Snapped by camera deal

1. Snapped by camera deal • Do Hong Kong shopkeepers have a good reputation? • What would you do if you thought you’d been cheated out of $4,000.

2. 81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive -$9,625. • 81. Someone else gave it this price. • I decided on a suitable model, (which was) price at $2,600… • Replace “price” with … • priced

3. 81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive -$9,625. • 82. • Did the deal pay by credit card? • Passive voice • … and had been paid for by credit card, ...

4. 81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive-$9,625. • 83. • Do you think this is the only superior model in the world? • This is the first time we mention this superior model. • Replace “the” with … • a

5. 81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive-$9,625. • 84. • What word is missing in this structure: “four times expensive”? • Four times as/more expensive

6. 85. I had not intended buy this more expensive camera,86. but because it was so much better, I eventually did. • 85. • Just as you would say “I wanted to buy”,you should say ... • I had not intended to buy ...

7. 85. I had not intended buy this more expensive camera,86. but because it was so much better, I eventually did. • 86. • Correct.

8. 87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns. • 87. • Correct.

9. 87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns. • 88. • “Similar” means almost the same. • The word “exact” tells us that the models were more than similar. • Use “the” for “same”, but “a” for “similar”. • Replace “similar” with … • same

10. 87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns. • Return = go back • You can correct this two ways. • Replace “returned” with … • went • Or delete … • back

11. 87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns. • The only way to use the verb to be (are) and a verb in the active voice is in the present continuous. • They claim this is their usual policy, so you cannot say “they are not accepting returns”. • Replace “are” with … • could/would/did/do

12. 91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers. • 91. • “Upset” is being used as an adjective here. • What verb is missing between “I” and “upset”? • am/was/feel/became

13. 91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers. • Is money countable? • Replace “are” with … • is

14. 91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers. • Some HK students refer to people who sell things as “sales”, but this is incorrect. • Replace “sales” with … • salespeople/salesmen/saleswomen/ shopkeepers/sales assistants

15. 91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers. • Lack (verb) = He lacks integrity. • Lack (noun) = There is a lack of integrity among HK salespeople. • Is “lack” a noun or a verb here? • Delete … • of

16. 95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase. • 95. • The only way to use the verb to be (am) and a verb in the active voice is in the present continuous. • “I am suggesting” wouldn’t be appropriate. • Delete … • “am”.

17. 95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase. • 96. • Correct.

18. 95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase. • 97. • Who should require stores to accept returns? • The government should, so we need the active voice. • Delete … • be

19. 95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accept returns within three days purchase. • 98. • You may or may not be familiar with the following structure: within (number + noun) of (noun). • Ex.: You will receive a reply within 3 days of your interview. • … within three days of purchase.