Discovering slight damage on an item you want to buy, like a dented box for an appliance, can be an opportunity to ask for a discount. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context for politely inquiring about a price reduction due to minor damage, specifically focusing on a scenario where a shopper notices a dented appliance box and speaks with a clerk.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 상자가 찌그러졌는데 할인 좀 받을 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: sang-ja-ga jji-geu-reo-jyeot-neun-de ha-rin jom ba-deul su it-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: The box is dented, could I possibly get a discount?
Pointing Out the Damage
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Expression: 여기 상자가 좀 찌그러졌어요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi sang-ja-ga jom jji-geu-reo-jyeot-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The box here is a bit dented. -
Expression: 이 제품 상자에 흠집이 있네요.
Pronunciation: i je-pum sang-ja-e heum-ji-bi it-ne-yo.
Meaning: There’s a scratch/flaw on this product’s box. -
Expression: 포장이 약간 손상되었어요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-i yak-kkan son-sang-doe-eot-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The packaging is slightly damaged. -
Expression: 박스 모서리가 찌그러졌어요.
Pronunciation: bak-seu mo-seo-ri-ga jji-geu-reo-jyeot-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The corner of the box is crushed/dented. -
Expression: 이거 전시 상품인가요?
Pronunciation: i-geo jeon-si sang-pum-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this a display item? (Sometimes display items have minor flaws) -
Expression: 내용물은 괜찮은 거죠?
Pronunciation: nae-yong-mu-reun gwaen-cha-neun geo-jyo?
Meaning: The contents are okay, right? -
Expression: 박스 상태가 좀 안 좋네요.
Pronunciation: bak-seu sang-tae-ga jom an jon-ne-yo.
Meaning: The condition of the box isn’t very good. -
Expression: 이 부분 말씀드리는 거예요.
Pronunciation: i bu-bun mal-sseum-deu-ri-neun geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: I’m talking about this part here. (While pointing) -
Expression: 제품 자체에는 문제가 없나요?
Pronunciation: je-pum ja-che-e-neun mun-je-ga eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there no problem with the product itself? -
Expression: 상자 때문에 그런데요…
Pronunciation: sang-ja ttae-mu-ne geu-reon-de-yo…
Meaning: It’s because of the box… (Used to lead into asking for a discount)
Requesting a Discount
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Expression: 혹시 할인이 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si ha-ri-ni ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would a discount be possible, perhaps? -
Expression: 조금 깎아 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum kka-kka ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Could you lower the price a little? -
Expression: 상자 상태 감안해서 가격 조정 좀 해주세요.
Pronunciation: sang-ja sang-tae ga-man-hae-seo ga-gyeok jo-jeong jom hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please adjust the price a bit, considering the box’s condition. -
Expression: 흠집 상품 할인 같은 거 없나요?
Pronunciation: heum-jip sang-pum ha-rin ga-teun geo eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Isn’t there something like a discount for flawed items? -
Expression: 이 가격 그대로 사기에는 좀 그렇네요.
Pronunciation: i ga-gyeok geu-dae-ro sa-gi-e-neun jom geu-reon-ne-yo.
Meaning: It feels a bit iffy buying it at this exact price (given the damage). -
Expression: 얼마까지 할인해 주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-kka-ji ha-rin-hae ju-sil su it-sseo-yo?
Meaning: How much can you discount it by? -
Expression: 조금만 더 싸게 안 될까요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man deo ssa-ge an doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can’t it be just a little cheaper? -
Expression: 포장 불량으로 할인 적용되나요?
Pronunciation: po-jang bul-lyang-eu-ro ha-rin jeo-gyong-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Does a discount apply due to defective packaging? -
Expression: 가격 네고 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: ga-gyeok ne-go ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is price negotiation possible? (Nego is Konglish for negotiation) -
Expression: 이 상태면 할인이 있어야 할 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: i sang-tae-myeon ha-ri-ni it-sseo-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: In this condition, I think there should be a discount.
Clerk’s Potential Responses
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Expression: 네, 확인해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-gin-hae bo-get-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I will check. -
Expression: 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please wait a moment. -
Expression: 상자 손상으로는 할인이 어렵습니다.
Pronunciation: sang-ja son-sang-eu-ro-neun ha-ri-ni eo-ryeop-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s difficult to offer a discount just for box damage. -
Expression: 제품 자체에는 문제가 없어서요.
Pronunciation: je-pum ja-che-e-neun mun-je-ga eop-seo-seo-yo.
Meaning: It’s because there’s no problem with the product itself. -
Expression: 이 제품은 이미 할인된 가격입니다.
Pronunciation: i je-pu-meun i-mi ha-rin-doen ga-gyeo-gim-ni-da.
Meaning: This product is already at a discounted price. -
Expression: 5% 정도 할인해 드릴 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: o-peu-ro jeong-do ha-rin-hae deu-ril su it-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: We can offer about a 5% discount. -
Expression: 만 원 할인해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: man won ha-rin-hae deu-ril-kke-yo.
Meaning: I will give you a 10,000 won discount. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 가격 조정은 불가능합니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, ga-gyeok jo-jeong-eun bul-ga-neung-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m sorry, but price adjustment is not possible. -
Expression: 매니저님께 한번 여쭤볼게요.
Pronunciation: mae-ni-jeo-nim-kke han-beon yeo-jjwo-bol-kke-yo.
Meaning: I will ask the manager. -
Expression: 대신 사은품을 하나 더 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: dae-sin sa-eun-pu-meul ha-na deo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I give you an extra free gift instead?
Korean Culture Notes
Politeness is Key: When asking for a discount, especially due to minor damage, maintaining a polite and non-demanding tone is crucial. Use formal language (~요/~ㅂ니다 endings) and phrases like 혹시 (hok-si – perhaps/by any chance) or 좀 (jom – a little) to soften your request.
Haggling Culture: While haggling is common in traditional markets (시장 – si-jang), it’s less common and sometimes frowned upon in department stores or large electronics retailers for brand new items. However, asking for a discount on items with visible flaws (like a dented box or a display item) is generally more acceptable, though not always guaranteed.
Focus on Packaging vs. Product: Clerks might emphasize that the product inside is perfectly fine, implying the box damage is insignificant. Be prepared for this response. Your leverage is higher if the damage could potentially affect the product or if it’s a display item.
Store Policies Vary: Discount policies for damaged packaging differ greatly between stores. Some may have a standard procedure, while others might leave it to the clerk’s or manager’s discretion. Don’t be discouraged if one store refuses; another might be more flexible.
“Jeong” (정 – Affection/Connection): Sometimes, building a little rapport with the clerk through polite conversation can subtly influence their willingness to help, although this is less applicable in very large, impersonal stores.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A shopper (A) is looking at a microwave oven in an electronics store and notices the box is dented. They approach a clerk (B).
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Expression: A: 저기요, 이 전자레인지 보고 있는데요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, i jeon-ja-re-in-ji bo-go it-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: Excuse me, I’m looking at this microwave oven. -
Expression: B: 네, 고객님. 어떤 점이 궁금하신가요?
Pronunciation: ne, go-gaeng-nim. eo-tteon jeo-mi gung-geum-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Yes, customer. What are you curious about? -
Expression: A: 여기 보니까 상자가 좀 찌그러졌네요. 제품 자체는 괜찮은 거죠?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi bo-ni-kka sang-ja-ga jom jji-geu-reo-jyeon-ne-yo. je-pum ja-che-neun gwaen-cha-neun geo-jyo?
Meaning: I see here that the box is a bit dented. Is the product itself okay? -
Expression: B: 네, 확인해 봤는데 내용물에는 전혀 문제 없습니다. 운송 중에 약간 그렇게 된 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-gin-hae bwat-neun-de nae-yong-mu-re-neun jeon-hyeo mun-je eop-sseum-ni-da. un-song jung-e yak-kkan geu-reoke doen geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I’ve checked and there’s no problem at all with the contents. It seems it got slightly damaged during shipping. -
Expression: A: 아, 그렇군요. 혹시 상자가 이래서 그런데, 할인 좀 받을 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-kun-yo. hok-si sang-ja-ga i-rae-seo geu-reon-de, ha-rin jom ba-deul su it-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Ah, I see. Since the box is like this, could I perhaps get a bit of a discount? -
Expression: B: 흠… 원래 포장 손상으로는 할인이 어려운데요. 잠시만요, 제가 확인해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: heum… won-rae po-jang son-sang-eu-ro-neun ha-ri-ni eo-ryeo-un-de-yo. jam-si-man-yo, je-ga hwa-gin-hae bol-kke-yo.
Meaning: Hmm… Usually, it’s difficult to give discounts for packaging damage. Just a moment, let me check. -
Expression: B: (잠시 후) 고객님, 만 원 정도 할인 적용해 드릴 수 있을 것 같습니다. 괜찮으신가요?
Pronunciation: (jam-si hu) go-gaeng-nim, man won jeong-do ha-rin jeo-gyong-hae deu-ril su it-sseul geot gat-sseum-ni-da. gwaen-cha-neu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: (After a moment) Customer, it seems we can apply about a 10,000 won discount. Would that be alright? -
Expression: A: 네, 좋아요! 그럼 이걸로 할게요. 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-a-yo! geu-reom i-geol-lo hal-kke-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, that’s great! I’ll take this one then. Thank you.
Practice Tips
Practice pointing out the specific damage using phrases like 여기 (yeo-gi – here) and 이 부분 (i bu-bun – this part)~ Remember to use polite sentence endings like ~요 (yo) or ~ㅂ/습니다 (p/seum-ni-da)!
Role-play the conversation with a friend or language partner, taking turns being the shopper and the clerk. Try different scenarios – maybe the clerk refuses initially, and you have to ask slightly differently!
Listen carefully to the clerk’s response. Understanding phrases like 할인이 어렵습니다 (ha-ri-ni eo-ryeop-sseum-ni-da – discount is difficult) or 얼마 할인해 드릴게요 (eol-ma ha-rin-hae deu-ril-kke-yo – I’ll discount it by this much) is key to successful negotiation. Good luck~!
