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Modifying or Canceling an Order

After placing an order, the customer calls back to make changes to their order or to cancel it entirely.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Customer (Female)
Hi, I just placed an order a few minutes ago, and I need to make a quick change. My name is Ava.
2
Restaurant Staff (Male)
Hello Ava. No problem at all. Can you please tell me your order number or the approximate time you placed the order?
3
Customer (Female)
Sure, I don't have the order number in front of me, but I placed it about ten minutes ago. It was for one large pepperoni pizza and a side of garlic knots.
4
Restaurant Staff (Male)
Okay, I see it. Order G589. What would you like to change?
5
Customer (Female)
I actually need to cancel the garlic knots. My son decided he'd rather have french fries, but I already ordered those from somewhere else.
6
Restaurant Staff (Male)
No problem. I've removed the garlic knots from your order. So now it's just the large pepperoni pizza. The new total will be adjusted when it's delivered.
7
Customer (Female)
Perfect, thank you so much! I appreciate your help.
8
Restaurant Staff (Male)
You're very welcome, Ava. Your pizza should be with you in about 20-25 minutes. Have a great evening!

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

order

A request to buy or receive food or items, often used in restaurants or online shopping. For example, 'I placed an order for pizza.'

cancel

To stop or end something that was planned, like an order. It's polite to say this when changing your mind about a purchase.

change

To modify or alter something slightly. In this context, it means updating details in an order, such as adding or removing items.

remove

To take something away from a group or list. Here, it's used to delete an item from a food order.

adjust

To make small changes to something to improve it or make it correct, like changing the price after modifying an order.

approximate

Close to the exact value or time, but not precise. Useful when you don't remember exact details, like 'about ten minutes ago.'

total

The complete amount, especially the final price of items. In orders, it refers to the sum of all costs before or after changes.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Hi, I just placed an order a few minutes ago, and I need to make a quick change.

This sentence introduces the purpose of the call politely. 'Just' means very recently, and 'make a change' is a common phrase for modifications. Use it when contacting service to update something recent.

Can you please tell me your order number or the approximate time you placed the order?

A polite request for information using 'can you please' for courtesy. 'Or' connects alternatives, and 'approximate time' helps identify the order. Useful for customer service to verify details.

What would you like to change?

This is a direct question using 'would you like' to offer options politely. It's a common pattern in service dialogues to ask for specifics. Use it when helping someone modify a request.

I actually need to cancel the garlic knots.

'Actually' softens or corrects a previous idea, and 'need to' expresses necessity. This sentence shows how to request cancellation clearly. Good for situations where you change your mind about part of an order.

No problem. I've removed the garlic knots from your order.

'No problem' is a casual way to agree and reassure. 'I've removed' uses present perfect tense for a completed action. Use this to confirm changes positively in service responses.

The new total will be adjusted when it's delivered.

Future passive 'will be adjusted' indicates a change that happens later. This explains the outcome of modifications. Useful for informing customers about price updates in deliveries.

Perfect, thank you so much! I appreciate your help.

'Perfect' shows satisfaction, and 'thank you so much' is emphatic gratitude. 'I appreciate' is a formal way to express thanks. Use this to end conversations positively after receiving help.