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34 - The business trip

Language for clinching the deal

Anna and Tom are on a very important business trip to try and sign a deal to sell their plastic fruit to a company in France. The company has received a better offer so Anna needs to clinch the deal and convince them that Tip Top Trading's lemons are best!

Intermediate · 170222 · 2017-02-22

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Anna and Tom are on a very important business trip to try and sign a deal to sell their plastic fruit to a company in France. The company has received a better offer so Anna needs to clinch the deal and convince them that Tip Top Trading's lemons are best! Language for clinching the deal This episode focuses on what to say when you need to finish a deal.

Vocabulary Cards
Phrase, meaning, example, and common mistakes with personal flags.
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  • 1. Thank you for sparing the time to see us.

    US Revised: Thank you for sparing the time to see us.

  • 2. Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee - I know you won't be disappointed.

    US Revised: Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee - I know you won't be disappointed.

  • 3. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract.

    US Revised: I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract.

  • 4. Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

    US Revised: Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

Transcript
Speakers: Anna, Tom, Narrator, Trader

1. Anna

Tom, could you let go of my hand?

US Revised: Tom, could you let go of my hand?

2. Tom

Sorry, it's just I get nervous flying.

US Revised: Sorry, it's just I get nervous flying.

3. Anna

Well, we've landed in Marseille now so you're safe... oh, I like your passport photo.

US Revised: Well, we've landed in Marseille now so you're safe... oh, I like your passport photo.

4. Tom

Oh do you?

US Revised: Oh do you?

5. Anna

I didn't know your middle name was Stanley.

US Revised: I didn't know your middle name was Stanley.

6. Tom

After my great-great-grandfather.

US Revised: After my great-great-grandfather.

7. Anna

Really? Come on we need to get a taxi. Taxi! Taxi!

US Revised: Really? Come on we need to get a taxi. Taxi! Taxi!

8. Narrator

Hello again. Anna and Tom are on a very important business trip to try and sign a deal to sell their plastic fruit to a company in France. The company has received a better offer so Anna needs to convince them that Tip Top Trading's lemons are best. Are you feeling confident Anna?

US Revised: Hello again. Anna and Tom are on a very important business trip to try and sign a deal to sell their plastic fruit to a company in France. The company has received a better offer so Anna needs to convince them that Tip Top Trading's lemons are best. Are you feeling confident Anna?

9. Anna

Not really. It was OK speaking to them on the phone but seeing them face-to-face is quite scary.

US Revised: Not really. It was okay speaking to them on the phone but seeing them face-to-face is quite scary.

10. Narrator

You'll be fine. Stay calm. They'll be pleased you've taken the time to fly out and see them - but tell them you're grateful for their time and recap what you told them on the phone.

US Revised: You'll be fine. Stay calm. They'll be pleased you've taken the time to fly out and see them - but tell them you're grateful for their time and recap what you told them on the phone.

11. Anna

Oh yes - beat the price of the competitor but get them to make a bigger order.

US Revised: Oh yes - beat the price of the competitor but get them to make a bigger order.

12. Narrator

Yes. If they order more you can offer a bigger discount. Good luck.

US Revised: Yes. If they order more you can offer a bigger discount. Good luck.

13. Tom

Oh look, we're here now. Now Anna, I hope you don't mind me saying, but just leave the talking to me. Right?

US Revised: Oh look, we're here now. Now Anna, I hope you don't mind me saying, but just leave the talking to me. Right?

14. Anna

Err, well...

US Revised: Uh, well...

15. Tom

Oh, Madame Brown, ciao, great to see you

US Revised: Oh, Madame Brown, ciao, great to see you

16. Trader

What?

US Revised: What?

17. Anna

Monsieur Brown. Bonjour. I'm Anna from Tip Top Trading. This is my colleague Tom. Thank you for sparing the time to see us.

US Revised: Monsieur Brown. Bonjour. I'm Anna from Tip Top Trading. This is my colleague Tom. Thank you for sparing the time to see us.

18. Trader

No problem. Did you have a good flight?

US Revised: No problem. Did you have a good flight?

19. Tom

It was great. I love those little bottles of wine they give out... I kept a few with me if you fancy a glass of vin rouge?

US Revised: It was great. I love those little bottles of wine they give out... I kept a few with me if you fancy a glass of vin rouge?

20. Anna

I think we should sit down and discuss business.

US Revised: I think we should sit down and discuss business.

21. Trader

Of course.

US Revised: Of course.

22. Tom

Yeah, yeah, good idea.

US Revised: Yeah, yeah, good idea.

23. Anna

Now, I believe Tutti Fruity has offered you a good price but as I said on the phone, we can beat that.

US Revised: Now, I believe Tutti Fruity has offered you a good price but as I said on the phone, we can beat that.

24. Trader

Yes you did.

US Revised: Yes you did.

25. Tom

Did you Anna?!

US Revised: Did you Anna?!

26. Anna

But to get this price you've got to buy lots more.

US Revised: But to get this price you've got to buy lots more.

27. Narrator

Anna! That's not very subtle. You need to convince them they need to buy more without telling them they have to.

US Revised: Anna! That's not very subtle. You need to convince them they need to buy more without telling them they have to.

28. Tom

What she means is our Imperial Lemons are made with our unique laser curve technology. They are hard wearing and a joy to have on display in any shop window or restaurant.

US Revised: What she means is our Imperial Lemons are made with our unique laser curve technology. They are hard wearing and a joy to have on display in any shop window or restaurant.

29. Anna

Tom, that's amazing!

US Revised: Tom, that's amazing!

30. Tom

I read it on the back of the box!

US Revised: I read it on the back of the box!

31. Anna

So, we really feel that we have a product that you'll be proud to display. And to get this fantastic price you just need to place an order of 10,000.

US Revised: So, we really feel that we have a product that you'll be proud to display. And to get this fantastic price you just need to place an order of 10,000.

32. Tom

And we can even throw in a free sample of our new Perfect Peach range.

US Revised: And we can even throw in a free sample of our new Perfect Peach range.

33. Anna

Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee. I know you won't be disappointed.

US Revised: Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee. I know you won't be disappointed.

34. Trader

Hmm. It sounds good. OK, I think you have a deal.

US Revised: Hmm. It sounds good. Okay, I think you have a deal.

35. Narrator

Good work Anna. Don't forget to ask him to sign the contract and tell him when he can expect the order to be delivered.

US Revised: Good work Anna. Don't forget to ask him to sign the contract and tell him when he can expect the order to be delivered.

36. Anna

OK. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. We'll get the lemons to you as quickly as we can. Tom, do you have a pen?

US Revised: Okay. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. We'll get the lemons to you as quickly as we can. Tom, do you have a pen?

37. Tom

Erm, no actually. It was in my bag yesterday but it's gone... it was a nice, a good one too.

US Revised: Um, no actually. It was in my bag yesterday but it's gone... it was a nice, a good one too.

38. Trader

No problem. I have a pen. There you go.

US Revised: No problem. I have a pen. There you go.

39. Anna

Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you. We'll get those lemons to you in two weeks' time.

US Revised: Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you. We'll get those lemons to you in two weeks' time.

40. Trader

Perfect!

US Revised: Perfect!

41. Narrator

Good work Anna...oh and Tom too. The contract is signed but now you have to deliver what you've promised. There are many ways to clinch a deal; here are some of the phrases Anna used... Thank you for sparing the time to see us. Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee - I know you won't be disappointed. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

US Revised: Good work Anna...oh and Tom too. The contract is signed but now you have to deliver what you've promised. There are many ways to clinch a deal; here are some of the phrases Anna used... Thank you for sparing the time to see us. Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee - I know you won't be disappointed. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

42. Narrator

So it's been a successful day. It's time for Tom and Anna to fly back to London and tell Paul the good news... or is it?

US Revised: So it's been a successful day. It's time for Tom and Anna to fly back to London and tell Paul the good news... or is it?

43. Anna

Oh no look, our flight to London is canceled! It's the last one today. What are we going to do?

US Revised: Oh no look, our flight to London is canceled! It's the last one today. What are we going to do?

44. Tom

Well, I guess we're just going to have to stay here for the night. I'll sort out a hotel.

US Revised: Well, I guess we're just going to have to stay here for the night. I'll sort out a hotel.

45. Narrator

Until next time. Bye!

US Revised: Until next time. Bye!

Listening Challenge
Check your understanding before looking at the answer.

Question

What does Tom offer to throw in as part of the deal with the company in France?

Answer

A free sample of the new Perfect Peach range.