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

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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

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Discussion

Do you ever do favours or make exceptions for important clients?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

Yes, i believe offering favours to clients sometimes helps keeping healthier relationship and mutual respect in business. This way one's business can be viewed as epitome to attract other clients.

Clients are key to the success of any business. Therefore, sometimes businesses do need to make exceptions which will show that they are ready to go above and beyond to retain the existing customers. If I were to have a business, I would make exceptions for important clients on an individual basis.

I don´t understand how I can do the task number 2

Hi Josedaniel51,

To add a sentence to a group, first click or press on the sentence. It will turn grey. Then, click on one of the two grey boxes below, and it will be added to it. Make sure you click on the box, not any sentences that are already in the box (as that will replace it rather than add it).

I hope that helps.

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Yes, it is necessary to do sometimes.

I can make an exception if they give me an important reason to do it.

I agree, I don't have any expererience doing that but i could do it, if the customer or client have a considerable reason to help them. I think thats good to improve the relation between company and customer/client.

I do, sometimes. Well, I mean, it depends on their need and why they couldn't and if they also give some posible solutions.

Sometimes I offer a service exceptionally free to my important clients to keep a good relationship.

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