1. How long does it usually take you to make a delivery?
通常你方需要多长时间交货?
2. As a rule, we deliver all our orders within three months after
re ceipt of the covering L/C.
一般说来,我们在收到有关的信用证后三个月内可交货。
3. Could you possibly advance shipment further more?
你方能不能再提前一点交货?
4. I hope that the goods can be shipped promptly after you get our L/C.
我希望你们能在收到我方信用证后马上装运。
5. Shipment should be made before October,otherwise we are not able to catch the season.
十月底前必须交货,否则就赶不上季节了。
6. The earliest shipment we can make is early March.
三月初是我们能够做到的最早交货日期。
7. I’m sorry,we can’t advance the time of shipment.
很抱歉,我们不能提前交货。
8. The order is so urgently required that we must ask you to expedite shipment.
我方迫切需要这次订货,故请贵方加快装运。
9. We are confident of being able to ship the goods to you by the end of next month.
我们相信能在下月底前将货物装运给你们。
10. The goods ordered are all in stock and we assure you that the first steamer will make the shipment available in November.
贵公司订购的货物我方均有现货,可保证在十一月份将货物装上第 一条便船。
11. Please see to it that the goods are shipped per PEACE sailing on or about October 15th.
请确保货物由十月十五日左右启航的“和平轮”装运。
12. Shipment by the middle of October will be too late for us.
十月中旬交货太晚了。
13. We’ll try our best to advance shipment to September.
我们会尽最大努力将交货期提前到九月。
14. When is the earliest possible date you can ship the goods?
你们最早什么时候可以装运?
15. I wonder whether you can make shipment in September.
我想知道你们能否在九月份装运。
16. How long will the delivery take from here to Canada by sea freight?
从这里到加拿大海运需多长时间?
17. I don’t think I can promise you any January shipments.
我不能保证一月份发货。
18. Please be inf.mp3ed that the shipment of the cargo (your purchase order No. 123) was sent yesterday, airway bill No.123.
特此通知这批货物(你方订单号码是No.123)昨天已装运,航 空货物的领取号码是No.123。
19. In case you do not receive the goods on or before December 12, please let us know.
万一你方没有在12月12日或之前收到货物,请告知我方。
20. We will do all we can to fill your order so that the goods will be shipped before October 15.
我方将尽全力履行此订单,将于10月15日前安排这些货物装船。
Conversations
Dialogue 1
A: Now we have settled the t.mp3s of payment. Is it possible to effect shipment during September?
B: I don’t think we can.
A: Then when is the earliest we can expect shipment?
B: By the middle of October, I think.
A: That’s too late. You see, November is the season for this commodity in our market, and our Customs f.mp3alities are rather compli- cated.
B: I understand.
A: Besides, the flow through the marketing channels and the red tape involved take at least a couple of weeks. Thus, after ship- ment it will be four to five weeks altogether before the goods can reach our retailers. The goods must therefore be shipped
before October;otherwise we won’t be in time for the selling season.
B: But our factories are fully committed for the third quarter. In fact, many of our clients are placing orders for delivery in the fourth quarter.
A: Mr. Brown, you certainly realize that the time of delivery is a mat- ter of great importance to us. If we place our goods on the market at a time when all other importers have already sold their goods at profitable prices, we shall lose out.
B: I see your point. However, we have done more business this year than any of the previous years. I am very sorry to say that we cannot advance the time of delivery.
A: That’s too bad, but I sincerely hope you will give our request your special consideration.
B: You may take it from me that the last thing we want to do is to disappoint an old customer like you. But the fact remains that our manufacturers have a heavy backlog on their hands.
A: But can’t you find some way to get round your producers for an earlier delivery? Make a special effort, please. A timely delivery means a lot to us.
B: All right. We’ll get in touch with our producers and see what they have to say.
A: It has just occurred to me that there is still another possibil- ity to ensure a prompt delivery of the goods.
B: And that is?
A: How about making Hong Kong the port of shipment instead of New York?
B: I’m afraid we can’t agree to that. We concluded the business with you here in Houston, and the goods you ordered are manufactured in New York. We wish to point out that all orders accepted by us are shipped from New York or Seattle. Hong Kong is out of the question.
A: It’s like this. There are only one or two ships sailing a month from New York to Osaka, while sailings from Hong Kong are quite frequent. If shipment were effected from Hong Kong, we could receive the goods much earlier.
B: I see. You want to have your goods shipped from New York to Osaka via Hong Kong, where they can be transshipped. Is that the idea?
A: Yes, exactly, because I want these goods on our market at the earliest possible date.
B: Your idea may be a good one, but the trouble is that there are risks of pilferage or damage to the goods during transshipment at Hong Kong. How about shipping them from Seattle instead of NewYork? You may choose either one as port of shipment. It makes no difference to us. There are more sailings from Seattle than from New York.
A: It sounds all right to me, but I will have to think about it. I’ll give you a definite answer tomorrow. If I choose Seattle, will it be possible for you to ship the goods by the end of March?
B: We’ll try our best. Anyway, we assure you that shipment will be made not later than the first half of April.
A: Could you do something to advance your time of shipment?
B: Well, our manufacturers are fully committed at the moment. I’m afraid it’s very difficult to improve any further on the time.
A: I hope you’ll try to convince them to step up production.
B: We check their production schedule against our orders almost every day. As new orders keep coming in, they are working three shifts to step up production. I’m sorry, but we simply can
BUSINESS ENGLISH 300
not commit ourselves beyond what the production schedule can fulfill.
A: Well, in that case, there is nothing more to be said. What’s your last word as to the date then?
B: I said by the middle of October. This is the best we can promise.
A: All right. I’ll take you at your word. May I suggest that you put down in the contract shipment on October 15th or earlier? Our letter of credit will be opened early September.
B: Good. Let’s call it a deal. We’ll do our best to advance the ship- ment to September. The chances are that some of the other orders may be cancelled. But of course you cannot count on that. In any case, we’ll let you know by email.
A: That’s very considerate of you. And now, shall we discuss the insurance t.mp3s?
B: We generally insure W.P. (W.P.A) on a C.I.F. offer. Special risks, such as TPND (Theft, Pilferage and Non-delivery), leakage, breakage, oil, freshwater, etc. can also be covered upon request.
A: I suppose the additional premium for the special coverage is for the buyer’s account.
B: Quite right. According to the usual practice in international trade, special risks are not covered unless the buyer asks for them.
A: Then what about SRCC (Strikes, Riots and Civil Commotions)? Can we request you to cover this for our imports?
B: Yes, we accept it now, after it has been suspended for many years. However, if you want to have it covered for your imports at your end, you may arrange the insurance as you like.
A: Then please cover W.P.A. and TPND for this transaction.
4. place our goods on the market 销售商品 ( push the sale of our goods)
5. lose out 输掉,亏本
6. You may take it from me. 我可以向你保证。
7. the last thing we want to do 我们最不想做的事是……
8. convince your producers for an earlier delivery
说服你们的生产商早日交货
9. to step up production 加快生产
10. cannot commit ourselves to... 我们不能保证
11. Let’s call it a deal. (口)这笔交易就敲定吧(拍板)
12. the chances are…… 可能……(probably)
13. You cannot count on that. 你不要指望那个
14. TPND( Theft, Pilferage and Non-delivery) 偷窃提款不着险
15. for the buyer’s account 由买方负担费用
16. at your end/on your side 在你方
17. Via Hong Kong 途经香港
A Specimen Letter
Dear sir:
Your letter of the 5th March came to hand yesterday.
Accordingly, we have lost no time in getting in touch with our factories and urged them to hasten their delivery. Owing to heavy commitments, they cannot advance delivery from June to April but they understand perfectly that July is the selling season for shirts in your market. They eventually agree to make delivery in mid-May.
We have booked the shipping space on S.S.. Peace, which is scheduled to sail on or about the 20th of May. We shall send you an email as soon as the loading is completed.
B: We can deliver 50% promptly, that is, in August. And the balance in October.
We can deliver 50% right away. The remaining half in the next two months.
Our earliest time of delivery is October.
能告诉我你们什么时候可以交货吗?
我们可以在八月份交一半货,其余的十月份交货。
有一半货我们可以马上送货,剩下的一半后两个月交。
我们最早的交货日期是十月。
2 A: I’m afraid October is the best we can do. October is the earliest possible date of delivery. we can’t promise delivery earlier than October. B: October then.
恐怕 十月是我们能够做到的最早的了。十月是最早的交货日期了。我们不能承诺早于十月交货。那就十月吧。
3 A: Could you deliver 100 tons immediately?
Is it possible to effect shipment immediately?
Do you think you can ship the goods soon?
B: No problem. We can deliver that from stock to meet your requirement.
I’m afraid prompt shipment is impossible.
I’ll have to look into the stock position.
您能即刻运输100吨吗?
能立即安排装船吗?
你认为能很快装船吗?
没问题。我们可以交现货来满足你们的要求。
恐怕立即装船不太可能。
我得仔细检查一下存货的情况。
4 A: Please ship the goods in one lot in May.
B: I’m sorry that’s impossible. It would be very difficult for us to get the goods ready within such a short time.
I’m not sure if we are able to get the necessary shipping space.
We’ll have to contact the manufacturers. Maybe it’s possible. 请在五月份将货物分一批运过来。
对不起,那不可能。这么短的时间把货物准备好对我们来说很难。
我不敢肯定我们是否能订到必要的舱位。
我们将得联系生产商。也许可以。
5 A: Could you find a way to advance the shipment somehow?
do something to advance the time of delivery?
make the delivery a little earlier?
B: May I suggest
we effect shipment in three equal lots, starting from May?
we spread the goods over three months - May, June and July? partial shipment be allowed?
你能不能想办法提前装运?
你能想办法提前交货吗?
你能不能早一点交货?
我可否建议 我们从五月份开始分相等的三批办理装运?
我们把货物分五、六、七三个月交货?
允许部分装运?
6 A: Our people are most anxious about the October shipment; so far they’ve heard nothing from you.
B: We’re sorry for the delay. The trouble is that
direct sailings to your port are very few.
there is great demand on shipping lately
you changed the port of destination
我方很想知道十月装船一事,但到现在还没有听到你们的任何消 息。
此次拖延我们很抱歉。问题是 直达你们港口的船只太少了。
最近需要装运的太多了。
你们改变了目的港。
7 A:You know
we must have the goods in time for the Christmas rush.
we must have the goods ready for the shopping season.
the goods have to be here in March. Otherwise we’d be behind the season.
B: I understand. I’ll try my best.
你知道 我们必须在圣诞节采购前及时供货。
在购货旺季时我们必须把货准备好。
货物必须在三月份到位。否则我们就赶不上销售季节了。
我理解。我会尽力的。
8 I don’t think I can promise you any September shipments.
October
June
我想我不能答应你 九月 装运。
十月
六月
9 Would you like to have your refrigerator delivered?