English at Work – Episode 32 : The deal is off

Transcript of the podcast

Narrator: Welcome back to Tip Top Trading where things aren’t going too well. Anna negotiated a deal with a client in France but now they claim they’ve been ripped off! This has got to get sorted – quickly

?Anna: Oh Denise, what exactly did they say

Denise: Something about them agreeing a price for 5,000 lemons and then being offered a better price by another company

.Anna: That’ll be Tutti Fruity – they want our business

Denise: Sounds like they’re going to get it, unless you sort it out. Maybe you should work out some new figures

?Anna: Figures? Is there something wrong with my figure – am I too fat

Denise: No Anna! Your numbers – work out a new price, see if you can squeeze the price of lemons – maybe you can price Tutti Fruity out of the market

.Anna: Hmm, somebody else has said that

Narrator: Yes it was me Anna! Do your calculations, see if you can offer a better deal and price Tutti Fruity out of the market

.Anna: OK. I could sell them cheaper but there would be less profit

Narrator: Well, less profit is better than no profit. And who knows, if this goes well, it might lead to more contracts. But it’s down to you now to make that call

?Anna: But what am I going to say

Narrator: Be friendly and say… I’m sorry to hear you’re not happy with our price. Tell them Tip Top Trading prides itself on quality products and good value for money. And flatter them and say they are a valued customer and their business is very important to us

?Anna: And what shall I say about the price

.Narrator: Tell them you can match the price of our competitors

.Anna: Match the price. Right. Thanks. OK, I had better call them

.Trader: Bonjour. Fruit Traders International

?Anna: Oh, erm, hello, is that Monsieur Brown

.Trader: Oui. Yes

.Anna: This is Anna… from Tip Top Trading. I was sorry to receive your message

Trader: Yes, well. I thought we were doing good business and then another company called me and offered me a much better deal

Anna: Yes, I understand. I’m sorry to hear you’re not happy with our price… but hopefully we can sort something out

?Trader: Oh yes

Anna: You are a valued customer and your business is very important to us… and we would love to see our Imperial Lemons on display in the restaurants and shops of France

!Narrator: That’s a nice touch Anna, well done

?Trader: So

.Anna: So, I’ve done some calculations and we can offer you a better price

.Trader: But Tutti Fruity can offer us a good price

…Anna: I’m sure they can but… we… we

?Narrator: Yes Anna

Anna: …at Tip Top Trading we pride ourselves on quality products and good value and I think we can match Tutti Fruity’s price… in fact I know we can beat it

…Trader: I see. That’s good to hear but

.Anna: We’ll give you an extra 10% discount – but obviously we would like you to make a bigger order

.Trader: Oh, a bigger order. I will have to have a think about this

Anna: Yes, of course, but please let me know as soon as you can before someone else snaps up this offer. Merci. Au revoir

.Trader: Ah, merci, au revoir

Narrator: Excellent work Anna! I can see why she’s got the job now. But will her sales tactics pay off? Let’s remind ourselves of some of the great lines that Anna used in trying to resolve a tricky sales deal

.I’m sorry to hear you’re not happy with our price .Tip Top Trading prides itself on quality products and good value for money .You are a valued customer and your business is very important to us .We can match the price of our competitors

.Denise: Well done Anna. It looks like you may have saved that deal

?Paul: Saved the deal? Is there a problem

Anna: Well, Tutti Fruity has tried to undercut our price but I think I may have saved the deal we had with International Fruit Traders in France

.Denise: Yes, Anna offered a lower price for a bigger order and they’re having a think about it

Paul: Crumbs. If the deal’s not complete I think you need to get out to France and seal the deal. I want you and Tom to fly out there as soon as possible and do some schmoozing

?Denise: Oh! You and Tom hey

Narrator: That’s enough Denise! This should be fun. Find out what happens next time on English at Work. Bye