Instructions
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
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 dont understand the sentence: "It works both ways". Can anyone explain?
Thanks a lot!
Hello Thuy Ta,
What Junko means here is that she and her company appreciate all the orders that Andrea and Red Band make with them.
When Andrea says 'I appreciate your help', he means 'Thank you for your help'. When Junko says 'It works both ways', she's repeating her expression of gratitude for all the orders that Andrea places with them.
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
work both ways: it means that something is both beneficial for you and me because both sides earn money/get advantageous for themselves.
In the listening part: try to understand as both Jurko and Andrea win something.
It can be good for both sides : supplier and customer
It was great. Thank you so much
I can say that I have never done favour my clienst yet, because I hasn't so job but I did a lot of favour for my friends, and I think that every person promote their friends because the friendship invole these favour.
when i try to, i always start violently eating coffee
Yes. Some important clients would have cash flow issues so they need an extension for the payment terms.It could be for a week at the most because we also have to manage our own cash flow.
how to download this audio? Please!
Hello 0344129716,
If you are using a computer, right-click on the audio player and choose 'Save As'. I expect there's a way to do it on a mobile or tablet, but how depends on what kind you are using -- if you do an internet search, I'm sure you can find out how.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team