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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

    Once I found an elegant dress in a random website and I was quite impressed by the attire and so I wanted to buy it badly. So when I bought it and got to see how the dress looks, it was of a very poor quality and was of a smaller size. Further it was not of the same, it doesn't wear any kind of same elegance that was visible on the website. So I felt that website was some sort of fake thing and so when I tried to return back, the website address was invalid and I was not able to reach the consent person to return the same thing. So in fact I felt very bad and I also realized that I shouldn't be buying from a random website and also not everything that glitters is a gold, so not everything that seems so good on the on sites may not really be that worthy to purchase in reality.

    Band 6-7

    Recently we went for a saree shopping, there we saw, with my family there, while we were hustling through all the sarees, all my family members were very fond of a particular saree which I am not very fond, but after so many discussions and so many opinions, I was about to take that saree and in fact finally we got it, but the only thing I did not like about the saree was the design in it, but the colour was actually good, after getting it and while returning home, I was continuously thinking of whether the saree will suit me or will I like it, as I was not very much sure about the saree, I took a day, I processed it because even it costed little much, if it's not up to the mark for my thing, I would like to return it, that's what I thought, I was thinking the whole day, so the next day I just confronted my vision to my parents and they were also okay about it, so I just went to the store and I just got exchanged to the saree, instead I took the saree which I liked, which gave me a good feel and every time I wear it, I get a confidence in my mind, so yeah, this was the recent experience I got while I was purchasing dresses and sarees.

    Band 6-7

    During my college days, I have purchased one of the footwear from a brand called Crocs. It was gifted by my mother. I wanted to return it because I don't like the color and it also doesn't fit my foot. And I also like the different footwear from the same website. I would like to return it and order different footwear from the same brand called Crocs. But I couldn't do it because my mother liked it and because of her I couldn't return it. After one month, I purchased another footwear and I keep them aside and I use the new one.

    Band 6-7

    Recently, I bought dining table cover through online site which is called Misho. I regretted buying dining table because of its poor quality. The color was bleeding. I opened the package and I spread the cover onto my dining table. First of all, the size was really small. I clearly remember I checked the dimensions when I ordered it but the things were different when I received them. It was leaving color on my dining table which was really annoying. So I thought of returning it. Then I checked their returning policy that says there is no option of returning. I tried to call their customer care service but I didn't get any good response from them. I really felt awful of me being in that state. I first time shopped with online Misho app and its first time happening with me that I am not satisfied with the customer service or with the product they have delivered to me. Sometimes it's really frustrating when you just get fascinated by the offers you see on your screens and you randomly order things online. From this experience, I have learnt that I should order only through trusted online websites which ensures return policy and refund on time for the customers.

    Band 6-7

    okay firstly I have brought a laptop from flipkart after some days passed there was something that I felt something odd in my laptop it started to getting to get slowed down and it started to behave oddly when I get get back to the hostel what happened there other students also got their new laptop when I compared my performance compared to theirs what's happened that I felt that there was a very big lag difference between us then I suspected something that I didn't like I thought that something was wrong and it was therefore I needed to return the laptop then what happened the following day I contacted the customer care of the company as well as of the insurance company then after two three days everything escalated and smoothly and right now I have a new laptop obviously I have ordered it from online as well and it's still going on smoothly

    Band 6-7

    Last month I bought a new dress. That was a beautiful red gown. I planned it for wearing my team outing from the office to a resort. I felt like I will be like an angel while wearing the dress. It was a very beautiful red gown having scattered and gatherings in the bottom most portion. It was a very beautiful gown. I ordered it from Amazon. It took 7-8 days to come the parcel through the courier service. Then it arrived. I opened the package and tried the dress. At that time I felt very sad, very wondered and very frustrated. The dress is not fitting as per my size. It is very small as than of my size. I ordered double XL but I think it is medium or large. If it is XL, I can adjust it for that occasion. But it is not fitting for me. I got this dress 2 days before the outing. So returning and ordering a new one is not possible for me. I was very disappointed and felt very bad. I cried a lot at that time. I am very fond of that dress to wear for that outing. But it felt very disappointed and very sad for me.

    Band 6-7

    Shopping is my favorite pastime and I extremely enjoy it. I always wanted to buy a dungaree for myself. It is an overall dress worn over a t-shirt. It's quite comfortable and it is very much famous in western countries. I went to this big shop. The name of the shop is H&M and I was fascinated by the blue dungaree that was available in the store. I did not even bother to try it in the trial room. I just bought a size which I wasn't aware was not really for me. Once I tried it at home, I understood that it was very tight. It was not really my size and it did not really go well with my personality. So that's when I realized that I needed to return it because I also thought that it was very expensive. For the sake of glamour, for the sake of something that had obsessed for a very longer time, I believed that it was very stupid of me to think that it would suit me. Later that day, I went back to the store and I was very fortunate enough that the store manager took the cloth back. I was relieved when I got my full payment and I decided to not return it.

    Band 6-7

    I recently bought a t-shirt, which was very loose. I bought an off-shoulder t-shirt. It was comfortable, but it was not looking good on me. I thought I should be defending that t-shirt, but I did not. I thought, let's go with the fashion which is going on right now. I tried it and I think I am wearing it right now at home and sometime also when I will go outside. I am feeling pretty comfortable with the t-shirt, but when I bought it, I feel like I should return it. After thinking so many things that it is comfortable, let's take it, no problem. That's why I did not return it, but I wanted to return it. Now I am very comfortable with this t-shirt. T-shirt color is white and it is also a printed t-shirt. Off-shoulder with a printed t-shirt, which is printed from both sides. Front also, back side also. This is more of a printed oriented t-shirt, which is also a printed t-shirt.

    Band 6-7

    Well to return it I recently purchased a 7-seater couch It was looking very nice in the showroom but when I ordered it and I It arrives at my home. I fitted it in my drying room and And After one or two days when I use it. I Don't actually like it. It's tough seems to be very local Hard to sit for a long time on this. Its cushions are not even stitched properly But There is a big issue with it because there is no replacing policy at that showroom It was quite expensive also, so it's hard for me To keep it also But I can't return it because it cost me approx 50,000 rupees and I saved my money from my job and Purchased it, but it was not according to my expectations. I Can't even describe all these things to my family to my mother Because they will say that you just wasted a lot of money because they don't like to Spend so much money on these kind of things So I Will definitely try on OLX as a second hand if somebody will be interested in purchasing it It is nice

    Band 6-7

    I love shopping but there is a main disadvantage with me is I don't usually do window shopping and I am more of an online shopping kind of a girl so I ordered a bag which I really liked when I saw it. It was love at first sight I must say. It was very classy. When I saw it, it was black in colour. It also has a flower in that. A minimalist kind of a bag. A minimalist style I must say. But when I received it, it was not that classy which I thought. It was more of, I thought it will be in bullet black but it was really dull. I must say it was a used product. It was a fake product. I returned it but when I was excited, I was so excited that I haven't seen the written policy. There was no written policy in that product. I regretted that so badly. I called the customer care about it. I even mailed them but there was no response. I was in instant regret because I have wasted so much money in that particular bag which I would never even take with me to anywhere. It is not even with my liking and I am really upset about it.
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