Purchasing Postal Supplies
A customer needs to buy various postal supplies such as envelopes, boxes, packing tape, or bubble wrap, and may ask about available sizes or types.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
package
A package is a wrapped or boxed item ready to be sent by mail. Use this word when talking about shipping things like gifts or clothes.
packing supplies
Packing supplies are materials like boxes, tape, and wrap used to prepare items for shipping. This phrase is useful in stores for asking about items needed to pack safely.
box
A box is a container made of cardboard or similar material to hold items. In post offices, specify sizes like 'small' or 'medium' when buying one.
tape
Tape is sticky material used to seal boxes or packages. It's often called 'packing tape' for shipping purposes to keep things closed.
bubble wrap
Bubble wrap is plastic sheeting with air bubbles that protects fragile items from damage during shipping. Ask for it by length or size when buying.
padded envelope
A padded envelope is a soft, cushioned mailer for small items like books or electronics. It's good for lightweight, breakable objects without needing a box.
shelf
A shelf is a flat surface in a store where products are displayed for customers to pick up. Use this to describe where to find items in a shop.
counter
A counter is the front desk in a store or post office where customers pay or get service. Bring items back to the counter for help with mailing.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Do you sell boxes and tape here?
This is a polite question to ask if a store has specific items for sale. It's useful in shops; use 'do you sell' for yes/no questions about availability. For intermediate learners, note the structure: question word + subject + verb.
What size box are you looking for?
This sentence asks for details about preferences. It's practical for customer service; 'what size' is a common phrase. Grammar point: present continuous 'are you looking for' shows current interest.
I want to make sure they're protected.
This expresses concern for safety. Use it when packing fragile items. It's useful for explaining reasons; 'make sure' means to ensure something happens, and 'they're' is a contraction for 'they are'.
Is there anything else you might need?
This offers more help in a service situation. It's polite and common in stores; 'might' softens the question to suggest possibilities. Great for building rapport with customers.
How much would those be?
A direct way to ask for the total price of items. Use this after selecting products; 'would' makes it conditional and polite. Essential for shopping dialogues at intermediate level.
You can find them right over here on this shelf, or I can grab them for you.
This gives options for getting items. Useful for helpful responses; 'or' connects choices. 'Grab' is informal for 'get quickly', showing friendly service.
Can I just bring it back here to mail it out?
This asks about next steps in a process. 'Just' emphasizes simplicity; 'mail it out' means to send by post. Practice this for follow-up questions in services like post offices.
Just bring it back to the counter, and we'll help you with the shipping options.
This provides clear instructions. 'We'll' is 'we will' for future help; 'shipping options' refers to ways to send mail. Useful for guiding customers through processes.