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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 294 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

    The product that I bought recently and was not satisfied with the quality was a jersey of Real Madrid I purchased from a particular website. The reason why I felt like I have to return the pot was the quality of the jersey was not up to par with my expectations because while looking through the internet I was pretty mesmerized by the way they presented it and the price was too compelling as well. So I thought of purchasing it and placed my order and the delivery took almost 10 days and I lost my interest in the product as soon as I ordered it because I knew after going through some reviews on YouTube you will be never able to get the product with that quality you required by the price you have paid as well for the price you have paid. So as soon as the product arrived it arrived at a different location so I wasn't able to get the product as soon as it was delivered. So when I went back to that particular place I was able to see the product for the first time and as soon as I opened the box I knew it's not up to par with my expectations and then I wear the product and saw the fit was not too good as well. I didn't try to return it as it didn't have a return policy and the price wasn't that high for me to return it as well. I felt pretty bad for wasting my money but as a long run it didn't cross my mind.

    Band 6-7

    Recently, I bought a t-shirt from an internet website, however, I didn't expect it as in online it looks very good and very comfortable but after wearing it in real life it was very awful to wear it. The material wasn't good and therefore, I wanted to return it. However, when I filed a complaint regarding it, I got a response back from them explaining the product couldn't be returned as it wasn't in their delivery or selling policy. It was a scam I feel like and after this, I having trust issue with online shopping. This awful experience devastated me that I had spent money on the wrong item. However, when I saw a beggar who came to my door and asked for some clothes without thinking much, I just gave him and it was a blessing in disguise.

    Band 6-7

    Recently, about a week back, I ordered silver unicorn earrings from Blinkit on the occasion of my friend's birthday. October 4th was my friend's birthday. So the previous day I was looking at what I could gift her and on Blinkit I found this nice cute small earring from Jeeva on Blinkit. So the delivery was in 40 minutes and I was very happy because the earring looked very cute and it was of moderate size for a normal person to wear. But then after 45 minutes, I got the earring and I was all excited to open and I called all my work friends and we were about to open it and when I opened, I saw that the earring was hardly 2mm. It was so tiny that a just born baby could wear it. I was so devastated because I didn't have time to get another gift or earring because I was almost at the end of my work at 6 o'clock and at 12 I had to go to my friend's house. So I got very angry and I wanted a return or I wanted to order something in exchange for that. So in Blinkit I tried the return option but then I didn't get it. So I messaged the customer care. The customer care people told me that the return was not available or exchange was also not available because the application is not developed enough. So I was very sad, angry. I called the customer care lady and I yelled at her. But then they didn't respond with anything or they didn't accept exchange. Later in the night when I gave her the gift, she was very happy. Luckily she had other small piercings apart from the bigger one in the bottom of the ear. So that earring fit exactly there and it looked very cute on her. So I'm very happy.

    Band 6-7

    One thing that I bought that I really wanted to return was a perfume. So I bought this perfume for my mother's birthday gift. While we were in the car, my mom opened the perfume but when she opened the perfume, we saw that the lid was cracked and the perfume spilled everywhere in the car. So I really hated that moment. I thought that I didn't give a good gift, I gave a spoiled, broken gift. So I really felt bad and so I went to return it the next day or maybe the day after. Yeah, I think the next day I went to return it. And there they told me that you won't be able to return it because it's broken. And they did not give it broken. But the truth is that they did give it broken. So... Not.

    Band 6-7

    So, as we know that this time is a time of all the festivities in India, especially in North India, and being brought up in these times, you feel really excited and we buy a lot of new things in this timeline. So while surfing on internet, I came across a website which sells their Make in India suits. So, I ordered one of the suits for the upcoming festival, that is Diwali, and I ordered it but it did not come as expected because the size was not right, the colour was also too bright as compared to what it was shown in the picture that was uploaded on the website. So, I was completely disappointed and I really wanted to return that product as soon as possible because it felt like a burden as though my money was stuck there because that product was of no use to me. So, I then returned by mailing them and also contacting them through WhatsApp. They agreed to it because the size they sent me was not right, so they just laid down the process of returning an item, I followed that and the amount of return was initiated in my bank account and everything was settled after that and I am still looking for a suit, an outfit.

    Band 6-7

    The object that I bought which I really wanted to return was a certain item that sticks to the back of a phone or a case. On the opposite side of this item there is a suction cup to help hold your phone up on any surface to record videos or take pictures. The reason I wanted to send it back was due to the fact that it did not perform what was promised. It failed to hold my phone up which was essentially what I purchased this item for. Unfortunately I failed to give back this item since the time had passed, return time had passed by the time I could return it. When I found out about the fact that I couldn't use this product made me feel like I really lost out on a great opportunity and I was also very disappointed. Additionally I was very disappointed by the marketing tactics that were used by the brand as it is of great necessity for brands to mention the reason, mention specifications and requirements for the item to work effectively.

    Band 6-7

    I want to return the TV that I purchased on the recent Big Billion Day sale. Actually the mistake is made by me. I ordered a 32 inch smart TV. After installing it, the size of the TV is way smaller than what I imagined. I tried to return the product, but according to the return policies, the product is non-returnable. Even though I tried, I contacted various customer support clients. I got a tried return. The delivery guy accepted the return and instead of returning, he replaced the TV. So my experience was very bad on it. Firstly, from my experience, I can say that furthermore you shouldn't order the products that you only want. I don't like the performance of the TV. It's not up to the mark what it is mentioned on the box. And specifications are also incorrect. But I regret buying it, purchasing it. Even though I am using it, I feel regret for using that. Thank you for giving this opportunity.

    Band 6-7

    Here I talk about one of the product I recently bought during Flipkart Billion sales. Actually, I love to buy products online rather than offline because it is more suitable and easy for me. During Flipkart Billion sale, I found an offer on Airfryer. Actually, it was Philips Airfryer 4.1 liter. The price was very less that's why I bought through Flipkart. When it delivered, I found that it is very difficult to use because there is no physical button in the Airfryer. It is fully with touch control. So, when I try to cook food items, it is very tough to switch between these modes. So, I cannot understand its features or technical knowledge. First of all, I think the product was a default product. But then I realized that actually it made like that and it is not very user-friendly. When I tried to return the product, it showed that it can only be replaced. There is no option to refund the product. So, I was in a trouble. So, I researched a lot on how to easily manage that Airfryer. But, till now I cannot get any help.

    Band 6-7

    I recently purchased a dress from an app called slick which delivers within 60 minutes it was a two it was a one piece long gown which was green in color and was made of a lace material once I received the product I was a little disappointed because it did not meet my my expectations the quality and the color seemed a little off than shown in the website and when I plan firstly when I planned on returning it I had to I had connected with the customer care over a call and then they did not seem to resolve my issue but later when I kept consistently calling them back-to-back they finally responded through messages and an email was sent to me that my refund will be done within a week and finally they had met they had written they accepted the return and I had gotten my refund but I would definitely want to try purchasing dresses from this site and not give up that easily

    Band 6-7

    I am very fond of buying clothes and shoes. I remember my friend told me about a great deal of clothes and shoes. She told me that she has bought a pair of shoes from Adidas which were nearly half price of the original ones but I wanted original shoes of Adidas. I went to the website and searched for the Sambas of Adidas. I saw that they were nearly half of the price of original shoes. I found it of only 8000 as the originals are of 14000. I immediately added it in my cart and after the wait of 7-10 days I received my order. I was very delightful of opening that order but when I opened that box I felt much disappointed because they were not the original shoes, they were the duplicated and they were not even worth it. So, I immediately clicked on the option of return policy and I immediately opted with the return policy which makes me feel like I shouldn't have bought shoes online. Instead of online I should go to the shop and buy that. This was the thing that I really wanted for my last number of weeks and it resulted out to be a very disappointing experience which was a memorable experience also.
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