it in newspaper. There you go!
- You
Merci beaucoup, bonne journée !
Thank her and say goodbye.
English
Thanks very much, have a good day!
How do you ask the price of a second-hand item in French?
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une ressourcerie / une boutique solidaire | a charity / reuse shop |
| un vide-grenier / une brocante | a car-boot sale / flea market |
| d'occasion | second-hand |
| en bon état | in good condition |
| les espèces (f.) | cash |
| la monnaie | change |
At a vide-grenier you can bargain gently: Vous me le faites à cinq euros ? (Would you do it for five?). In a charity shop prices are usually fixed, but sellers often round down when you buy several things.