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: 4.3 (968 votes)

Submitted by Mila2703 on Fri, 28/11/2025 - 21:36

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I have never made exeptions for any customer because I don't work in any kind of services.

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Submitted by MPWY on Wed, 26/11/2025 - 15:13

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Sometimes, we have to accept cheques from our customers through email and withdraw cash for their suppliers. So I think doing a favour occasionally for important and trustworthy clients is acceptable.

 

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Submitted by AllegraNasstrom on Tue, 25/11/2025 - 20:14

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For sure! its always good to make exceptions with the best costumers 

Submitted by Tu Duc on Sat, 22/11/2025 - 22:53

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I didn't know about it before, but now i know. There was a flexibility exception for the best customer sometime. I think it is good, because It helps some business pass through the difficult situation that related cash flow. I can see some interesting vocabularies: cash flow, an extention, an exception, payment terms, in invoice, delivery confirmation, an appriciate, a regulation. Thank you so much

Submitted by Safrizal on Mon, 17/11/2025 - 08:00

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Well, I have a small own business. There were many clients that asked the favor to me I always gave them chances. I think that I could grow my own business because of them, although I had to delay receiving on payment for awhile. 

Submitted by tayyab1989 on Wed, 05/11/2025 - 07:33

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Its always good to give favour to your good clients as it works both ways. 

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Submitted by Eloyfarfan on Tue, 04/11/2025 - 01:58

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Hello about the question I can say that If I were a business owner and I had an important client, I would give him a chance to make an exception

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Submitted by Gisella italian on Sat, 01/11/2025 - 22:54

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I am not currently a supplier, but some time ago I had an Indian furniture store that sold in Italy. On some occasions, I gave my best clients the option of deferred payment: depending on the amount of the invoice. Greetings.

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Submitted by Oll on Sat, 25/10/2025 - 19:10

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Hello, everyone! I like to help people without violation of company rules. But sometimes we need to do an exception. Because we are humans beings, not artificial intelligence