谈判英语一日通01-10

Chapter 3 Playing Fair 公平交易

Dialog 1

The following dialogs are phone conversations. The first dialog is about asking for bid information only, just to find out what prices are alike. The second is about asking for a real bid,and a contract will be awarded . In the third dialog,a loser is called to inform him the bidding went. Marsha is the manager and Bill the contractor¹.

Marsha:Hi,Bill. It's Marsha Black at MPPM Ltd. How are you?

Bill:Hello, Marsha,I haven't heard from you in a long time. I'm great,and you?

Marsha:Not too bad at all. Do you have a minute?

Bill:Sure, what can I do for you?

Marsha:We're getting ready to place our Christmas orders and we need to know about how much it's going to run this year.

You know, so we can have the funds put aside.

Bill:I'm really busy right now. I got a lot on my plate.

So this isn't an actual bid you want but just a ballpark figure?

Marsha:Right, a ballpark figure is fine,and slant² it a little high if you have to .

Bill:Well,I can give you those figures now over the phone, is that okay? Or do you need them in writing?

Marsha:It's going to be shown to the Board so I need it in writing.

Make all the prices subject to confirmation³ so you can't be held to them. How soon can I have it?

Bill:Is this another rush,dear? Did you forget and wait until the last minute again?

Marsha:Yeah,I'm afraid so .I really need your help here.

Bill:Well,just because it's you. Tomorrow, say around noon.

1 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

2 slant   

v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向

参考例句：

• The lines are drawn on a slant.这些线条被画成斜线。
• The editorial had an antiunion slant.这篇社论有一种反工会的倾向。

3 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。