Frasa
SituationsGet the app (opens the App Store in a new tab)

French · Shopping & services · Elementary

How to return something in a shop in French

Bring the item and the receipt and say “Je voudrais rendre ceci” or “Je voudrais l'échanger contre une autre taille”. You’ll often hear “Vous avez votre ticket de caisse ?” and “Vous voulez un remboursement ou un échange ?”. Some shops offer only a credit note (un avoir), so ask before you buy.

Try it · about two minutes

You take back a jumper that doesn’t fit and ask for an exchange or your money back.

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

The conversation

  1. Shop assistant

    Que puis-je faire pour vous ?

    What can I do for you?

    You

    Je voudrais rendre ceci.

    I’d like to return this.

  2. Shop assistant

    Quel est le problème ?

    What’s the problem?

    You

    C'est trop petit.

    It’s too small.

  3. Shop assistant

    Vous avez votre ticket de caisse avec vous ?

    Do you have your receipt with you?

    You

    Oui, le voici.

    Yes, here it is.

  4. Shop assistant

    Vous voulez un remboursement ou un échange ?

    Would you like a refund or an exchange?

    You

    Je voudrais l'échanger contre une autre taille.

    I’d like to exchange it for a different size.

  5. Shop assistant

    Je vais regarder en réserve pour vous.

    I’ll check the stockroom for you.

    You

    Vous l'avez en taille M ?

    Do you have it in a medium?

  6. Shop assistant

    On ne peut vous proposer qu'un avoir.

    All we can offer you is a credit note.

    You

    Je préférerais un remboursement à un avoir.

    I’d prefer a refund to a credit note.

Key phrases

  • Je voudrais rendre ceci.

    I’d like to return this.

  • J'ai acheté ça la semaine dernière, mais ça ne me va pas.

    I bought this last week, but it doesn’t fit.

  • Quel est le problème ?

    What’s the problem?

  • Vous avez votre ticket de caisse avec vous ?

    Do you have your receipt with you?

  • Voici mon ticket de caisse.

    Here’s my receipt.

  • Vous voulez un remboursement ou un échange ?

    Would you like a refund or an exchange?

  • Je voudrais l'échanger contre une autre taille.

    I’d like to exchange it for a different size.

  • Je peux me faire rembourser ?

    Can I get a refund?

  • On ne peut vous proposer qu'un avoir.

    All we can offer you is a credit note.

  • Je préférerais un remboursement à un avoir.

    I’d prefer a refund to a credit note.

Good to know in France

How a return usually goes

  1. 1

    Bring the item unworn, with its tags on, and the receipt.

  2. 2

    Say what’s wrong and whether you’d like an exchange or a refund.

  3. 3

    You get a new size, your money back, or a credit note (un avoir).

Each shop sets its own rules

For something bought in a shop that simply doesn’t fit, taking it back is usually up to the shop’s own policy. Many chains accept returns for a few weeks; check the receipt or ask at the till.

Combien de temps ai-je pour le rendre ?

How long do I have to return it?

Refund or credit note

Some shops refund only with a credit note (un avoir) to spend there later. Sale items are often harder to return.

Je préférerais un remboursement à un avoir.

I’d prefer a refund to a credit note.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep 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.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.