Phrases for Work by Speak Good English Movement 2

Avoid: Everything outside already. Don’t have, means don’t have.
Say: Sorry Sir, all our items are already on display. I’m afraid we do not have the item available if you can’t find it on the racks.

“Everything outside already. Don’t have, means don’t have”. These non-standard English phrases will make no sense to shoppers unfamiliar with the way some Singaporeans tend to speak.

For many sales staff, saying, “Everything outside already” essentially means that all the items that are available for sale are already on display. And, “Don’t have, means don’t have” means there is no other stock available.

But both these phrases sound very rude and may offend the customer.

Focus On Customer Service

Try this friendlier response the next time a customer asks you for something you don’t have: “Sorry Sir, all our items are already on display. I’m afraid we do not have the item available if you can’t find it on the racks.”

Start off by apologizing to the customer as he/she is probably disappointed that the item is not available. After all, your job as a sales or customer service assistant is to please the customer and fulfil his/her wants, is it not?

Avoid: What size you want? See here. Please don’t take out.
Say: We have all the sizes displayed on this rack. Feel free to browse around and let me know if you need any help.

“What size you want? See here. Please don’t take out.” Essentially, this series of non-standard English phrases is targeted at customers rummaging through the neatly packed shelves to look for clothes that fit them.

It is understandable that the sales assistant is exasperated. After all, it is the sales assistant that will later need to fold up the clothes and stack them neatly on the shelves again.

However, the string of non-standard English phrases is vague. Not every customer will understand what he/she is expected to do.

Watch Out For Common Mistakes

What does “see here” mean? Why should the customer look only at the place you’re asking him/her to look?

“Please don’t take out?” is also grammatically incorrect and it sounds very rude. “Please do not take them out from the shelves. There are samples on display on the rack” is a better option.

To help the customer along, try saying, “We have all the sizes displayed on this rack. Feel free to browse around and let me know if you need any help.”

Avoid: Very cheap already. Don’t believe, you go and see other shops.
Say: I’m afraid we cannot reduce the price any further. I do believe our prices are competitive and you can count on our reliable sales support.

“Very cheap already. Don’t believe, you go and see other shops” is a commonly used response by shopkeepers or sales assistants exasperated by bargain hunters trying to negotiate for a cheaper buy.

But the phrases are grammatically incorrect and may appear rude to some customers. Challenging a customer to go to another shop to check the price out may seem logical but it isn’t a friendly customer-oriented response.

Be Tactful

Instead it is better to just tell your customer tactfully that your prices are low and you cannot reduce them further. Then give them another reason to buy from you – perhaps you give good after sales service.

Try saying: “I’m afraid we cannot reduce the price any further. I do believe our prices are competitive and you can count on our reliable after sales support."