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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

    So, I had recently ordered multiple clothes from a online platform wherein I had actually ordered approximately 4 to 5 pair of clothing apparels to be more precise. The reason for me to order so many clothes was because I am travelling to my home town and we are planning to go on a vacation from there, so for that purpose I had ordered. So, you do have pros and cons of buying things online. One of the advantage I would say of shopping online would be you are saving a lot of time, so you may not go to the store or physically visit the store, rather everything is accessible just in a touch of your screen, so I feel that's one of the biggest advantage, whereas one of the disadvantages that you face while shopping online that would be is I mean you do not actually get physically feel the product, so sometimes you are allergic to certain kinds of product material which eventually I mean which you

    Band 6-7

    Okay, so I'm fond of buying books. So recently I went to this place and I bought a few books and one of the book was a bit torn and I usually have this habit to look for all the items that are proper and not at all torn in any manner. So I asked him to change it for me and most of the books were torn, the one that I wanted. So he kept smiling as I asked him to change it and I asked him the reasons why this particular book is torn and why its issue so bad. But then he gave me one book and it looked fine when I bought it. Eventually when I reached home, I scanned that same book again and the book still had some issues and I was really not satisfied with that. So that's all.

    Band 6-7

    In the city that I live, that is Ahmedabad, I have a bookstore that I have been very fond of. I often go to that store to purchase books that I have been wanting to read. One of the days I went to the store to purchase a book called Divergent. It was a book that I was really wanting to read, which was about a dystopian society with also some sci-fi elements to it. After I purchased the book and came back home, I observed that there were a lot of places where the book was chipped and it was used, which is alright. I would love to read a pre-loved book, however, a lot of pages were missing here and there. When I went back to return the book, it was extremely awkward because I was very familiar with the people who are in charge of the bookstore and those that help with customer service. When I approached them as to whether or not they would be willing to take the book back, they were very kind to me and they were readily willing to take the book back. However, it was very awkward in the sense that it created a situation where people that I really knew and cared for were obviously going to suffer a loss because of a book that was bought by them without going through the mechanism required.

    Band 6-7

    I recently bought a pink and golden top from my favorite clothing brand. After trying it on, I realized that it does not fit me properly, so I wanted to return it. However, I was disappointed because the salesperson refused to accept it back. He said that he has a no return policy. This was opposed to what he told me when I was shopping for this top initially. I felt very cheated because I had specifically inquired about the fact that whether I would be able to return this item and I had been told that yes, indeed this item would be eligible for return within 15 days of shopping. When I tried it on a day later, I instantly realized that it does not fit me properly, it does not enhance my features and it would be better for me if I shopped a similar item from another brand that would cater better to my sizes. However, when I approached the salesperson who was responsible for showing me this particular piece of clothing, he outrightly refused. He said that they have a strictly no return policy and I can instead look at other similar items from the shop and exchange the top. I did not want to do that because I believed that purchasing a similar top from that particular clothing brand would not suit me since the sizes for these items are uniform and I wanted to pick a similar item from a different brand. So, I felt very disappointed that the salesperson was not completely honest about their no return and exchange policy and it led to loss of money for me.

    Band 6-7

    I recently bought a t-shirt from an e-commerce website called Myntra and it was size S but when I tried the dress on me it fits me really tight so I really wanted to get a plus one size so I contacted the customer care of the e-commerce website and they were really nice about that they don't make any kind of fuzz about it but they just gave me information related to that if the tags that are being attached to the t-shirt are well intact and everything related to delivery package are still intact then they will change the package and will return my t-shirt and provide me another M size t-shirt that is plus one size for me and it was really a great experience and with this it really helps you to maintain a well balanced relation with e-commerce website now you can trust them and you have sufficient amount of credibility about the app and you can now try on various clothes and other accessories from this website without worrying about whether they will take the return or not so it was a good experience for me and I really thank the website and their customer care for a wonderful experience

    Band 6-7

    So recently I remember that I had bought a t-shirt for my dad for his birthday. So this shopping was done online, it was an online shopping. So I ordered the shirt and it got delivered within 4-5 days. And then I actually ordered the shirt because it was the dope version of Calvin Klein. So I thought I had given good amount for the shirt, it was quite exorbitant. It was almost like 2000, so I thought it would somehow relate to the quality that the real shirt had. So when I just unboxed the parcel, I was really disappointed because the quality of the shirt was very poor. So I had to give it back to them. So that is something that I really wanted to return. But it was his birthday, so I had gifted this shirt whooping around 2000. So I had no other option, so he kept it. So he uses that shirt while going to walk or jogging.

    Band 6-7

    So, this event took place exactly one year back when I had ordered a white coloured one shoulder dress for my birthday. And this time, since I was turning 23, I made it a point that I do it without consulting my mother, which rarely happens. But turns out to be, it was one of the worst nightmares. What really happened is, the dress came in a size smaller than I ordered and it looked terrible on me. Despite of the fact that it was looking amazing on the model when I ordered it. Then I had no other option but to ask for a replace for the same. They did not have a size higher than the one that I wanted. So, I had no other option but to ask for a refund. However, there was a lot of drama that went along the whole procedure. Because they were very adamant on the fact that they can't offer any refund. And they started claiming that the dress was stained since it was a white coloured dress. And I very well know that I did not stain it at all. But again, they started refusing to return my money or take back the dress. So, I was in a lose-lose situation. I kept on mailing them regarding my issue and was hoping for a positive response from their end. But at the end of the day, it was really a happy birthday to me. And nothing really worked and I still have that dress which is untouched. And I can't wear it of course because it is stained. And also, it does not fit me that well.

    Band 6-7

    The one thing that I bought recently is my Laptop from a mobile accessory store. Actually when I purchased it, it was in a good condition. But when the days passed by, like around one month, the laptop started working improperly. Then I tried to approach the...

    Band 6-7

    I had recently bought a saree from a popular e-commerce website. This website is where I usually shop for my regular outfits and this was the first time I was trying to buy a saree. In the website it was clearly mentioned that I could return my outfit within 15 days if I was not satisfied with the product. Usually I receive the right products at the right time from the particular e-commerce website but on that day of delivery I forgot to record the video of opening the package and when I opened I found that my product was not the one which I ordered and it was a faulty one. I tried to click pictures of it and place a return request on the e-commerce website. Within two days the delivery person from the e-commerce website visited my house to take up the package but when I showed them my product they were completely disagreeing with me that the product which I am trying to return is not the product I received. So there was an argument between me and the delivery driver which I regret because I am a person who completely hates argument but since I had the pictures I tried to convince the delivery driver that this is the product which I received and I like to return it. Hence after a long conversation I was able to return it. It felt awkward but nice.

    Band 6-7

    Hello, online shopping is one of the most convenient modes of shopping in our world now and I believe it is evolutionary in spite of the fact that I have had some bad experiences with it. One example is when I bought a back cover for my phone. It was Poco X2 model and I searched it online to see if there is any cool design for the back case of my phone and I am a huge Batman fan, both its comics and movies, so I wanted to buy one with the bat logo and I got a mesmerizing looking back cover with the bat logo, you know, and when it arrived to my doorstep and I opened the box, I was surprised because the case was nothing like as it was displayed on the website. The charging point was displaced and the portion which covered the buttons like the sound, buttons for the sounds and the power button were completely disabled and it was quite hard to move them, so I just simply wanted to return it only to know, only to find out later that this was not assured product and you cannot return a product that is assured and has been opened by you. I felt really disappointed afterwards.
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