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Post Office Services

Mailing a Parcel - Domestic/International

A customer is at the post office to mail a package, requiring assistance with packaging, choosing a shipping service (e.g., standard, express, tracked), and calculating costs based on weight and destination.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Customer (Female)
Hi there, I need to mail a package to Canada. Can you help me with the options?
2
Postal Staff (Male)
Certainly! We have several shipping options to Canada: standard airmail, tracked parcel, and express delivery. Do you have your package ready, or do you need packaging materials?
3
Customer (Female)
It's mostly ready, but I could use some tape to secure it. And I'm not sure which service to pick. What's the difference in terms of delivery time and cost?
4
Postal Staff (Male)
Okay, the tape is just over there. For delivery times, standard airmail typically takes 7-14 business days, tracked parcel takes 5-10 business days, and express is usually 2-4 business days. The cost varies based on weight and the service you choose. Do you have an idea of the weight?
5
Customer (Female)
I think it's about 2 kilograms. I'd prefer something with tracking, but I don't need it to be super fast. So maybe the tracked parcel option is best.
6
Postal Staff (Male)
Excellent choice. Let's put it on the scale to get the exact weight. Once we have that, I can give you the precise cost for the tracked parcel service to Canada.
7
Customer (Female)
Great, thanks! And do I need to fill out any customs forms for Canada?
8
Postal Staff (Male)
Yes, for international parcels, a customs declaration form is required. I can help you with that once we've weighed the package. It's pretty straightforward.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

package

A package is a wrapped item or box that you send through the mail. In post offices, it's used for sending parcels domestically or internationally.

shipping options

Shipping options refer to the different ways or services available to send mail or packages, like slow and cheap or fast and expensive.

tracked

Tracked means you can follow the location and status of your package online or by phone, which adds security but costs more.

express delivery

Express delivery is a fast shipping service that gets your package to the destination quickly, usually in a few days, but it's more expensive.

weight

Weight is how heavy the package is, measured in kilograms or pounds, and it affects the cost of shipping.

customs declaration

A customs declaration is a form you fill out for international mail to declare the contents and value of the package for border checks.

scale

A scale is a machine used to measure the weight of objects, like packages at the post office.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Can you help me with the options?

This polite question asks for assistance in choosing services. It's useful when you need advice on choices, like in stores or offices. Use 'can you help me with' to request guidance.

What's the difference in terms of delivery time and cost?

This sentence compares services by asking about key factors. It's practical for shopping or services. 'In terms of' means 'regarding' or 'about', helping to focus on specific aspects.

The cost varies based on weight and the service you choose.

This explains how prices change depending on factors. Useful for understanding pricing. 'Varies based on' means 'changes according to', and it's common in explanations of costs.

I'd prefer something with tracking, but I don't need it to be super fast.

This expresses a preference with a condition. Great for making choices. 'I'd prefer' is a polite way to say what you want, and 'but' shows contrast between needs.

Do I need to fill out any customs forms?

This asks about required paperwork for international shipping. Essential for travel or mailing abroad. 'Fill out' means to complete a form, and questions like this clarify procedures.

It's pretty straightforward.

This means something is simple and easy to do. Use it to reassure others or describe easy tasks. 'Pretty' here means 'quite' or 'fairly', making it casual and friendly.