Pre-ordering or Special Ordering a Book
A customer wants to pre-order an upcoming release or special order a book that is not typically stocked, discussing the process with a staff member.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
out of stock
This phrase means that a product, like a book, is not available for purchase right now because it has all been sold. It's commonly used in stores to explain why something can't be bought immediately.
special order
A special order is when you request a store to bring in a specific item that's not in their regular stock, often from a supplier. It's useful for getting rare or unavailable books.
ISBN
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, a unique code used to identify books worldwide. It's like a book's ID number, helpful for ordering or searching accurately.
depleted
Depleted means completely used up or exhausted, like when all copies of a book are gone. It's a formal way to say 'out of stock' in business contexts.
shipment
A shipment is a delivery of goods from a supplier to a store or customer. In bookstores, it refers to new books arriving from publishers.
deposit
A deposit is a partial payment made upfront to secure an order, ensuring the item is reserved for you. It's common in special orders to cover potential costs.
pre-order
To pre-order means to place an order for a product, like a book, before its official release date. This guarantees you get a copy as soon as it's available.
newsletter
A newsletter is a regular email or publication sent by a company to subscribers with updates, news, or promotions. Signing up helps you stay informed about new book releases.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'm looking to get a copy of 'The Midnight Library' but it seems to be out of stock. Is it possible to special order it?
This sentence is a polite way to start a conversation in a store, explain what you want, and ask about alternatives like special ordering. It's useful for intermediate learners because it combines a request for help ('Excuse me') with a question about availability and options. The structure uses 'but' to contrast the problem with a solution question.
Let me check for you.
This is a helpful response from staff, meaning 'I'll look into it for you.' It's a common customer service phrase that's easy to use in service jobs. For learners, it shows how to offer assistance politely without committing immediately, using 'let me' for permission to act.
No problem, I can find it with the title and author.
This reassures the customer that the issue isn't a big deal and explains how the task will be done. It's practical for showing flexibility in problem-solving. The grammar uses 'no problem' as an idiom for 'that's okay,' followed by a simple future action with 'can' for ability.
Okay, so what's the process for special ordering? How long does it usually take?
This asks for details on a procedure and timeline, useful when inquiring about services. It demonstrates question chaining for gathering information efficiently. 'What's the process' is a key phrase for understanding steps, and 'usually' softens the question to general expectations.
Typically, a special order takes about 7-10 business days, depending on the publisher.
This explains an average timeframe with conditions, helpful for setting expectations. It's useful in business English to use 'typically' for common cases and 'depending on' for variables. The structure provides specific numbers and reasons, making it clear and informative.
We'd require a small deposit upfront, and then we'll call you as soon as it arrives.
This outlines next steps in an order process, using conditional language. It's practical for service dialogues. 'We'd require' is a polite way to state needs (contraction of 'we would'), and 'as soon as' shows immediacy in future actions.
That sounds manageable.
This expresses agreement or acceptance of a plan, meaning it's doable or not too difficult. It's a casual, positive response in negotiations. For learners, it's an idiom to show approval without overcommitting, useful in everyday conversations.
That's a good idea about the newsletter. I'll definitely do that.
This acknowledges a suggestion positively and commits to it. It's great for responding to advice. The structure uses 'that's a good idea' for agreement, followed by 'I'll definitely' for strong future intention with 'definitely' emphasizing certainty.