VOA 商务英语 lesson21

Dialog: Be committed to, distribution cost

 

F: So you ship each computer within 5 days and repair computers in 2 days.

M: We’re committed to providing fast service.

F:and You really can distribute computers within 5days?

M: generally yes,but our distribution costs are increasing.

F: It’s more expensive to deliver to customers one by one,.

M: right, it’s cheaper to send a whole truckload to one place.

F: like a retail¹ outlet² or warehouse³.

M: instead We deliver to individual customers.

F: distribution costs must be really high.

M: That’s our problem. High distribution costs.

Q: What is Direct computer’s problem?

A: High distribution costs.

Dialog 2:

 Skyrocketing(直线上升)

F: Why are distribution costs skyrocketing?

M: because we have more customers. It’s the price of our success.

F: you mean you are sucessful at selling more computers?

M: and each computer must be distributed to the individual customer.

F: So you can’t take advantage of the economies of scale.(规模经济)

M: That’s right, If we sell 100 computers, we have to deliver them to 100 different locations.

F: No wonder your distribution costs are through the roof.（To grow, intensify⁴, or rise to an enormous, often unexpected degree:）

M: If we don't do something quickly , we’ll lose all our profits.（what will happen if …）

Q: Why are distribution costs increasing?

A: They have more customers

Dialog 3:

Distribution site(储运中心)， hub(中心)

F: Direct Computers sells computers all over the country?

A: That’s right, sent from distribution sites.

F: Ok. I wasn’t sure about that.

M: Last year, we had just  one central distribution point.

F: Since then , you’ve grown?

M: we have 3 distribution hubs, we just opened the 3th.

F: That’s a lot of growth.

M: With the additional hub, we’re closer to the customer.

F: It should cut down the delivery time.(should 表示可能)

M: That was the ideal.

Q: How many distribution sites are there?

A: 3

Small talk:(回应致谢)

－Don't  mention it/anytime/ I am glad that I can help/You are welcome./no trouble at all.

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 outlet   

n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄

参考例句：

• The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
• Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。

3 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

4 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。