# Shopping
### 1. Types of shops

- **Supermarket / hypermarket** – Albert, Tesco, Kaufland, Lidl, Billa.
- **Grocery / corner shop** – small local shop.
- **Bakery, butcher’s, greengrocer’s, fishmonger’s.**
- **Pharmacy / chemist’s / drugstore** – medicine + cosmetics.
- **Bookshop, stationery, music shop, sports shop.**
- **Electronics store** – Alza, Datart, CZC.
- **Clothes shop / boutique** – H&M, Zara, Reserved.
- **Furniture store** – IKEA, Sconto.
- **Department store** – multiple sections under one roof.
- **Shopping mall / shopping centre** – many shops, restaurants, cinema.

### 2. Shopping in Liberec

- **OC Forum Liberec** – central mall, near the train station.
- **OC Plaza Liberec** – another central mall.
- **OC Nisa** – the largest shopping centre in the Liberec region.
- **OC Géčko** – outside the centre.
- **IKEA** – nearest is in Prague, but online delivery available.
- **Local markets** in the city centre.

### 3. Online shopping (e-commerce)

- Czech leaders: **Alza, Mall, CZC, Zboží.cz, Heureka.cz**.
- International: **Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Temu, Shein.**
- **Pros:** wider choice, lower prices, comparison, home delivery, time-saving.
- **Cons:** can’t try before buying, delivery fees, returns can be a hassle, environmental impact of packaging and shipping, support for local shops drops.

### 4. Payment methods

- **Cash** – still popular for small purchases.
- **Card** – contactless, chip, magnetic stripe.
- **Mobile payment** – Apple Pay, Google Pay.
- **Bank transfer / QR payment**.
- **BNPL** – Buy Now, Pay Later (Twisto, Klarna).

### 5. Vocabulary

- **Customer / buyer / shopper / consumer.**
- **Shop assistant / cashier / salesperson.**
- **Trolley / shopping cart / basket.**
- **Receipt / bill, refund, exchange, returns.**
- **Discount, sale, special offer, half price, BOGO (buy one get one).**
- **Brand, label, barcode, price tag.**

### 6. Shopping habits

- *Do you enjoy shopping?* – *Yes, I like browsing for new clothes / electronics. / Not really, I prefer to order online.*
- *Where do you shop for food?* – *Mostly at Lidl / Albert because it’s cheap and nearby.*
- *Who does the shopping at home?* – usually parents; sometimes I help.

### 7. Compulsive shopping / consumerism

- **Black Friday, Cyber Monday, sales seasons.**
- **Fast fashion** – cheap clothes, big environmental impact.
- **Influencers** push consumption.
- **Risks:** debt, clutter, environmental damage, waste.

### 8. Sustainable shopping

- **Bio / organic / fair-trade products.**
- **Local farmers’ markets**, **farmers’ shops** (farmářské obchody).
- **Reusable bags**, refilling containers, bulk shops.
- **Second-hand** stores, swap parties, Vinted.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.

### 9. Comparison: CZ vs. UK vs. USA

- **CZ:** wide range of European chains; shopping malls common; supermarkets dominate; **Sunday closure on selected holidays**.
- **UK:** big supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi), high street shops, Boxing Day sales.
- **USA:** big-box stores (Walmart, Target, Costco), drive-through, huge malls, **Black Friday** after Thanksgiving.

### 10. Useful phrases

- *How much is this? / How much does it cost?*
- *Can I try it on? / Where are the fitting rooms?*
- *Do you have this in size M / a different colour?*
- *I’ll take it. / I’m just looking, thanks.*
- *Can I pay by card? / Do you have a loyalty card?*
- *Is this on sale / discounted?*

### 11. Speaking strategy

List types of shops, then your own shopping habits (food / clothes / electronics). Compare offline vs. online shopping with pros and cons. Mention Liberec shops. Finish with sustainability / consumerism as a modern problem.