David Simpson, whose marketing campaign is now well under way, has secured a large order from a Belgian importer for his firm''s electric grills. He is now negotiating the terms of the contract with Mr. Gaston Geeroms from the importing firm. Miss Victoria Honeyworth, Simpson''s faithful secretary, is also present.
Simpson: Well, Mr. Geeroms, it seems to me we''ve come quite a long way, but there''s still a fair few points left over to clear up.
Geeroms: Yes, I''d like to go over terms of payment. Would you be agreeable to payment by irrevocable letter of credit on your London Bank?
Simpson: Good -- at sixty days I''d suggest. Now, what about deliveries?
Geeroms: I''ve been looking into the question of having the goods sent by air. It''s quick, the goods are less liable to damage than by sea and rail, and there''s less risk of hold--ups due to strikes.
Simpson: There''s only one thing there. Freight costs are higher by air, and if we operate on CIF terms as we''ve already provisionally agreed, this might mean a substantial increase in our expenses.
Geeroms: All the same, really I believe it would be worthwhile, and we would be prepared to meet you half-way with the extra costs incurred.
Simpson: I''m certainly with you in principle, but I''ll have to take the matter up when I get back to Wolverhampton. Perhaps you''d make a special note of that, Victoria.
Victoria: Would you please just check that I''ve got it right. I''ve written: Possibility of air freighting to be examined. Importer willing to contribute to extra cost.
Simpson: Thank you. That sums it up all right doesn''t it, Mr. Geeroms?
Geeroms: Very nicely. The next point is the guarantee. We should like to be able to offer the customer a guarantee for at least six months.
Simpson: No trouble about that. We offer a standard guarantee of twelve months in all the countries we''re selling in, and there''s no reason that I can think of why Belgium should be an exception.
Geeroms: So a similar guarantee would be written into our contract also?
Simpson: Certainly. Then, one of the things we haven''t decided properly yet is who''s going to be responsible for publicity.
Geeroms: We''ve prepared to look after that side entirely. The only thing I would propose is that you should supply us with as much informational material -- prospectuses, leaflets, instructions for use, etcetera, as possible. We''ll have them translated into French and Flemish and also see that posters are made available for window displays and that ads are placed in the trade journals and the dailies.
Simpson: That''s fine, but Perhaps we could be consulted about the initial promotional campaign -- as you know we''ve been marketing our products in quite a few countries lately, and we feel we''ve picked up quite a few gimmicks we''d like to suggest for adaptation over here.
Geeroms: Of course we''d be only too pleased to get new ideas and cooperation from your side.
Simpson: Victoria, any other points we ought to take up?
Victoria: May I run through our check-list? Price -- agreed upon. Delivery times --
Geeroms: That will depend on whether you send the goods by air.
Simpson: Quite.
Victoria: Initial order, five thousand pieces, later orders according to sales. Terms of payment: settled. Packing
Simpson: That again may depend on mode of transport.
Geeroms: As I said yesterday, I think the display packing you are using in England is very attractive. If We supplied you with suitable French and Flemish text, could you have it printed on the boxes in England?
Simpson: Would you make a note of that, Victoria?
Victoria: Yes, Mr. Simpson.
Geeroms: I hope you won''t mind my mentioning that it''s past five o''clock, and -
Victoria: Goodness, and I was supposed to have a hairdo at quarter past.
Geeroms: Then we mustn''t keep the lady, must we? Anyway we''ve still got tomorrow to talk things over. Don''t forget now, I''ll pick you both up at your hotel about seven, so be all prepared to ''see Brussels by night''.
Victoria: That sounds really exciting.
Simpson: Certainly does. Then,see you later, Mr. Geeroms.
Geeroms: Well, see you!
Notes:
1. is we1l under way: has progressed considerably.
2. electric grill 电烤箱
cooking apparatus for grilling (cooking by direct heat) meat, etc.
3. a fair few: quite a number of .
4. clear up 澄清，解决
find an answer to, put in order.
I''d like to clear up two or three Points.
As soon as the matter is cleared up, I shall write to you.
5. be agreeable to 同意，愿意
willing or ready to consent.
I''m agreeab1e to what you suggest.
He is agreeable to go as soon as he finishes with his immediate commitments.
If it is agreeable to you, I would wish to go back to the boat.
6. at sixty days: to be paid within 60 days of the payer receiving it.
7. hold-ups: delays in delivery.
8. Provisionally: temporally, for the time being.
Although the items required for by you, are provisionally unavailable, we will exhaust our best efforts to locate a supplier for you in no distant future.
The manager is provisionally busy with something urgent; he will be able to see you in a few minutes.
9. meet you halfway with: pay half of.
l0. incur 招致,遭受
receive something unpleasant as a result of certain actions.
The final rewards will more than compensate for any loss incurred.
The speaker''s thoughtless comments at the meeting incurred strong protects among the audience.
11. I''m certainly with you: I sure agree with you.
He is thoroughly with us in our efforts to reform our educational system.
Are you with me in thinking he''s right?
12. take the matter up: put forward the problem for discussion.
13. publicity 宣传
bring something or someone to public notice by advertising or propaganda.
l4. prospectus 介绍书,计划书
a document describing a forthcoming project or enterprise or a new product as one distributed to prospective investors, customers.
l5. leaflet 传单,散页广告印刷品
a small sheet, often folded, of printed matter, usually given
free to the public.
16. etcetera: and others, especially of the same sort.
17. Flemish 佛兰芒语
one of the official languages of Belgium.
18. poster 招贴广告
a large printed notice put in a public Place.
19. daily 日报
a newspaper printed and sold every day.
20. promotional campaign: efforts to push the sale of new products.
21. gimmick 诀窍,小花招
unusual ideas to attract attention.
22. adaptation 适应
adjusting to new or different conditions.
23. check-list 核对清单
items listed together for convenience of comparison or other checking purposes.
24. hairdo 女子理发 haircut 男子理发
