Task 1 A customer is calling to ask about an order. Listen to the conversation and answer the following questions.
Task 2 Listen to the conversation between a customer and the manager of the Delivery Department. Then fill in the blanks with what you hear.
Task 3 Betty Wilson is discussing with Andrew Blare about some terms of the contract. Listen to the conversation and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
Task 4 Frank Murphy receives a call about delivery arrangements. Listen to the conversation and complete his notes.
Task 5 Listen to the passage twice and fill in the blanks with what you hear.
Task 1 Script
W: Hello, Customer Service Department. How can I help you?
M: Hello, I'm trying to find out if my order has been shipped.
W: OK. Could I have your order number, please?
M: Yes, it's 9807.
W: Thank you. Wait a minute. Yes, your order was shipped on the eighteenth.
M: OK. Thanks.
W: You're welcome. Bye.
M: Bye.
Task 2 Script
M: Could you deliver our goods by train?
W: Why? According to our contract we should deliver them by truck.
M: We hope we can receive the goods as soon as possible. It's faster by train.
W: Don't worry. We'll have no trouble meeting your delivery date. And if a customer
requests a carrier other than truck, he must bear the additional charges.
M: Well, in that case, we don't insist on changing the mode of transport if you promise to deliver the goods on time.
W: All right. Thank you.
Task 3 Script
W: Well, Mr. Blare, let's come to the next point— delivery date. What's your time limit?
M: By the middle of March.
W: I see. But I have to point out that our factories have a lot of orders in hand. The best we can do is the last week in March.
M: You see, Mrs. Wilson, it's essential for us to have it before the 25th. April is the selling season for this product in our market. If we miss the season, then we won't make any profit.
W: What about making March 19th the shipment date?
M : Why the 19th?
W: That's the last ship scheduled to sail for your port in March, and your order can reach you before the 25th. But we'll do our best to push it as early as possible.
M: OK, let's make it the 19th. We must insist absolutely on March 19th as the last possible date. But the earlier, the better.
W: Fair enough.
M: All right, then.
QI: What are the two speakers talking about?
Q2: Why does the man have to have the products before April?
Q3: When will the products probably be shipped?
Task 4 Script
W: Morning, Mr. Murphy. This is Julia. I'm phoning to inform you that the ship carrying your imports reached Shenzhen Port this morning and has started unloading in the afternoon.
M: Ah, good news. Would you tell me when we can expect the goods to arrive at our warehouse?
W: Yes, there are three containers in all. The trucks should arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday. It depends on traffic and weather. When will you accept deliveries?
M: We can start unloading the trucks at as early as 8:00 a.m. and as late as 4:00 p.m.
W: If our trucks arrive late in the afternoon on Friday, can you unload them on Saturday?
M: I'm afraid not. You might have to wait till next Monday. Er …I'll talk with our warehouse manager about this and come back to you tomorrow. What do you think?
W: Fine. I'll be expecting your call. Till then, bye.
M: Bye.
Task 5 Script
Getting your products to your customers on time, in good condition and at a reasonable cost, is very important. As for the means of shipping your products, that decision should be made on the basis of your business needs and budget.
Four main means of transport are used internationally. Road transport is the most popular choice for shipping goods within a country. Prices are different according to whether the shipment is a full-truck load or a less-than-full-truck load. The railway is another important means of transport within a country, particularly where roads are in poor condition. Air transport is the most expensive choice. However, it has the advantages of speed, reduced insurance and storage costs. Water transport is used mainly for heavy goods. It is the slowest but least expensive mode of transport.
Besides means of transport, you will also need to pay attention to product packaging and insurance. Packaging protects your goods from shipping damage. It is strongly recommended that you insure your products. Insurance protects you against financial loss when products are stolen, damaged, delayed or accidentally lost.