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

I have ever done a favour for my customer. I gave my students an extension on payment for the tuition.

Yes, I do if the client deserves this helping, it's all about the situation.

Good deal between both parts, This kind of actions enhance loyalty.

I agree with you, if you isn't flexible you could loose the client, because he will know that he doesn't ever have support on you.

I think it important to be flexible and make exception for important clients, if I know there reputation, because this can maintain the loyalty of these customers.

I really consider that being flexible with the customer could improve the business in both sides, a payment extension could works in this case.

I think extensions must be an important possibility for many important clients, so the idea of adopting exceptions in the policies of the enterprise power it up earning clients and getting good reputation even if there are another enterprises offering similar services.

The cash flow problems create some payment delays. Especially in the period of crisis businesses should manage their own cash flows very carefully. In such cases giving an extension to costumers make happy them and make strong relationships between business and costumers.