Situation 2 Packing

A： 罗宾逊先生，这次我们能达成500箱青岛啤酒的交易，我很高兴。这是我们双方共同努力的结果。

B： Yes,I’d say the credit for the success of the transaction should go to you and your efforts.I understand Tsingtao Beer is selling like hot cakes and I really appreciate your cooperation in supplying us with the beer.It’s a trial order,the quantity is not large but I’m sure you will find a ready market in our country following the sale of these 500 cases.I prefer your Tsingtao Beer to the other brands selling now in our cities,and I think my countrymen will feel the same.

A： 你是我们的老朋友了，我们一向是很看重友谊的。既然你打算在你们的市场上打开青岛啤酒的销路，我们当然支持。如你所知，我们的货源是很紧张的，青岛啤酒一直不够卖，但我们还是挤出500箱给你了。

B:Yes,I know that,you may consider these 500 cases as seeds sown now which will certainly bring about a good harvest in the future.

A： 我也这样想，不过要依赖于你们的努力了。

B： There is no problem on our part.But I want to discuss the matter of packing the beer.Do you mind hearing my comments?

A： 当然不会介意的。我们非常欢迎你提出意见。

B： Your present packing is in glass bottles of two sizes—large and small.One large bottle is too much for an ordinary person to consume at one time,while the small size seems just right.

A： 你的这个意见提得很好，我们应该考虑正常人的一次消费量来设计啤酒瓶子的大小。

B： I don’t think glass-bottles are popular nowadays for liquids.The shortcomings are obvious:first,they are easily broken in transit even though you put 24 bottles in a well-lined carton；second,glass-bottles are too heavy and it would increase the cost of freight；third,it is not convenient to consume the beer packed in bottles because you have to use a bottle-opener to open them.

A： 是的，你提的这些缺点都是确实存在的。你有些什么好的建议吗？

B： Liquids are now packed in tins,which have been gaining popularity on the world market.I saw 6-tin per pack Coca Cola in sale in the supermarkets in Beijing.You could use similar packing and incorporate an opener on the top of each tin.

A： 据我所知，我们的生产商正在朝着这个方向努力。也就是说我们进口了听装（罐头装）流水线为出口生产，但我们仍然为内销啤酒保留玻璃瓶装流水线。

B： This is a good sign.I do hope that you will speed up your efforts in that direction.In fact I’ve already seen other good results in terms of packing.

A： 是吗？ 你指的是什么？

B： At the last China Import and Export Fair,I tasted black tea ready-made,and packed in paper cartons.That packing would greatly reduce the cost of the goods.

A： 纸质罐头壳只能用于茶、牛奶之类饮料，恐怕对啤酒不太合适，因为啤酒打开后要出现气体，从容器内部就产生压力，纸质壳子恐怕经受不住吧？

B： You are right.You see I’ve forgotten the difference between beer and soft drinks.

A： 你的想法是好的。我将把你今天提的这许多宝贵建议转交生产部门研究，以改进我们的包装，十分感谢你。

B： Not at all.