Asking About Pickup Time and Cost
The customer inquires about when the cleaned clothes will be ready for pickup and clarification on the total cost for the service, including any express options.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
dry cleaning
A service to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water, often for delicate items like suits.
suit
A set of clothes including a jacket and pants or skirt, usually worn for business or formal occasions.
business days
Weekdays when businesses are open, not including weekends or holidays; used to calculate processing time.
pick up
To collect or retrieve something from a place, like clothes from a store after service.
standard
The regular or normal type of service, not the faster or special one.
express service
A faster cleaning option that costs extra and gets items ready sooner.
hidden fees
Extra charges that are not mentioned upfront, which customers might not expect.
ticket
A receipt or slip of paper given by the store to claim your items later.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I'm just dropping off a suit for dry cleaning.
This sentence introduces the purpose of the visit. 'Dropping off' means leaving something for service. Useful for starting a conversation at a service place; simple present continuous for ongoing action.
How long does it usually take for something like this?
Asks about processing time. 'Usually' shows typical duration. Great for inquiring about service timelines; question structure with 'how long' for duration.
It's usually ready in three business days.
Explains standard turnaround time. 'Ready in' means available after that period. Helpful for service providers to inform customers; uses future implication with 'ready in.'
What about the cost for a full suit?
Inquires about price. 'What about' transitions to a new topic smoothly. Practical for asking prices; informal and direct question form.
We also offer an express service if you need it sooner.
Offers an alternative faster option. 'If you need' is conditional for customer choice. Useful in sales to suggest upgrades; present simple for general offers.
How much extra is the express service?
Asks for additional cost. 'How much extra' specifies the difference in price. Essential for budgeting; comparative question structure.
Just to confirm, that's the total cost, no hidden fees?
Seeks verification on price. 'Just to confirm' politely double-checks info. Important for avoiding surprises; tag question for confirmation.
That's right, and no hidden fees at all.
Confirms details reassuringly. 'That's right' agrees, 'at all' emphasizes none. Reassures customers; emphatic negation for clarity.