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！我很樂意答覆任何問題。
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囉？
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，我們公司怎麼能有利潤可賺！
D: Robert，請叫我Dan好了。這樣吧！若我們答應以後繼續合作，而且是大筆的生意，就可以使你們大幅降低‘健你樂’的製造成本，對不？
R: 嗯！不過，我看不出您怎能下這麼大筆的訂單?!貴公司如何銷售這麼多的貨呢？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’。此片語乃源自足球慣例：由一位球員開球，把球傳給隊友，藉此展開一場比賽；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.
關於這筆生意，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‘有話儘管說，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，儘管直說吧！
make a profit 賺錢；獲利
‘賺錢’這個片語的動詞為"make" -- 用法是"make a profit"。請注意"profit" 要加冠詞"a" ,或改為複數形-- "make profits "來使用。
I don't see how his company can make a profit; his marketing costs are much too high.
我不認為他的公司有辦法賺到錢，他的'行銷成本太高了。
volume sales 量販銷售、大筆交易
"volume sales" 是指做生意時，購買的數量超過一定限度，就可以獲得折扣或其它方面的優惠（因為理論上，大量生產的製造成本比較低。）
We only do business in volume sales, so we can offer lower prices than other companies.
我們只作量販的生意，所以才有辦法把價格壓得比別家公司低。
slash (one's) costs 大幅減低成本
"slash" 原指‘砍下’，在此作‘刪減’，通常是形容突然大幅度地減低價格或產量等。
We've decided to slash our costs by making the products in Fukien instead of Taiwan.
我們決定從臺灣移師到福建來生產，以求大幅減低關於製造的成本。
turn over 做....總額的生意；售磬
"turn over" 字面的意思是‘翻轉’。在商業上有特殊的涵義，指在一段期間內，將所進的貨品售磬，或是做了總額多少的生意。名詞仍為"turnover" 表示‘某期間的銷售總額’。
We need to turn over these summer fashions by August.
我們得在八月前賣完這些夏裝。