LESSON 19: HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT DELAY IN DELIVERY? --怎样就发货迟缓提出诉怨？


CONTENTS

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 常用语

II. SAMPLE 范文

III. TIPS 掌握写作要领

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS 精通常用词组和句型

V. WRITING WORKSHOP 写作小作坊

VI. GOODIES & GIFTS 实用小礼物

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to start your letter?

On April 20, 1994, we ordered 1,000 HN-4 ball-point pens.

We anticipated delivery within 30 days.

It is now three weeks since we placed our order for 1,000 DK-3 desktop calendars.

We are very concerned about the delay in our order for 500 SB-101 keyboards.

I am writing to you with reference to our order for 500 SB-101 keyboards.

2. How to stress the urgency of your needs?

We need the the goods urgently for the Fall Semester open-school promotion.

The delay in delivery is now causing inconvenience.

These delays have caused us to miss deadlines with our customers. Which has put us in an awkward position.

3. How to press for immediate delivery?

We must ask you to complete the order immediately, otherwise we shall be obliged to cancel it and obtain the goods elsewhere.

Unless we hear from you by tomorrow noon, we will be obliged to place our orders with another supplier.

Unless we receive the components within the next seven days, the order will be cancelled and placed elsewhere.

I certainly hope this will not be necessary.

A prompt reply would be appreciated.



II. SAMPLE
范文


Dear ________:

Subject: Invoice no. SE 23-56728

On July 5, 1998, we ordered 200 copies of Introduction to Production Management (Order No. 234-890) and we anticipated delivery within 14 days.

It's now already four weeks since we placed the order, but we still haven't received shipment of these books. As you know, the Fall semester starts on August 24. We can no longer tolerate any further delay.

Please inform us immediately the exact date when the books can be delivered. Unless we receive the books within the next seven days, the order will be cancelled and placed elsewhere.

We appreciate your immediate attention.

Sincerely



__________
__________



III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

1. Be specific about the problem: provide the necessary details (order or invoice numbers, delivery dates the supplier has promised, etc.).

2. Be insistent (but also polite) on prompt delivery, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

3. Put pressure on the supplier for immediate delivery, reminding them of their responsibilities.

4. Ask for immediate response.



IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS
精通常用词组和句型

1. Click on the word or phrase that fits the sentence:

  1. We have been trying to reach you _____ phone since Tuesday, but you have not been available.
    (A) on
    (B) by
    (C) with
    (D) through

  2. We are holding you _____ the exact terms of your delivery contract.
    (A) by
    (B) on
    (C) to
    (D) in

  3. We have to complain _____ late delivery of the filing cabinets ordered on September 5.
    (A) about
    (B) at
    (C) of
    (D) on

  4. You promised delivery within 30 days, and it was _____ this understanding that we placed the order.
    (A) for
    (B) on
    (C) under
    (D) over

  5. Excessive freight charges incurred from noncompliance will be debited _____ you.
    (A) over
    (B) on to
    (C) back to
    (D) toward

  6. The lorries have been completed _____ the dynamos that need to be fitted.
    (A) if not
    (B) besides
    (C) excepted
    (D) except for

  7. If any loss results ______ this late delivery we will be taking legal action.
    (A) as from
    (B) in
    (C) because of
    (D) with

  8. We did not receive the goods until this morning ______ you had guaranteed delivery within a week.
    (A) though
    (B) despite
    (C) while
    (D) even

  9. _____ unexpected changes in the weather, strawberries will ripen a month earlier than expected.
    (A) Because
    (B) As
    (C) Resulting to
    (D) Due to

  10. We must ask you to complete the order immediately, _____ we shall be obliged to cancel it and obtain the stationery elsewhere.
    (A) as a result
    (B) on the other hand
    (C) because
    (D) otherwise

  11. We have tried to _____ by phone, but could not get anyone in your factory who knew anything about this matter.
    (A) contact with you
    (B) contact at you
    (C) contact you
    (D) contact to you

  12. In your response of January 15, you _____ within 30 days.
    (A) guaranteed for delivery
    (B) guaranteed delivery
    (C) guaranteed delivering
    (D) guaranteed will deliver




2. Fill in the blanks with words chosen from the list below. Add capitalization when necessary:


as, otherwise, as soon as, as, since, because, elsewhere, in, which, when, that, if

1) Our production schedules are full at this time of the year, (1) tea leaves have to be processed (2) they are picked.

2) It is essential (3) we deliver this consignment to our Chinese customers on time (4) this was an initial order from them (5) would give us an opening in the Chinese market.

3) It is now three weeks (6) we placed our order. You acknowledged the order on September 15, but (7) we have not yet received advice of delivery we are wondering (8) the order has since been overlooked.

4) (9) your representative called, he promised early delivery. This was an important factor (10) persuading us to place the order with you. The delay in delivery is now causing inconvenience and we must ask you to complete the order immediately, (11) we shall be obliged to cancel it and obtain the stationery (12) .




V. WRITING WORKSHOP
写作小作坊

In each of the following pairs of sentences, complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Here is an example:

a) The goods will be delivered in 30 days.
b) We ....
[Answer] "We will delivered the goods in 30 days."

(1)
a) Your help would certainly be appreciated.
b) We ....


(2)
a) In order to curtail redundant paper work, the following policy will be enforced.
b) We will ...


(3)
a) Could your production line be rescheduled to meet an earlier delivery date?
b) Could you ...?


(4)
a) We have missed deadlines with our customers because of these delays.
b) These delays have caused ....


(5)
a) According to Larry Wang, we would have the adapters by last Friday at the latest.
b) Larry Wang assured ....


(6)
a) We will be obliged to place our orders with another supplier if we don't hear from you by tomorrow noon.
b) Unless ....


(7)
a) The order will be cancelled and placed elsewhere if we don't receive the components within the next five days.
b) Unless ....


(8)
a) We won't be able to give reliable delivery dates to our customers if we can't count on prompt delivery from our suppliers.
b) Unless ....



VI. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
GOODIES & GIFTS （实惠小礼物）

New Words, New Meanings

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): the technique through which the computers of different companies communicate directly to streamline ordering, inventory, and delivery processes.
电子数据交换

Example: The EDI system that connects our company and our suppliers allows us to automatically order products from our suppliers. Similarly, they can also automatically bill us for orders delivered.