In
this third step, listen to the conversation again while you read
the transcription. Finally, read the glossary information, phrasal
verbs (highlighted in yellow) and notes at
the bottom. This step also means good practice for your reading
comprehension skills. To get information in Spanish, just place the
arrow of your mouse on any highlighted word without clicking.
(John
Martin is in the middle of a telephone call from Bruddersfield)
JOHN
... I'm
very sorry to hear this, Mr. Brown... Yes, of course... Yes, if it's our
fault
we'll certainly
put the matter right. Good‑bye...
Sally! Get me the
order number for twelve desks sent
on Monday to the Bruddersfield Building Society, will you?, while I
get through to Ted Fielding.
We've got trouble.
TED
Hello!
JOHN
Hello,
Ted! John here.
SALLY
Here are
the details, Mr. Martin.
JOHN
Thank
you, Sally... Ted, can you check the inspection records for an order for
twelve desks which were sent to Bruddersfield? Er... the order number
was D67/8‑9053.
TED
Yes.
JOHN
Find out if they were
properly checked before despatch, assuming the signature on the
inspection sheet is legible. You might see if anyone knows how they were
packed. The customer's just made a strong complaint. He says the sides
of nearly every desk are badly scratched.
TED
I can't
understand how that could have happened. Was our rep. called in to
supervise the assembly?
JOHN
Apparently not. I'm just going to get through to him now. Anyway, let me
know fast, Ted, will you?
Sally,
Bruddersfield's in Area 4, I think. Get me Shuttleworth!!
SALLY
Mr.
Shuttleworth, the rep.? But it's 9.45. Surely he'll
be on the road by now.
JOHN
Not if I
know Shuttleworth. I'll bet he's still at home, writing
reports(the telephone rings).
All right, Sally, it's the internal phone. I'll take it... Hello!
Ah, Ted.
TED
John,
I've got the inspection record here. The twelve desks were checked by
Robinson and I've just had a word with him. He remembers the order and
he says they left here in perfect condition.
JOHN
What
about the packing?
TED
They
went offby container, so we
didn't
crate them. You know, we have
standard boxes now. All our regular parts fit into them exactly. The
packers assure me they were packed tightly into the container ‑one of
these special containers for transport by rail‑ so they
wouldn't
get banged
about. It sounds to me like mishandling during
unloading.
JOHN
Well,
thanks, Ted. It doesn't sound like our fault. I'll get Shuttleworth to
see if he can find out what happened when the goods arrived... Sally,
have you got through to Shuttleworth yet?
SALLY
The
number's ringing now. Hello! Oh, good morning, Mr. Shuttleworth! Mr.
Martin would like to speak to you.
JOHN
Hello!
Ah, I suppose I'm lucky to find you in at this time.
SHUTTLEWORTH
Er...
yes... I was just leaving for York, Mr. Martin.
JOHN
I've got
something I'd like you to deal with right away if you can...
(Later,
Mr. Shuttleworth meets the angry customer)
BROWN
Here you
are, Mr. Shuttleworth. Look at this desk, and this one. I think nine
desks out of the twelve are scratched like this. I'm very disappointed
in your firm.
SHUTTLEWORTH
I'm sorry
you feel like that, Mr. Brown. Complaints of this sort are very rare
indeed.
BROWN
I should
hope so, for your sake. I trust you will get these desks replaced by new
ones straight away. Look at this deep scratch here.
SHUTTLEWORTH
Oh yes.
Yes, they have been
knocked about. Do you mind
if I check with your Goods Inwards? They might still have the packing
material. It's worth having a look at, don't you think?
BROWN
I suppose
you can if you want to, but you'll find it's a waste of time. I'm quite
convinced that the goods were not properly inspected at your factory, or
else they were carelessly packed.
SHUTTLEWORTH
All the
same, I'd like to have a look if you don't mind.
BROWN
Very
well. My secretary will take you to the building supervisor.
SHUTTLEWORTH
Thank you
very much, Mr. Brown.
(Later
that day, Mr. Shuttleworth telephones John Martin)
SHUTTLEWORTH
Hello,
Mr. Martin. Shuttleworth here. I've discovered what happened to those
desks when they arrived.
JOHN
Good.
SHUTTLEWORTH
I had a
look at the packing, and the top pieces of cardboard of several of the
components were
badly torn. I spoke to the men
who unloaded the container. They used hooks
to drag each package out on to
the
loading bank. Just imagine. They
said they never saw theUse no hookssign. But
it was on the wrappings, because I saw that too.
JOHN
What
did their boss say?
SHUTTLEWORTH
He told
me that his men like using hooks because it makes unloading much
easier. They don't have to lift
the stuff by hand. It's their
fault all right. I proved it!!
JOHN
Well
done. I hope that man Brown had the decency to apologise.
SHUTTLEWORTH
Yes, he
did.
JOHN
Well,
now we've proved it wasn't our mistake we'd better offer to respray
the desks.
SHUTTLEWORTH
I was
just going to suggest that, Mr. Martin. He's a good customer of ours
and... I rather think, there may be quite a big order on the way...
GLOSSARY
& NOTES
put the matter right
To check what is the wrong with something (poner las
cosas en orden).
order number
Each
order is given a number to make it easy to identify
(número de pedido).
to
get through
To
establish communication with
(comunicar con).
to
find out
To search, to
investigate (averiguar).
to call back
To
telephone someone again later
(devolver la llamada).
to be on the road
A
rep. (representative) or salesman, is on the road when he is out
on the job of selling, ie. travelling in order to sell
(encontrarse "en ruta", trabajando).
report
A
written statement reporting, or telling about, some event or activity
(informe).
to go off
To despatch
(salir, ser despachado).
to crate
To put into a crate.
A crate is a framework of light, narrow pieces of wood or metal
for protecting goods(embalar en cajones o con tablas).
get banged about
Get hit roughly
(golpearse).
to
knock about
To hit again and again;
to treat roughly (sacudir, golpear, maltratar).
badly
torn
Having
edges that are jagged from injury
(desgarrados, hechos pedazos).
to drag
To move (mover,
arrastrar).
loading bank (or unloading bank)
A
raised platform from which goods can be loaded on, and off, vehicles at
more or less the same level
(plataforma de carga o descarga).
the stuff
A
slang term used a great deal and meaning 'the things', 'the
material', 'the goods' or anything else you want to refer to(las cosas).
