#252 Requesting a Special Order at an Electronics Store｜French Shopping Phrases

When the product you want is not available in the store, you may need to request a special order.

In such situations, it is important not only to confirm availability, but also to ask about the expected arrival time and the method of pickup.

In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for requesting a special order at an electronics store, following the flow of a typical conversation.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour, je cherche ce modèle, mais je ne le vois pas en magasin.
（Hello, I am looking for this model, but I cannot find it in the store.）

B

En effet, nous n’avons plus ce modèle en stock actuellement.
（Indeed, we currently do not have this model in stock.）

A

Est-il possible de le commander ?
（Would it be possible to order it?）

B

Bien sûr. Il faudra compter environ une semaine.
（Of course. It will take approximately one week.）

A

D’accord. Est-ce que je peux le récupérer ici ?
（I see. Would it be possible to pick it up here?）

B

Oui, dès qu’il arrive, nous vous contacterons.
（Yes, we will contact you as soon as it arrives.）

A

Parfait, merci beaucoup.
（Perfect, thank you very much.）

1. Checking Product Availability

Before requesting a special order, I recommend first confirming whether the item is available in the store.

Here, “Je cherche ce modèle” is used to express “I am looking for this model.”

The verb “chercher” means “to look for” and takes a direct object. This means it is used in the form “chercher + noun” without a preposition.

In the second part, “mais je ne le vois pas en magasin,” the verb “voir” (to see) is used in the negative form to express that you do not see the item in the store.

The pronoun “le” refers back to “ce modèle.” By using “le” instead of repeating the noun, the sentence becomes more natural and concise.

2. Asking Whether a Special Order Is Possible

If the item is not in stock, the next step is to ask whether it can be ordered.

The structure “Est-il possible de + infinitive ?” is a polite way to ask whether something is possible. The preposition “de” is followed by an infinitive verb, which in this case is “commander.”

The verb “commander” means “to order,” but when used in this context, it implies placing an order to have the item brought in.

You can also ask:

Here, “vous pouvez …” is used to make a direct but still polite request.

The structure “pouvoir + infinitive” means “can” or “to be able to,” and when used in a question, it functions as a polite request.

3. Confirming the Pickup Method

It is also important to confirm how you will receive the ordered item.

The structure “je peux + infinitive” means “I can …,” and when used in a question form, it allows you to politely ask for permission or confirm a possibility.

The verb “récupérer” means “to collect” or “to pick up,” and is commonly used when retrieving an order or a package.

The word “ici” (here) indicates that you are asking whether in-store pickup is possible, rather than delivery.

Summary