English Conversation - SALESMAN AT A GIFT STORE

English Conversation SALESMAN AT A GIFT STORE
Mrs. Verma is out to buy Diwali gifts for her family. She drops in at “Good Value Store”, a gift shop which stocks an assortment of items.
Salesman Good morning, Madam. May I help you?
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SALESMAN AT A GIFT STORE

Mrs.Verma Well, I’m just looking around. I want to buy some Diwali presents.
Salesman Have you anything particular in mind?
Mrs.Verma I was thinking of buying a pen and pencil set for my husband.
Salesman I’ll show you the ones we have. Here is a beautiful ZORA pen set. Here is a briefcase with letter writing material and the pen and pencil set fitted in. Then these are all the various colour schemes available.
Mrs.Verma How much do these sets cost?
Salesman These are Rs.150 each.
Mrs.Verma That is too expensive. My budget is only Rs.50.
Salesman Then why don’t you buy for your husband a good pen? We have a variety of them.
Mrs. Verma No, I think I want to but him something bigger.
Saleman Then how about a briefcase?
Mrs.Verma He has a fairly new one already.
Salesman I know what would make a handsome gift. Have a look at these tie and hand kerchief” sets.
Mrs.Verma Yes. These are really very smart and attractive. Yes, I’ll buy this one. Now, I have to buy gifts for my grown up son and daughter and one for my younger son, who is nine.
Salesman For your elder son, I suggest an aftershave lotion or a shirt perhaps? What is his collar size?
Mrs.Verma A shirt? No, I think I’ll take an aftershave lotion for my elder son.
Salesman Then would you consider buying a perfume or some eye make –up for your daughter?
Mrs.Verma No, I want something different. Something that she wouldn’t normally buy herself.
Salesman Let us see. A handbag would be very useful.
Mrs.Verma Yes…….. But I’m not sure what colour or shape she would like.
Salesman What about some hand-made writing paper with matching envelopes? Here are some beautiful pads and envelopes.
Mrs.Verma I’m sure Reena would love these. Thank you. Could you pack this writing pad set please?
Salesman Of course. With pleasure.
Mrs.Verma For my younger son, I know he would like the new series of the mechanical puzzles.
Salesman I’m sorry Madam, but we don’t keep toys. Why not buy the young man some books that he might like to read.
Mrs.Verma He borrow book from the library. I think he’d enjoy working on the puzzles form a toy shop.
Salesman Just a minute. I’m sure we do have something in our shop for your little boy. How about these new broad belts with the leaping tiger buckles. These are very much in vogue these days.
Mrs.Verma I suppose I could take the belt….But no. I’ve decided on the puzzle for Vikram. Thank you, that’s all please make out the bill.
Salesman Right, Ma’am. But what about buying something for yourself? A handbag perhaps?
Mrs.Verma No, thank you. I’ll wait for my husband to buy a gift for me. Don’t you agree?
Salesman Quite right. Here is your bill, Ma’am. Would you please pay at the cash counter over there?
Mrs.Verma Where do I pick up the parcels?
Salesman At the delivery counter, which is next to the cash counter.
Mrs.Verma Thank you very much for your assistance.
Salesman You are welcome. A happy Diwali to you Ma’am. Do drop in again.

(B) VOCABULARY

Lovely crowd
Dry fruit sparking
Budget festival
Phrases
Gaily decorated holiday season
Fun and games exciting parcels

Meanings

Assortment a collection of different sorts of items
Present a gift
Gift a thing given, a present
Budget a set amount of money available
Handsome of a fine appearance, generous
Vogue fashion
Dry fruit not fresh fruit, but nuts like badam, pista, currants, etc.
Sparking shining brightly.

(C) Study the following responses

1. Do you think that it is quite normal for a person to come out shopping with no particular items planned out to buy?
Response: Shopping is often an impulsive affair, for certain necessities, one does plan in advance exactly what one requires to buy. But most of the time one makes on the spot decisions as to what to buy. Take the example of dress materials. One might have set out to buy a saree and end up by buying a salwar kameez because a specially striking print came one’s way. In the case of gift shopping, it is more than possible that one’s mind is not made up before hand. One may think of buying things which are new in the market. In some cases, of course, the gift buyer does have definite ideas about what is to be bought. But it is not unusual to come out shopping with no definite plans.

2. Comment on the salesman’s approach to his customer.
Responses: It is the job of the salesman to sell as many of the goods on the shelves as possible. To encourage the customer, he must be polite, attentive and helpful. The salesman should make polite suggestions about the availability of suitable items to help the customer to come to a decision. But the salesman must also be careful not to over do the pressure of “selling”, so as not to irritate the customer either. Those salesmen who stand around lazily, looking bored and in different, find that customers enter the shop, take a quick look and leave without buying anything.

(D) Make suitable responses:

1. What had Mrs.Verma set out to buy for her husband and what did she actually buy for him?
Response ___________________________________ __________________________________________
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2. What are the gifts that the salesman suggested for Ranjan and Reena?
Response ___________________________________
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3. Why did Mrs.Verma insist on buying the mechanical puzzle for Vikram?
Response ____________________________________ ___________________________________________
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