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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 327 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

    I vividly have a memory where once I ordered a leather bag and I truly loved the old aesthetics that it had and when I got the parcel I got to know that the bag was of pathetic quality and it didn't really was shining as it was shining in the images. What made me feel bad about it is that I had spent 3090 rupees on that particular order and it felt as if I was cheated by the company that gave that order. I suddenly made sure that all the return procedures are done by me in no time and for that what I did was I called the customer service complaining rigorously about that bag and the customer service replied that yes this bag is refundable and not just refundable it is also replaceable but then I had no intention of replacing the bag but I refunded and when I got my refund I felt amazing because the bag was not just something that was a burden to me but it came as if it was a liability because 3000 was a lot of money and that leather bag even though felt like something that I would enjoy buying it but when I got it it felt it gave me a terrible insight into it. Most importantly when I returned the bag I felt a sense of calm and I got my senses in control. Most of the times in life such situations happen and that is why somewhere I do not like the online shopping.

    Band 6-7

    I bought a really expensive bag from Mango. I bought it online but when I received it, it was not really towards my liking and it was not similar at all to the pictures that they showed me before buying that product. I really just wanted to return it but I couldn't because they were having an issue. They said that you can't return it. So I don't really like that bag. I've never used it. It is just kept there in my closet in a corner. I never want to use it.

    Band 6-7

    Hello, so very recently, especially because of the festive season in India, such as Durga Puja and Diwali, I bought an Indian attire, which was a kurta and pyjama with a dupatta. You would notice that because of the increase in consumerism, there is a lot of online shopping experiences that are now available, such as Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart, etc. So this particular Indian attire was purchased at Myntra. It took about 5 days to reach my location and upon trying out the item at home, I realized that it had some fitting issues and it was not looking good on me, which is why I proceeded to indicate on the app for Myntra that I would want to return the item. It was a fairly simple process. I had to go online, I had to select the item that I wanted to return, categorize the reason for the return and choose a suitable slot for the person to come and pick it up from. I also had to accept and sign off that the item was new, had not been worn before and the tags were intact. Very soon, probably within 2-3 days, a return executive was assigned who came home. I had to keep the item neatly folded in the packaging material that it had arrived in, which I then proceeded to hand over to the delivery person. He did a basic check of the product.

    Band 6-7

    I have bought an earpod recently but I really don't want to use it so I tried to return it but when I tried to return it it was not possible and it shows that returning with the full refund is not possible it made me feel bad and I thought that even the earpod is not having all the functions it has shown in its marketing and since I have brought in an online marketing app I could not connect with any other person to return it or to get it more access

    Band 6-7

    I would like to talk about a smartwatch that I bought about 6 months ago, which was definitely an item I wanted to return, though unfortunately I was past the return window. I would been looking for a fitness tracker and productivity tool for a while, and after reading many reviews, I settled on a relatively expensive iHand smartwatch from a very popular brand. I purchased it online through a major e-commerce retailer. The main reason I bought it was for the supposedly advanced health monitoring features like ECG tracking and detailed sleep analysis, as well as the convenience of quickly seeing notifications without constantly pulling out from my phone. I convinced myself it would help me be more productive and health conscious. The moment I opened the box, my enthusiasm started to wane. The watch itself was much bulkier than it appeared in the pictures, and the strap was made up of a stiff synthetic material that was uncomfortable on my wrist, but the real disappointment came when I started using it. The battery life was terrible, it barely lasted a full day, meaning I had to charge it every single night, which defeated the purpose of its overnight sleep tracking. Moreover, the operating system was laggy and the health tracking data was inconsistent, often giving me widely different readings just minutes apart. After about a week of frustration, I was desperate to return it. I felt like I had thrown a significant amount of money at a gadget that was more of a burden than a benefit. However, because I had ordered it online and traveled soon after its arrival, I missed the retailer's 30-day return deadline by just a few days. I was absolutely furious with myself for not acting sooner. So now it's sin in a drawer, a constant reminder of a poor purchasing decision.

    Band 6-7

    One thing I wanted to return was a pant which I bought in 2018. The size was not accurate and people were mocking me for wearing something that tight. So I wanted to return but the store people did not take it back since it was against their apparent policy. As a result, I had to have a fight with them. The argument went on for one hour and still the result was the same. They did not take the item back. I felt really bad because of the embarrassment I had to undergo. I was raised like a prince. I never had to undergo something like that because whatever I asked, everything would have been done even before asking. So when you live in a household like that, very small situations like this would make you feel bad about yourself. It took me a while to reciprocate what I was going through. I did not do anything for the next three days after that incident. It was not just embarrassing, it took a toll on my ego. My alter ego is very strong and that personality of mine would never let somebody put me down. It always safeguards me from all the hardships in life. But this situation did not work in a way that I wanted. All said and done, I bought a new jeans and just to rub it in their face, I threw the old garment in the river.

    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.
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