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Describe something you bought that you really wanted to return: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What you bought?
  • Why you wanted to return it?
  • What happened when you tried to return it?
  • And explain how you felt afterward.
Show all 319 answers

Cue 1:What you bought?

  • Begin by clearly stating the item you purchased and its significance to you.
  • Include details about where and when you bought it to set the context.

Example

I bought a pair of expensive wireless headphones from an online store during a sale. I had been wanting them for months because I love listening to music while commuting and exercising.

Cue 2:Why you wanted to return it?

  • Explain the specific reasons that led you to want to return the item.
  • Mention any expectations you had that were not met.

Example

After using the headphones for a few days, I realized that the sound quality was not as good as I had hoped. Additionally, they were uncomfortable to wear for long periods, which was disappointing since I had read many positive reviews.

Cue 3:What happened when you tried to return it?

  • Describe the process you went through to return the item.
  • Share any challenges or frustrations you faced during the return process.

Example

When I contacted customer service to initiate the return, I faced long wait times on the phone. They informed me that I needed to send the headphones back at my own expense, which I found frustrating. Eventually, I managed to send them back, but it took a lot longer than I expected.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt afterward.

  • Reflect on your emotions after the return process was completed.
  • Discuss any lessons learned from the experience.

Example

After finally returning the headphones, I felt relieved but also a bit frustrated with the whole experience. I learned to be more cautious when buying expensive items online and to read reviews more thoroughly before making a purchase.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, returning the headphones was a challenging experience, but it taught me valuable lessons about online shopping and managing expectations. I now feel more confident in making future purchases.

    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your response unclear. Avoid general statements that do not provide specific details about the item you bought or your feelings about returning it.

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    Tip

    Be specific about the item, including its name and features. Describe your feelings and experiences in detail to create a clearer picture.

    2: Neglecting Emotional Impact

    Failing to express your emotions can make your answer less engaging. It's important to convey how the experience affected you personally.

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    Tip

    Share your feelings before and after the return process. Use descriptive language to express your emotions, such as frustration or relief.

    Ignoring the Return Process

    Not explaining what happened during the return process can leave your answer incomplete. Candidates often skip this crucial part, which can lead to a lack of depth.

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    Tip

    Detail the steps you took to return the item, including any challenges faced. This adds depth to your story and shows your problem-solving skills.

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    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 6-7

    It was in 2019 when it was character day in my college and I wanted to become my favorite character Spiderman. So I ordered a Spiderman suit from Amazon and I wanted to flex it in front of my friends. So it was for 2000 rupees and I wished that I would wear it for a day and then return it. But because of my inconvenience and mistake, I didn't see that the suit was non-returnable. It was written, it is replaceable but not returnable. That is, if there is any defect, you can replace the suit. But it is not allowed to return. But I forgot to read it and I bought the suit for 2000 bucks and then I enjoyed. I wore it and it was perfect fit and my friends loved it. I clicked many pictures, I filmed a video and everywhere I went wearing that suit. But then it was the time when I had to return it. And the next day when I came back home bringing the suit, I washed it properly in my washing machine and then I gave it to dry cleaning for cleaner. And then after properly ironing the suit, I went to the app to check the dates when it can be returned. And there, on my surprise, I could see that there was no option for return. So I felt disheartened at that time that I forgot to read the instructions carefully. But then I tried calling the customer care that it was because of my inconvenience that I couldn't return the suit. But then the customer care requested me that it is not returnable and we are very sorry that we can't accept it. So you have to keep it because it is against our policies. So that was a mistake made by me and I felt very bad for wasting my 2000 rupees as it was not returnable.

    Band 6-7

    In day-to-day life, as most of us use social media, as well as we use several payment applications, we do online transactions. And we get fascinated by the deals as well as we get excited when we see our favorite celebrities who are using some sort of a gadget, airports. So, here I would like to talk about one of the incidents which recently happened with me. Two days back, I saw an advertisement of airport. So, in my Instagram algorithm, I used to see a lot of advertisements related to airports. And suddenly, after I have done couple of payments, online payments, I got an offer from Google Pay that you will get a 75% discount if you buy this product. And they gave me a code. I was fascinated by the deal and I have clicked. In frustration, I used to think I don't spend my money, wasting my time. So, I finally bought those airports. Then, after some time, I realized this is not a requirement. I have airports. Why should I buy? But I wanted to cancel that item. But the return policy was different. So, I couldn't able to return that item. The reason I wanted to return that item was, I took that decision in FOMO. So, that was the reason and I bought something which I was not supposed to buy.

    Band 6-7

    Few months back I started going gym, it was been 3 months I was going to the gym but I could not see any improvement inside my body like growing up the muscles, chest muscles or biceps, triceps or legs, calves. I talked with my trainer and he suggested me to go for a whey protein. I came home, I researched about the whey protein in the google and I came to know that GNC is the best whey protein in India. I looked for the flavors and I ordered for cookies and cream. After 7 days I received this product at my home and when I opened the product there was a QR code to scan to verify that it is original. After 7 days was getting opened, I came to know that this is a fake product. Then I raised a complaint and GNC customer care. I tried to tell them about my problem and I shared them the pictures and videos everything. But the worst thing which I like was that they did not return my product even after 20 days of constantly complaining everyday. After that I decided to just keep it in my house and give it to someone who need it.

    Band 6-7

    I wanted to read as I purchased an Apple iPhone from Amazon website as doing shopping on most of the online apps improve the ad's convenience without going to the market and doing bargains with the shopkeepers. Now a days mostly people order online all the things which are necessary to their home and which are easily deliverable. I ordered an iPhone 15 from Amazon website and it was showing that it will be delivered after 4 days of ordering. I got delivered very late as after a week but it was no problem at all because if I am getting a nice mobile instead of waiting 2 days more. When I opened the box I felt something bad as the box is already opened from one side and the wrapper was tear from one side of the box. When I opened the phone it was charged like 60% of the battery and most of the new smartphones doesn't have this type of battery. So I suspected that there should be a scam with me and I also requested to the service centre to return my phone and initiate me or deliver me a new phone as there I didn't like that phone that set very much as they completely compromise with me, completely agree with my talk and wanted to give me a return a new phone. So I wanted to return.

    Band 6-7

    I was out online shopping when I saw these pair of jeans at a discounted rate. For me, when it comes to a pair of jeans that I like to wear, I want them to be baggy. I want them to have a little faded look, which is not very much available in the market these days. Therefore, I have to opt out to buy online. Many a times, when buying things on the internet, it's difficult to identify what material it's made of or how the quality is. Of course, you can read reviews, you can interpret ratings, but never always is accurate. So I bought these pair of jeans online, and they were delivered to my place. I saw that they neither were of the same size, of the same color, and neither did they fit the same design, and I was very disappointed. I immediately pressed on return on my phone, and they were picked up next day. Often, after doing online payments, it's a little bit of a scare for people as to when they'll get their money, although the money return was prompt, and I felt kind of hopeless because I never really get jeans, and I love jeans.

    Band 6-7

    I bought a watch last year during my birthday and that purchase was the worst purchase of my life that I really wanted to return. As I remember it was my birthday and my parents gifted me that watch and they have seen that watch online during a sale on Amazon and they were very attracted to that watch because it has many features, it had many features like heart rate monitoring, step monitoring and many sensors like activity sensors, swimming sensors and it was waterproof moreover but when it arrived it looks so different that I really wanted to return at the exact time when it arrived. After that I explored its functions and the functions were not complete as shown in the advertisement and that's the worst purchase I have ever made and that watch is not really looked like it was online like the screen size was typically less than which was shown in the advertisement and the functions were missing and the strap of the watch was somehow damaged and that's so disgusting for me and as I have saved my pocket money and gave it to my parents to buy me that watch it hurts so much to me and after that I requested a return and after seven days the delivery guy came and collected the watch from me and after that I felt very happy.

    Band 6-7

    I recently bought a dress for myself that is a Punjabi with dupatta from Amazon. I liked the dress very much. The color of the dress was peach and it attracted me to buy it as soon as I saw from the website. So I just bought it giving my details as L size and I got I ordered it the end of this last month and I just got that particular parcel in the first week of this month. I felt really overwhelmed to open that particular parcel because I really like that product and whenever I as soon as I opened the product I was happy but the size did not match me so I just wanted to return it. However I couldn't do that because they were arguing that the size delivered was correct only and it was my mistake that I have not put a correct size so because I like that product very much and I couldn't return it I kept that product with me and I gave it to my mother she in turn gave it to my cousin and she was very happy that size was fit for her and I am happy for this because at least that product will be used by somebody else known to me even though I didn't use that product so I am happy for getting that product.

    Band 6-7

    I wanted to, I would like to talk about a Bluetooth speaker which I bought in last month. I ordered a product on the online, it's a boat speaker, but I got a different product. It's some local brand which has no quality and the features of the Bluetooth speaker are very normal. I ordered the Bluetooth speaker choosing reviews and searching Bluetooth speakers online and comparing it to different products. I chose the best one, but I got a product that is very cheap. I contacted the customer care and they responded immediately and I explained about the situation. They asked me to wait for some time and after that they called again and informed me to upload the photos of the speaker. I then uploaded front and back of the image of the speaker. After that, I got an email regarding the speaker that my return request was approved. Moreover, I felt happy with the customer care because they gave me great support and their way of approach is very good. Furthermore, I got the, I returned the old product in the next two days. After returning a product in the next three days, I got my old product which is very good. It has a few features that are very good.

    Band 6-7

    I have recently bought a pair of earrings they are so pretty so nice but there's a problem with that earring one of the earring is colorless from the backside and it is broken too so that's why I want to return it and the salesperson in the mall was too polite he's so generous he helped me with the returning process

    Band 6-7

    Often in our daily life, we tend to buy something which is not very useful and we want to return to get our money back. I remember once buying a wireless headphones which were not mostly used by me but I bought it seeing the trend. Those wireless headphones were of Apple but it had a great latency in any video games so I didn't prefer wearing it while playing video games. I preferred wearing my wired headphones which were of boat and had a great audio sound quality and also the mic was really too good. When I went to the store to return the wireless headphones, the staff working there refused me and said that they have no return policy. I was really disappointed and sad and thought that I had wasted my money. I had then gave those headphones to my friend who really needed it because he used to travel and he didn't have a wireless headphones and the wired headphones made a lot of trouble as they mixes with his pockets and didn't worked very well and didn't go on a long range. The wireless headphones provided a long range up to 10 meters and could also have a great audio and calling features.
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