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.
I worked in customer's service, and sometimes I could be flexible with clients and propose new solutions that made them more satisfied than the first options offered by the previous attendant.
I think it's important to help clients solve problems and have a good relationship, but without breaking the regulations.
Always there is an exceptions, because the rules cannot be unbreakable. In my case im in charge of security policies so VIP always need to be treated different.
I think It's good to give an extension but not for any customers, from the tone of their speech, Andrea was an important client for the company, so this expectation will bond the relationship between the customer and the supplier, but without excessing or breaking the regulations.
I've never been in this kind of situation due to the kind of job that I perform but if the client is important and is a good one, I mean if the client pays always on time I could do it, but if the favor represents a risk for my business it could be useful discuss more terms like I'll send you the new order if you pay at least the 40% of your last order
Always there are extensions in the payment terms especially in the pandemic.
Yes, I usually exchange shift or off days with my colleagues if they ask to especially if they have some important appointment on that day. Doing a favor to your friend, relative, colleague, or client is one act of kindness.
I've been working on collections for two years and I almost always give an extension to clients who are in a difficult cash flow situation, I usually give them a term of five days in order they can get the money.
Well, I have never done a favor to a client because I have never worked in a company but if I were working for a company, probably would help the important clients to keep the business. Although I wouldn´t do it always.
To be honest, I am still a student, so I have never faced this kind of problem. But after listening to this audio, I would like to say, why not? If this client is important, who always has business with my company, I'll do this favour. However, I should also consider this client's integrity. I can help him once, but not more than twice.