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Lesson 199 of 240

New here? This is lesson 199 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Online shopping and returns in German

Priya ordered a jacket for her Hamburg weekend. When the parcel arrives at Bäckerei Krause, the size is wrong, so she checks the shop app.

Anton glances toward the Fundkiste as if the jacket might belong there. Renate gives him a look and keeps wiping the counter.

You'll learn to explain an online order, ask about delivery and tracking, and return the item or ask when your money comes back.

Use Sie with shop staff; Renate and Anton use du with Priya.

By the end of this lesson

Order something online, ask when it will arrive, check the tracking, and send it back or ask for a refund.

  • Ich habe das online bestellt.I ordered it online.
  • Wann wird das Paket geliefert?When will the parcel be delivered?
  • Ich würde gern den Versandstatus sehen.I'd like to see the tracking status.
  • Ich möchte den Artikel zurückgeben.I'd like to return the item.
  • Es ist die falsche Größe, ich will umtauschen.It's the wrong size. I want to exchange it.
  • Wann bekomme ich mein Geld zurück?When do I get my money back?

Scene — the wrong jacket

On a grey morning in Kreuzberg, Priya sits at Bäckerei Krause with her phone and a shopping bag. Renate wipes the counter.

Anton has two chairs and an untouched Milchkaffee. Outside, a delivery van stops by the bakery; Priya opens the parcel.

A wide grey-morning view of the café with Priya at the corner table, Renate wiping the counter, Anton seated beside his untouched coffee, and a delivery van outside.

Learn — order, track, return

Six lines cover the whole process: say you ordered online, ask when a parcel arrives, and request tracking. Then explain the wrong size, return the item, and ask about the refund.

  1. Priya unlocks her phone beside the shopping bag as Anton sits with her at the corner table.

    Ich habe das online bestellt.

    I ordered it online.

    When to use it: Say this after you buy something in a shop app.

    In this past line, bestellt waits at the end.

  2. Priya looks toward the window with a questioning gesture while Anton watches from beside the table.

    Wann wird das Paket geliefert?

    When will the parcel be delivered?

    When to use it: Ask a shop or courier when your parcel will arrive.

    Wird stays second, and geliefert waits at the end.

    Say it: Paket puts the stress on ket, not Pa.

  3. Priya checks a tracking route on her phone at the corner table.

    Ich würde gern den Versandstatus sehen.

    I'd like to see the tracking status.

    When to use it: Ask a shop to show where your order is now.

    Würde gern is a polite way to ask for something.

    Say it: Würde uses a rounded ü, not a plain u.

  4. Priya examines the garment in an opened parcel at the table while Renate is nearby at the counter.

    Ich möchte den Artikel zurückgeben.

    I'd like to return the item.

    When to use it: Tell a shop you want to send an item back.

    With möchte, zurückgeben stays in one piece at the end.

    Say it: The ü in zurück is rounded, with tight lips.

  5. Priya holds the jacket against herself to show that it is the wrong size as Renate stands nearby.

    Es ist die falsche Größe, ich will umtauschen.

    It's the wrong size. I want to exchange it.

    When to use it: Use this when the size is wrong and you want another one.

    Will keeps umtauschen at the end of the clause.

    Say it: Größe uses a rounded ö, not a plain e.

  6. Priya gestures with her phone at the counter as Renate directs her to contact the shop and Anton observes.

    Wann bekomme ich mein Geld zurück?

    When do I get my money back?

    When to use it: Ask the shop when your refund will arrive.

    Zurück stands at the end in this refund question.

Story — the box on the bench

Priya checks a jacket delivery at the bakery and decides what to do about the wrong size.

Anton glances at the Fundkiste; Renate keeps it out of the conversation. The highlighted lines are today's practice.

  1. Priya unlocks her phone. A shopping bag sits by her chair.
  2. PriyaIch habe das online bestellt.I ordered it online.
  3. RenateDie Jacke für Hamburg, oder?The jacket for Hamburg, right?
  4. PriyaWann wird das Paket geliefert?When will the parcel be delivered?
  5. AntonGleich, sagt die App.Soon, the app says.
  6. PriyaIch würde gern den Versandstatus sehen.I'd like to see the tracking status.
  7. She turns the screen toward him. A van icon sits by the canal.
  8. AntonDas Paket wurde abgegeben.The parcel was dropped off.
  9. A driver leaves a box on the bench. Priya opens it at the table.
  10. PriyaDas ist zu groß.It's too big.
  11. RenateDann schick sie Halt zurück.Then just send it back.
  12. PriyaEs ist die falsche Größe. Ich will umtauschen.It's the wrong size. I want to exchange it.
  13. Anton looks at the Fundkiste and nods once.
  14. AntonManches bleibt einfach liegen.Some things just stay put.
  15. RenateNee. Das kommt nicht in die Kiste.No. That does not go in the box.
  16. PriyaWas soll ich jetzt tun?What should I do now?
  17. RenateRuf den Shop an.Call the shop.
  18. PriyaDoch lieber zurückgeben.Better to return it after all.
  19. PriyaIch möchte den Artikel zurückgeben.I'd like to return the item.
  20. AntonUnd das Geld?And the money?
  21. PriyaWann bekomme ich mein Geld zurück?When do I get my money back?
  22. RenateFrag den Shop, nicht uns.Ask the shop, not us.

Practice — track and send back

Eleven short drills mix listening, matching, speaking, building, and filling gaps. You'll also choose the right request and fix a sentence.

Use the lines as you follow Priya from delivery tracking to a return and refund question.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich habe das online bestellt.Drop the English here
    Ich möchte den Artikel zurückgeben.Drop the English here
    Wann bekomme ich mein Geld zurück?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You already paid in the shop app. Tell Renate you ordered it online.

  4. Fill the gap

    It's the wrong size. I want to exchange it.

    Es ist die falsche Größe, ich will ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Ich würde gern den Versandstatus sehen.

  6. Build the line

    I'd like to return the item.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    Wollen Sie eine Erstattung?

    Do you want a refund?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You are waiting for a parcel, not a pickup. Ask when it will be delivered.

    Wann wird das Paket ____?

  9. True or false?

    This means the item is too small.

  10. What do you say?

    The jacket is the wrong size and you need a next step.

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — call the shop

Now you're Priya calling the online shop from Bäckerei Krause. Take your turn by speaking the line when the shop staff asks what happened.

Tap ▶ first to listen if you want. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. StaffGuten Tag, wie kann ich helfen?Good afternoon, how can I help?
  2. Priya (you)Tell them you ordered it on the website.

    Ich habe das online bestellt.

    I ordered it online.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich habe das online bestellt.I ordered it online.
Wann wird das Paket geliefert?When will the parcel be delivered?
Ich würde gern den Versandstatus sehen.I'd like to see the tracking status.
Ich möchte den Artikel zurückgeben.I'd like to return the item.
Es ist die falsche Größe, ich will umtauschen.It's the wrong size. I want to exchange it.
Wann bekomme ich mein Geld zurück?When do I get my money back?
Next: lesson 200Giving advice

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these shop lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps order, track, and return ready for the shop.

Open Yak Cards