Processing an Order
Vocabulary
standard shipping
Phrase
ˈstændərd ˈʃɪpɪŋ
a type of delivery that is basic, that takes an average amount of time
The parcel took a long time to be delivered because I chose standard shipping.
expedited shipping
Phrase
ˈɛkspɪˌdaɪtɪd ˈʃɪpɪŋ
a type of delivery that is faster, but more expensive
I can't afford expedited shipping!
out of stock
Phrase
aʊt əv stɒk
sold out; not available to be purchased at the moment
This item is out of stock.
That book is out of stock right now, but we can order one for you.
If an item ordered is out of stock, an item of comparable price and design may be substituted.
I see that item 12345 is currently out of stock.
pending
Adjective
ˈpɛndɪŋ
awaiting conclusion or confirmation
Approval for this project is still pending.
My application is pending for further review.
The court's decision is pending while the judge is reviewing additional documents.
Useful Expressions
- Could you give me a minute?
- Let me check if we have it in the storeroom.
- Please give me your name and your shipping address.
- Would you prefer standard or expedited shipping?
- Your order is pending.
- You should receive an email within a couple of minutes.
- Thank you for using our services.
Dialogue Practice
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
Nina, an employee in an online shop, answers a call from Nathan. | |
 Nina | Hello, CS Shop, Nina speaking. How may I help you? |
 Nathan | Hello, I would like to check if you currently have an Ibanez 275 JK acoustic guitar? |
 Nina | Could you give me a minute? I will have to check. Was it Ibanez 275 JK acoustic? |
 Nathan | Yes, that's right. |
 Nina | We do have it, but there is just one model left. It would be better to order it now since this model is very popular and I'm not sure if we will manage to order more once we are out of stock. |
 Nathan | Okay, in that case, I'd like to order it right away. |
 Nina | All right. Could you please give me your full name and the shipping address? |
 Nathan | It's Nathan Baker. And the address is 25 Medieval Street, Manhattan, United States. |
 Nina | Okay, so it's Nathan Baker, 25 Medieval Street, Manhattan. Is that correct? Also, would you prefer standard or expedited shipping? |
 Nathan | That is correct. I'd like to use expedited shipping. Can I pay in cash? |
 Nina | Yes, you can pay in cash on delivery. However, for paying in cash we add 2% tax for proceeding with the transaction later on. On the other hand, if you pay via bank transaction, you can save up to 4% of the price. We give discounts for bank transactions since it makes the whole process easier. |
 Nathan | Okay, you have persuaded me! I will pay via bank transaction. Could you send me the payment details via email? |
 Nina | Of course, sir. Also you will need to submit a purchase order via email in order to confirm the order, for now your order is pending. Could you give me your email address? |
 Nathan | My email is nathanbaker@yahoo.com. Did you catch that? |
 Nina | Yes, thank you. Okay, I have just sent an email to you. You should receive it within a couple of minutes. And thank you so much for using our services. |
 Nathan | Thank you, as well! |
Check your understanding:
1.
What did Nathan order?
2.
What did Nathan change his mind about and why?
3.
What is the status of his order?
Role Play
Role-play the following situation with your teacher.
Situation
You work in an online shop. A customer calls you to order a laptop bag. Answer the call and process the order. Your teacher will act as the customer. You may use the following expressions:
- Let me check if we have it in the storeroom.
- Please give me your name and your shipping address.
- Would you prefer standard or expedited shipping?
- You can pay...
- Your order is pending.
- Thank you for using our services.
Discussion
1.
Do you often shop online? What do you usually buy online?
2.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online?
3.
Have you ever had any bad experiences with online shopping? What happened?
4.
Do you prefer ordering items via phone or on the internet? Why?
