21.Shopping and services
Shopping
I like shopping. Shopping is a pleasure for me because I like buying clothes, books and cosmetics. I prefer shopping in malls. We can find there everything that we need under one roof. When we are tired of shopping we can go to a coffee bar or a restaurant to have a rest. I usually go shopping with my friend. I’m always undecided what to choose. She gives me a piece of advice.
Most often I like buying books. When I go to the bookshop I always spend there about one hour. Reading is my hobby. I have never left the bookshop without buying a book. On other side – I don't like shopping foods so much. In our family my mother does the shopping. I think mothers know what they are going to cook. But I do the shopping on Saturday and Sunday. My mother usually makes me a shopping list before I go to the shop, because I usually forget something to buy. Then I have to go to the shop once more.
Department stores vs. corner shops
When I want to do a lot of shopping very quickly, I go to big department stores. They have a large variety of products available in several different stores all under one roof. The shop assistants serve us, give us professional advice, demonstrate the products, and wrap them up after we have bought them. The shopping centres has a multitude of different shops, for example, clothing stores for men, woman, and children, sports shops, appliance stores, glass and pottery stores, photo shops, stationary stores, toy stores, shoe stores, furniture stores, fabric stores, and hardware stores. We can purchase or rent products with home delivery service. The shopping centre is opened every day form 8:00am until 10:00pm.
The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to spend much time there – you can buy everything on one place. But usually, department stores are always very crowded and sometimes, you have to wait for a long time at cash desk in a queue. So, that’s not good. And one more advantage – in winter, it’s not freezing there!
But many people prefer corner shops in the city downtown, which sell a range of basic goods like food, newspapers, sweets, bread and clothes. They are quite similar to that ones in department stores, but sometimes smaller and no so crowded. And sometimes, they have better prices there, even there’s not such a variety of things they are offering. As I said, I prefer shopping in department stores, but if I look for birthday presents, I usually go to corner shops, as I feel there much comfortable.
I like giving a presents, but sometimes it is very difficult. For example, when I am buying present for my family I know what they like and I buy something useful. My sister likes cosmetics, clothes and she is always happy. I think it is more difficult to buy something for men than for women. Women mostly want cosmetics, jewellery, clothes, and it is easier to choose something. Presents for men are mostly clothes, electronic and maybe some cosmetics…but every year it is more difficult to buy something. How can you be sure, you chosed good present? You can never be, but if it makes people happy, you did a good job.
Many people who feel that they do not have time to go shopping and choose products from catalogues. They just fill out the order form; specify the type, colour, and size, and then mailtheir order. In just a few days or weeks, the new products arrive in the mail. It is possible to buy washing machines, dishwashers, radios, CD players, and all kinds of other things through mail order. Sometimes, salespeople selling cosmetics come to our door, offering to demonstrate their products. This gives us an opportunity to decide if we want to buy something or not. These new sales methods save time and are convenient for busy people.
What you can buy …
At newsagent‘s you can buy Czech or foreign newspapers or magazines.
At chemist‘s you can buy medicines, vitamins or bandages. In short – things, you need to, when you are ill.
At tobacconist‘s you can buy newspapers, magazines, tram tickets and loads of small stuff like tissues.
Where can you get your dress cleaned?
At drycleaner’s. They can clean everything, you bring, but as you’re paying for each piece, it is sensible to buy washing-machine and give them only expensive dress or suits, which you can’t clean by yourself.
If you want to bake a cake, you have to buy …
It really depends on type cake, you want to bake. Do you like chocolate one or strawberries cake? I love chocolate, so here are ingredients for that one: milk, flour sugar, baking powder, cocoa, eggs, vanilla extract and vegetable oil. You can find many receipts over the internet.