Lesson 206 · German B1

Making Complaints & Returns (Spoken)

Sich beschweren und reklamieren

Lesson 204 covered a written complaint. This is the spoken version - returning a faulty item or complaining in person, in a shop or on the phone.

Today's win: return a broken item and ask for your money back, out loud.

Core vocabulary

die Reklamationcomplaint (about a product/service)
umtauschento exchange
das Geld zurückbekommento get money back
kaputt / defektbroken
der Kassenbonreceipt
die Garantiewarranty

1. "kaputt" and "defekt" both mean what?

Show answer
broken

At the shop counter

Ich möchte diesen Artikel reklamieren, er ist kaputt. (I would like to complain about this item, it is broken.)
Haben Sie noch den Kassenbon? (Do you still have the receipt?)
Ich möchte das Gerät umtauschen oder mein Geld zurückbekommen. (I would like to exchange the device or get my money back.)

2. "Ich möchte das Gerät umtauschen" means what?

Show answer
I would like to exchange the device

Checking the warranty

Ist das noch innerhalb der Garantie? (Is this still within the warranty?)
Die Garantie ist vor einem Monat abgelaufen. (The warranty expired a month ago.)

3. What does "die Garantie ist abgelaufen" mean?

Show answer
the warranty has expired
Try it out loud: role-play returning a broken item at a shop counter, from greeting to resolution.

Recap

4. What proof of purchase do you usually need to make a return?

Show answer
der Kassenbon (receipt)

5. "die Reklamation" means what?

Show answer
complaint (about a product or service)

Primary source

Aligned with standard Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / telc B1 exam syllabus topics.

Want to role-play a return at a shop counter? Ask your teaching agent to play the shop assistant.

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