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PhrasesReturning ItemsIl prodotto non è come il campione che avevo visto.
B2formal

Il prodotto non è come il campione che avevo visto.

The product is not like the sample I had seen.

Pronunciation

'Campione' — cam-PYO-ne. Three syllables.

When to use it

Use when you bought a product based on a display sample (fabric, tiles, paint, food) and the delivered item differs in colour, texture, or quality. This is a strong legal claim.

What it means

'Come il campione' means 'like the sample'. 'Avevo visto' is the pluperfect — 'I had seen'. This implies the sample pre-dated your purchase and formed the basis of the contract. Under Italian contract law, goods must conform to any sample shown to the buyer.

Variations

Il colore è diverso dal campione.

The colour is different from the sample.

Specific to colour discrepancy.

La qualità non corrisponde a quanto mostrato.

The quality does not correspond to what was shown.

Formal and general.

Ho una foto del campione.

I have a photo of the sample.

Essential evidence.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Il prodotto non è come il campione che avevo visto in negozio. Commessa: Capisco la sua preoccupazione. Può mostrarmi la foto? Cliente: Sì, guardi — il colore è molto più scuro. Commessa: Ha ragione. Vediamo come risolvere.

Customer: The product is not like the sample I had seen in the shop. Assistant: I understand your concern. Can you show me the photo? Customer: Yes, look — the colour is much darker. Assistant: You are right. Let us see how to resolve this.

Cultural Note

In Italian furniture and interior design shops ('arredamento'), ordering from samples is standard. Differences in batch production are common but not acceptable if significant. Keep photos of every sample you approve.