S: Now we have settled the terms of payment. Is it possible to effect shipment during September?
L: I don't think we can.
史：我們已經談妥了付款條件。是否可能在九月份交貨？
李：我看不行。
S: Then when is the earliest we can expect shipment?
L: By the middle of October, I think.
史：那么最早什么時候可以交貨呢？
李：我想要到十月中旬。
S: It's too late. You see, November is the season for this commodity in our market, and our Customs formalities are rather complicated.
L: I understand.
史：那太遲了。你知道，在我們那兒十一月是這個商品的上市季節，另外我們海關手續相當復雜。
李：我明白。
S: Well, the flow through the marketing channels and the red tape involved take at least a couple of weeks. Thus, after shipment it will be altogether four to five weeks before the goods can reach our retailers, the goods must therefore be shipped before October, or we won't be ready for the season.
L: But our factories are fully committed for the third quarter. In fact, many of our clients are placing orders for delivery in the fourth quarter.
史：嗯，通過銷售渠道以及繁瑣的公文程序起碼要花上兩個星期。這樣，從交貨到我們零售商收到貨以前總共要花四至五個星期。所以十月份以前, 貨必須裝上船，否則我們便不能應季急備貨。
李：但是我們工廠第三季度的貨已全部訂滿了。事實上，我們很多客戶在訂四季度的貨。
S: Mr. Li, you certainly realize that time of delivery is a matter of great importance to us. If we place our goods on the market at a time when all other importers have already sold their goods at profitable prices, we shall lose out.
L: I see your point. However, we have done more business this year than any of the previous years. I am very sorry to say that we cannot advance the time of delivery.
史：李先生，你當然知道交貨時間對我們來說是很得要的。如果當我們把商品投放到市場去的時候，別的進口商已把商品脫手賺了錢，那我們就虧了。
李：這點我明白。但是今年我們做的買賣比以往哪一年都要大，非常抱歉我們不能把交貨期提前。
S: This is too bad, but I sincerely hope you will give our request your special consideration.
L: You may take it from me that the last thing we want to do is to disappoint a customer, particularly an old customer like you. But the fact remains that our manufacturers have a heavy backlog on hand.
史：那太糟了。我衷心希望你對我們的請求特別給予考慮一下。
李：你可以相信，我們最不愿做那些使顧客失望的事情，特別像你們這樣的老客戶。但是我們的廠家眼前生產任務硬度得很重，這是事實。
S: But can't you find some way to get round your producers for an earlier delivery? Make a special effort, please. A timely delivery means a lot to us.
L: All right, Mr. Smith. We'll get in touch with our producers and see they have to say.
史：你不能想些辦法說服廠家提前一些時候交貨嗎？請特別加一把勁。及時交貨對我們可關系大啦！
李：好吧，史密斯先生。我們同廠家聯系一下，聽聽他們的意見。
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