第六天 Shopping in America
INTRODUCTION
Conversation A is a typical conversation about shopping in the United States. Masahiro is an international student who has just arrived from Japan, and Anna and Will are introducing him to the shopping scenario1 in America.
Conversation A
Anna: As I was telling you, Masa, where you shop depends largely on what you need. So, if you want to buy an answering machine or a CD-player, your best bet would probably be an appliance store such as Radio Shack2..
Will: Yup! Or Circuit City. I like Best Buy the best, though.
Masahiro: Why?
Will: Coz they usually have the best deals. They have sales on their TVs and CD-players every once in a while.
Anna: Hum. I'll bet they send you their glossy3 ads loaded with so-called "SALES"!
Masahiro: (laughs)
Anna: Well, I still think the CD-player I bought from them was a rip off.
Will: I'll admit some of their items are high-priced, but at least the shopper's guaranteed quality. There are very few places that have such a wide selection.
Masahiro: I need to buy disks, at least two disk holders4, note cards, transparencies, and that kind of stuff.
Will: For office supplies, I suggest Office Max.
Anna: Or Comp USA. One good thing about living in a campus town, though, is that you can easily get that stuff at any of the bookstores. No doubt they do overcharge. I try to get around that by shopping around.
Masahiro: Shopping around?
Anna: Yes. That simply means you go to different stores, check out the prices of items you need and purchase them from the store(s) with the lowest price or prices.
Masahiro: I see. Sounds very practical.
Will: And time-consuming, too!
Masahiro: Where is Office Max located?
Anna: There's one in the mall, so we can stop by there this afternoon.
Masahiro: Great! Thanks.
Will: Hey, Masa. Just so you know, you can always run to the discount stores whenever you're out of something you need right away. There are several around campus.
Anna: That's right. And they carry pretty much everything a student needs. Pop, pasta, eggs, hair spray . . . you name it!
Will: They don't usually carry milk, though, so you might want to walk down to White Hen (Pantry), Walgreens, or some other convenience stores close by.
Anna: I wouldn't advise you to buy things in bulk from such stores, though. I mean, do your major shopping at the specialized5 stores. It's much cheaper, and more convenient in the long run.
Masahiro: Good advice!
Will: Sort of like Mom's!
Anna: Hey, watch it!
Will: Just kiddin'!
Masahiro (laughs). Life sounds great in this town! Oh! Before I forget, guys, where can I rent movies? I love watching movies in my spare time.
Anna: Me too! Let's see. There are two video stores close to your apartment. Lucky you! One's Blockbuster, and the other's That's Rentertainment. I believe they both have specials on weekdays, right Will?
Will: Yup. But not for the new releases. It's usually a buck6 each for the older movies.
Anna: Are you guys ready to go to the mall?
Masahiro & Will: Sure.
Anna: Masa, don't forget to take your shopping list with you.
Masahiro: Thanks for reminding me.
Anna: You're welcome. What are we waiting for? let's go.
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New Words and Expression
1 Your best bet is a commonly used idiom which refers to the best possible choice or option available. In Conversation A, it refers to the most suitable store for appliances, in Anna's opinion.
2 The best deals is a frequently used shopping-related expression that refers to items for sale at bargain prices (i.e., cheap). Sometimes, "good deals" or "a real steal/What a steal" are used instead.
3 Glossy ads are colorful advertisement pamphlets or catalogs (on rich/glossy paper) that entice7 shoppers and usually encourage them to be "smart shoppers" or people who look for "good deals" or "sales."
4 A rip off is another frequently employed shopping-related expression used by shoppers who feel that they have been cheated. It is generally the case that the item purchased was overpriced (i.e., too costly) when it was bought.
5 Items that are high-priced are very expensive.
6 A wide selection refers to a wide array of items (e.g., models of VCRs, TVs, microwaves, walkmans, etc., depending on the store in question).
7 Stuff is a "safe" word that can be used to refer to anything the speaker intends it to refer to. Often, it is used when a speaker cannot recall the names of things s/he wants to refer to, and when s/he wishes to avoid having to mention what may appear to be an endless list.
8 Stores are known to carry items. In other words, they have the items they "carry." However, stores could be "out" of certain items (when their supplies have been exhausted).
9 Convenience stores, as the name suggests, are stores that carry basic necessities such as bread, milk, eggs, soft drinks, tooth paste, newspapers, magazines, and so on. They are usually conveniently located (in small towns, suburbs, and big cities) which also accounts for the name.
10 In bulk is a shopping-related idiom that is used to refer to items purchased in large quantities. Such supplies are cheaper and last longer. Generally, families shop in bulk for items such as sugar, rice, candy, canned products, etc. However, perishable8 products (such as vegetables) are rarely purchased in bulk. Instead, they are usually purchased on a daily or weekly basis. Specialized stores are stores that sell particular things. In other words, they specialize in the sale of particular products (e.g., grocery stores sell groceries, hardware stores sell hardware products such as nuts and bolts, paint, nails, hammers, etc.)
11 Specials refer to discount deals/prices. In Conversation A, they refer to discount video rental9 rates.
12 A buck each refers to a dollar per item in question (video tapes in Conversation A)
13 A shopping list is a handy list of items a shopper intends to buy. Most Americans draw up shopping lists before they go shopping. Such a list makes shopping easier, as the shopper consults it while shopping, and that way, does not forget to buy what s/he needs.
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Exercises
Exercise A: Practicing Useful Shopping-Related Expressions
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Instructions: Carefully read the following mini-conversations and, for each, construct a sentence that restates the speaker's words, using any of the shopping-related words or expressions used in Conversation A and defined above. Suggested answers are provided at the end of this lesson. However, you are advised not to consult them until you have attempted the exercise.
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1. Tom: If I had shopped around first before I bought my VCR, perhaps I wouldn't have been cheated.
2. Nancy: Jewel's got a buy-one-get-one-free sale on Florida oranges and cantaloupes. Isn't that great? We need to stock up.
3. Greg: Don't you think the prices at Saks Fifth Avenue are somewhat unreasonable10? Imagine buying an ordinary T-shirt for 50 bucks11! I'd prefer to keep it at a museum.
4. Anna: I always buy my cheese at Strawberry fields. You can find any kind of cheese there. Yup. You name it and it's there.
5. Kim: I'll go in and ask them whether they have milk in the store.
6. Shiho: It's time to go shopping, Dan. Don't forget the list on which you wrote what you'd like to buy.
Exercise B: What Kind of Store?
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Instructions: Read each mini-dialog and specify12 where it is taking place. In other words, is it in a department store, a bookstore, a supermarket or grocery store, an appliance store, a shoe store, a drive-in fast food restaurant, or a movie theater box office?
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1. Sean: Two for A Walk in the Clouds, please.
Agent: Eleven dollars. Okay. Here are your tickets, and here's your change.
Sean: Thank you.
2.Cashier: Can I take your order?
John: Yes, please. Could I have a cheese burger, a small order of fries, and a large Diet Pepsi.
Cashier: Will that be all, Sir?
John: Actually, make that a large order of fries.
Cashier: Okay, coming right up. Anything else?
John: No. Thanks.
Cashier: Ketchup13?
John: Yes, please.
Cashier: That will be $ 5:30. Your order will be ready at the next window.
John: Thanks.
3. Anna: Excuse me, please. I'd like to know whether a book that I'd ordered has come in.
Agent: One moment please. Let me move over to a computer. What's your last name?
Anna: Brown.
Agent: Okay. Yes, it's in. It arrived this morning, and it should be on the shelf, under Psychology14. That's in aisle15 10 downstairs.
Anna: Thanks.
Agent: You're welcome. All books with red dots on them are on sale today.
Anna: Great! Perhaps I'll buy some.
Agent: do so. We don't have such sales that often.
4. Salesperson16: How are you today, Ma'am?
Lydia: Fine, thank you. I'm looking for a pair of white shoes. Do you have any others apart from those on display?
Salesperson: Let me check? In what size?
Lydia: Seven and a half, please.
Salesperson: I'll be right back.
Lydia: Thanks.
5. Mark: Excuse me, please. Just a quick question. Where's the men's department?
Salesperson: On the fourth floor, Sir.
Mark: And Customer Service?
Salesperson: In the basement.
Mark: Thank you.
6. Cashier: Hello. I'll ring these up for you in a minute. I just need to do a quick price check on the Pepperidge crackers17.
Bella: It's a buy-one-get-one free sale but I don't remember the exact price.
Cashier: We'll know soon. Ah! Here comes Rich.
Rich: They're two-for-one at $2:50.
Cashier: Thanks, Rich. How would you like to pay for these Ma'am? Cash, check, or charge?
Bella: I'll use my Discover card.
Cashier: Okay. Would you like a cash advance?
Anna: What's that?
Cashier: Well, it simply allows you to withdraw money, like an ATM card, except that you don't have to pay any interest for it.
Cashier: Could you please hit the green button once you agree with the total price.
Anna: Okay,
Rich:How would you like them bagged, Ma'am? Plastic or paper ?
Anna: Paper, please. The paper bags make handy trash bags.
Cashier: That's right! Sign next to the "X", please.
Anna: Thanks.
