Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?

“Queria devolver isto.” (I’d like to return this); “Qual é o problema?” (What’s the problem); “Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias.” (It stopped working after two days). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Not yet: this page has no recordings so far. Each phrase comes with its meaning in English.

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 Portugal. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Portuguese phrases for taking back a faulty product in Portugal

Take the item back with the receipt and say what happened, calmly: “Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias”. Expect “Qual é o problema?” and “Tem o talão?”. Then say what you’d like: “Pode substituir por outro igual?” or “Posso ter o dinheiro de volta?”. To speak to someone more senior, ask “Podia falar com o gerente?”.

Try it · about two minutes

A hair dryer you bought last week has stopped working, so you take it back and ask what the shop can do.

You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

You put the hair dryer and its box on the counter at the customer service desk.
You
Queria devolver isto.
I’d like to return this.
Shop assistant
Qual é o problema?
What’s the problem?
You
Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias.
It stopped working after two days.
Shop assistant
Tem o talão?
Do you have the receipt?
You
Aqui está o talão.
Here is the receipt.
Shop assistant
Prefere reembolso ou troca?
Would you prefer a refund or an exchange?
You
Pode substituir por outro igual?
Can you replace it with the same one?
Shop assistant
Só podemos dar um vale de compras.
We can only give a store voucher.
You
Prefiro o reembolso a um vale.
I prefer a refund to a voucher.
Shop assistant
Aguarde aqui, por favor.
Wait here, please.
You
Com calma, não há pressa.
Take your time, no rush.

Which Portuguese phrases do you need?

Queria devolver isto.
I’d like to return this.
Qual é o problema?
What’s the problem?
Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias.
It stopped working after two days.
O artigo tinha defeito quando o abri.
The item was faulty when I opened it.
Tem o talão?
Do you have the receipt?
Perdi o talão, mas paguei com cartão.
I lost the receipt, but paid by card.
Prefere reembolso ou troca?
Would you prefer a refund or an exchange?
Pode substituir por outro igual?
Can you replace it with the same one?
Prefiro o reembolso a um vale.
I prefer a refund to a voucher.
Podia falar com o gerente?
Could I speak to the manager?

What is worth knowing in Portugal?

At the desk

1
Bring the item, and its box if you still have it.
2
Have the receipt ready, or be ready to say how you paid.
Aqui está o talão.Here is the receipt.
3
Say what happened in one short sentence.
Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias.It stopped working after two days.
4
Say what you’d like, and stay friendly.
Pode substituir por outro igual?Can you replace it with the same one?

No receipt?

If you paid by card, say so. A shop can sometimes find the sale in its system, which helps when the receipt is lost.

Pode procurar a minha compra no sistema?

Can you find my purchase in the system?

Calm and specific

Describe what happened, not who is to blame. A short, friendly sentence usually gets a quicker answer than a long explanation.

O artigo tinha defeito quando o abri.

The item was faulty when I opened it.

Questions about this situation

Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?: “Queria devolver isto.” (I’d like to return this); “Qual é o problema?” (What’s the problem); “Deixou de funcionar ao fim de dois dias.” (It stopped working after two days). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Not yet: this page has no recordings so far. Each phrase comes with its meaning in English.
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 Portugal. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Portuguese

All situations in Portuguese

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.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.