Reklamation und Umtausch
Something's broken, wrong, or just doesn't fit - knowing how to politely return an item or raise a complaint is a practical skill that reuses negation (Lesson 13), haben (Lesson 7), and möchte (Lesson 11).
| die Reklamation | complaint | der Umtausch | exchange/return |
| kaputt | broken | defekt | defective |
Ich möchte das umtauschen. (I'd like to exchange this.)
Das ist kaputt. (This is broken.)
Haben Sie den Kassenbon? (Do you have the receipt? - what the clerk asks)
Ja, hier ist er. (Yes, here it is.)
Es funktioniert nicht. (reusing Lesson 59)
Es passt nicht. (It doesn't fit.)
Ich möchte mein Geld zurück. (I'd like my money back.)
Entschuldigung, ich habe ein Problem. (Excuse me, I have a problem. - a soft opener before stating the issue)
Opening with Entschuldigung ("excuse me/sorry") before a complaint, even a justified one, keeps the tone cooperative rather than confrontational - genuinely useful social calibration, not just vocabulary.
1. "I'd like to exchange this." - Ich möchte das ______.
2. What's the German word for "receipt"?
3. "It doesn't fit." - Es ______ nicht.
4. What word softens the opening of a complaint?
5. "I'd like my money back." - Ich möchte mein Geld ______.
Cross-checked against the Goethe-Institut A1 practice materials.
Have a real item you need to return? Ask your teaching agent to help you phrase the specific problem.