Buy and Sell
Dan Smith是一位美國的健身用品經銷商，此次是Robert第一回與他交手。就在短短幾分鐘的交談中，Robert即感到這位大漢粗獷的外表下，藏有狡黠如脫兔的心思--他肯定是名沙場老將，自己絕不可掉以輕心。雙方第一回過招如下：
英文正文
Dan: I'd like to get the ball rolling by talking about prices.
Robert: Shoot. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Dan: Your products are very good. But I'm a little worried about the prices you're asking.
Robert: You think we should be asking for more?
Dan: That's not exactly what I had in mind. I know your research costs are high, but what I'd like is a 25% discount.
Robert: That seems to be a little high, Mr. Smith. I don't know how we can make a profit with those numbers.
Dan: Please, Robert, call me Dan. Well, if we promise future business -- volume sales that will slash your costs for making the Exec-U-Ciser, right?
Robert: Yes, but it's hard to see how you can place such large orders. How could you turn over so many? We'd need a guarantee of future business, not just a promise.
Dan: We said we wanted 1000 pieces over a six month period. What if we place orders for twelve months, with a guarantee?
Robert: If you can guarantee that on paper, I think we can discuss this further.
中文翻譯
D: 我想就從價錢方面開始談吧!
R: 洗耳恭聽!我很樂意答復任何問題。
D: 貴公司的產品很出色;但你們開的價碼，讓我覺得有點困難。
R: 你是覺得我們應該把價錢開高一點啰?
D: 我不是這個意思。我知道你們投入很高的開發費用，但是，我想要七五折。
R: Smith先生，這個折扣似乎多了點。這樣的價格，我們公司怎么能有利潤可賺!
D: Robert，請叫我Dan好了。這樣吧!若我們答應以后繼續合作，而且是大筆的生意，就可以使你們大幅降低‘健你樂’的制造成本，對不?
R: 嗯!不過，我看不出您怎能下這么大筆的訂單?!貴公司如何銷售這么多的貨呢?我們要的可是保證，而不是隨口答應就算數的哦!
D: 我們本來說半年內訂貨1000件。如果現在我們保證一年內都會跟你們訂貨，你意下如何?
R: 如果你們能以書面保證，我想我們可以再談。
短語解說
get the ball rolling 開始
"get the ball rolling"字面意思是‘讓球滾動’。此詞組乃源自足球慣例：由一位球員開球，把球傳給隊友，借此展開一場比賽;因此這個‘讓球滾動’的動作，就引申為‘開始某活動’。
We can get the ball rolling on this deal by talking to the company's vice president.
關于這筆生意，我們可以先找這家公司的副總談。
shoot 有話直說;洗耳恭聽
"shoot"，當動詞有‘發射’的含意。在本文中為感嘆語，作用是鼓勵他人踴躍發言，意思是‘有話盡管說，我洗耳恭聽’，為美式口語。
If you think you have a better idea than this, shoot.
如果你覺得還有比這更好的意見，盡管直說吧!
make a profit 賺錢;獲利
‘賺錢’這個詞組的動詞為 "make" -- 用法是 "make a profit"。請注意 "profit" 要加冠詞 "a" ,或改為復數形 -- "make profits "來使用。
