Which French phrases matter most here?

“Le prix en rayon est différent.” (The shelf price is different); “Quelqu'un peut vérifier le prix en rayon ?” (Can someone check the shelf price); “Je crois que j'ai payé deux fois.” (I think I’ve paid twice). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

French phrases for sorting out a mistake at the checkout in France

Go back to the till with your receipt and say “Le prix en rayon est différent”. Soften it with “Je crois que…”, as in “Je crois que j'ai payé deux fois”. Ask “Quelqu'un peut vérifier le prix en rayon ?” and, only if staff can’t fix it, “Je pourrais parler au responsable, s'il vous plaît ?”.

Try it · about two minutes

The price on your receipt doesn’t match the shelf, so you go back to the till to sort it out.

Sound on: the cashier speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

You’ve left the till and checked your receipt. A yoghurt cost more than the shelf label said, so you walk back to the cashier.
You
Pouvez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?
Can you help me, please?
Cashier
Bien sûr, je vous écoute.
Of course, go ahead.
You
Le prix en rayon est différent.
The shelf price is different.
Cashier
Vous avez votre ticket ?
Do you have your receipt?
You
Oui, le voici.
Yes, here it is.
Cashier
Veuillez patienter, un employé va venir.
Please wait, an assistant will be with you shortly.
You
D'accord, je vous attends.
All right, I’ll wait.
Cashier
Pardon pour ça, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
Sorry about that, I’ll sort it out right away.
You
Vous pouvez me rembourser la différence ?
Can you refund me the difference?
Cashier
Vous voulez votre ticket ?
Do you want your receipt?
You
Je voudrais un ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît.
I’d like a receipt, please.

Which French phrases do you need?

Le prix en rayon est différent.
The shelf price is different.
Quelqu'un peut vérifier le prix en rayon ?
Can someone check the shelf price?
Je crois que j'ai payé deux fois.
I think I’ve paid twice.
Je crois que la monnaie rendue n'est pas la bonne.
I think I got the wrong change.
La réduction n'a pas été appliquée en caisse.
The discount wasn’t applied at the checkout.
Je voudrais rendre ceci et me faire rembourser.
I’d like to return this and get a refund.
Je pourrais parler au responsable, s'il vous plaît ?
Could I speak to the manager, please?
Veuillez patienter, un employé va venir.
Please wait, an assistant will be with you shortly.
Pardon pour ça, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
Sorry about that, I’ll sort it out right away.
Je voudrais un ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît.
I’d like a receipt, please.

What is worth knowing in France?

When the price is wrong

1
Keep your receipt: it’s your proof of what you paid.
I’d like a receipt, please.
2
Go back to the till, or to the customer service desk, l’accueil, often near the entrance.
3
Show the receipt, say what you saw on the shelf, and let them check.
The shelf price is different.

Je crois que…

Polite

Je crois que j'ai payé deux fois.

I think I’ve paid twice.

Blunt

Vous vous êtes trompé.

You made a mistake.

“Je crois que” (I think that) is the polite way to point out a mistake without blaming anyone.

If the first person can’t help

A colleague or the manager, le responsable, may be able to help when the cashier can’t. Ask politely, once staff have had a chance to check.

Je pourrais parler au responsable, s'il vous plaît ?

Could I speak to the manager, please?

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?: “Le prix en rayon est différent.” (The shelf price is different); “Quelqu'un peut vérifier le prix en rayon ?” (Can someone check the shelf price); “Je crois que j'ai payé deux fois.” (I think I’ve paid twice). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in French

All situations in French

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.