A phone call from a customer

A phone call from a customer

Listen to the phone call from a customer to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Junko: Hello, Junko Mori speaking. How can I help you?

Andrea: Hi, Junko, it's Andrea here from Red Band. I'm calling about our latest order.

Junko: Everything arrived OK, right? We got the delivery confirmation at our end.

Andrea: Yes, everything's fine with the order. I'm calling about the invoice and the payment terms. I need a favour.

Junko: A favour? What do you need?

Andrea: This is a little, er ... difficult, but I need an extension on the payment terms. I know they're usually 30 days, but we're having some cash flow problems. You'd really be helping us out if you could extend it to 60 days.

Junko: I'm not sure if I can do that, Andrea. We've got regulations at our end, and also have to manage our own cash flow.

Andrea: I promise this won't become the norm, Junko. Actually, I also want to place another new order. The same size order as last time. It's for an important customer and they pay on delivery.

Junko: I see. So your cash flow problem will be solved after this new order is delivered.

Andrea: Exactly.

Junko: That sounds good. Hold on, Andrea. Let me see what I can do. Yes, I think we can make an exception this time.

Andrea: That's great, Junko. I appreciate your help.

Junko: And we appreciate your business, Andrea. It works both ways.

Andrea: Thanks again, Junko. Can you send me a quick email confirmation of the payment terms extension?

Junko: Sure, no problem. We're happy to help you.

Andrea: Great. And I'll email you the new order.

Junko: Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it. Talk to you soon.

Andrea: You too. Goodbye.

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Average: 4.4 (612 votes)

Submitted by c_u_spacecowboy on Mon, 31/07/2023 - 11:34

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I don't have a business and clients, i do an other kind of job, but I think that for business relationships is very important to find the right balance between flexibility and punctuality. So i would surely make an exception for an important or trusted customer.

Submitted by long09025 on Thu, 27/07/2023 - 06:59

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Yes, I sometime make an exception for the important clients to keep the good relationship with them.

Submitted by G.Abdelkader on Wed, 26/07/2023 - 10:36

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I think that exceptions for VIP customers allow for better business relations

Submitted by G.Abdelkader on Wed, 26/07/2023 - 10:12

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This is my first day in this website

Submitted by noura-elkhwanky on Sat, 22/07/2023 - 20:34

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In my business always make extensions it’s essential to be flexible and that promote the business with our client and in another hand they appreciate what we do for them.

Submitted by serap2023 on Sat, 22/07/2023 - 12:54

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I did a favour.
my client's name is Ali and had a start-up. We had been making a business for years . One day, he called me and asked an exception for his payment because he had cash flow issues. I trusted and changed his payment terms . he made his promise.

Submitted by rhoda16 on Thu, 20/07/2023 - 00:36

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I have a small business before, it was close due to covid. For me,
I will give an extension to my client just one or two times if he doesn't pay immediately to the exact date of what we discuss. If he is a good payer and can pay on the day I gave him an extension, well, I will give him a lot of extension.

Submitted by Alshujairi on Sat, 15/07/2023 - 21:44

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I do not have a business now but if I will be had a business in future, certainly I will give an extension to my costumers.

Submitted by Leorj on Fri, 14/07/2023 - 22:29

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Yes, I usually make exceptions for my clients because I think that everyone is unique and has its own needs. Therefore, it's necessary to be flexible and open to the change.