B1Dialogue3 Min.

Agreeing on a Delivery Date

A buyer and a supplier agree on a firm delivery date — and clear up the classic "until" vs. "by" mistake on the way.

SceneStefan calls his supplier Sarah: his assembly team starts on the eleventh of September — the steel brackets have to arrive before then. Together they agree on a firm delivery date.

0:00 / 3 Min.

Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test. · Worksheet (PDF)

✓ To the comprehension test

Stefan — Buyer, construction supplierSarah — Sales representative, components manufacturer

Listen first, then answer. No penalties — every explanation points to the moment in the conversation.

01Why does Stefan call Sarah?

02What solution does Sarah propose?

03Stefan's assembly team starts work on the eleventh of September.

04Sarah promises to deliver the complete order by the third of September.

05Which word is missing?

Just to make sure I understand: you need them ___ the tenth, so the latest possible arrival is the tenth itself?

06Which word is missing?

We could send a ___ delivery: eighty per cent of the brackets by the fifth.

07Put the steps of the conversation in the correct order.

Transcript

The full transcript opens after the comprehension test — so you train real listening instead of reading along.

German support

SarahMills Components, Sarah Mills speaking. How can I help you?

StefanGood afternoon, Ms Mills. This is Stefan Krüger from Nordbau. I'm calling about our order for the steel brackets — order number four-seven-two. We'd like to agree on a firm delivery date.Wir möchten einen verbindlichen Liefertermin vereinbaren.

SarahOf course, Mr Krüger. One moment, please, while I open your order on my screen. Here it is — five hundred steel brackets, and I can see they are in production now.

StefanGood to hear. We need the parts until the tenth of September — our assembly team starts work on the eleventh, and the whole project plan depends on that start date.

SarahJust to make sure I understand: you need them by the tenth, so the latest possible arrival is the tenth itself?Nur damit ich es richtig verstehe: Sie brauchen die Teile bis (spätestens) zum Zehnten?

StefanYes, exactly — by the tenth. Sorry, in German we say 'bis', so 'until' slips out sometimes.

SarahIt happens all the time, and I knew what you meant. So, by the tenth. Production finishes on the third, and with standard shipping the truck would arrive on the ninth. That's cutting it close.Das ist ziemlich knapp.

StefanToo close for my taste, to be honest. If the truck loses one day in traffic or at the loading dock, my team stands around with nothing to do — and that costs us real money. Could you ship any part of the order earlier?

SarahWe could send a partial delivery: eighty per cent of the brackets by the fifth, and the remaining twenty per cent by the ninth. Would that work for you?Wir könnten eine Teillieferung schicken.

StefanThat would work very well. With eighty per cent on site, the team can start on time, and the second shipment can follow while they work. Can you confirm both dates in writing, please?

SarahCertainly. I'll email you an updated order confirmation today, with both delivery dates and the tracking numbers for each shipment. You'll also find my direct number in the email, in case anything changes on your side.

StefanPerfect — then we have a deal, Ms Mills. Thank you for being so flexible and for finding a solution so quickly.

SarahThank you for calling, Mr Krüger. You'll have the confirmation within the hour.

Key phrases

firm delivery date

a fixed, agreed date for delivery

Before we sign, we need a firm delivery date from the supplier.

in production

currently being manufactured

Your order is already in production and ships next week.

by the tenth

no later than the tenth — deadlines take "by", not "until"

Please send us the signed contract by the tenth.

That's cutting it close

that leaves almost no time reserve

Landing at nine for a ten o’clock meeting? That’s cutting it close.

partial delivery

a delivery of only part of the order

We accepted a partial delivery so the line could keep running.

Would that work for you?

polite question to check if a proposal is acceptable

We could deliver on Friday instead — would that work for you?

order confirmation

the written document confirming an order

The order confirmation lists the price, quantity and delivery date.

in writing

in written, documented form

Please confirm both delivery dates in writing.

Language notes

In this episode a buyer and his supplier agree on a firm delivery date by phone: naming the deadline, flagging the risk, negotiating a partial delivery and confirming in writing. You learn the key phrases for delivery-date talks in English — and why German "bis" is "by", not "until" (level B1).

"Until" is not "bis": the biggest deadline trap

Stefan's sentence "We need the parts until the tenth" is the most common German deadline mistake in English. "Until" describes how long a state lasts ("The office is open until six"). A deadline — something must happen no later than a point in time — takes "by": "We need the parts by the tenth." Sarah reacts professionally: she does not correct him, she checks understanding ("Just to make sure I understand …") and repeats the deadline with the right word.

Naming risks instead of hoping

When Sarah offers the ninth, Stefan does not simply say "okay". He names the risk concretely: "If the truck loses one day in traffic, my team stands around with nothing to do." Saying the risk out loud gives the other side the chance to offer a better solution — here, the partial delivery. Useful phrases: "That's cutting it close" and "too close for my taste".

Closing the deal: proposal, check, written form

Sarah's proposal ends with the polite check question "Would that work for you?" — the standard tool in English business to invite agreement without pressure. Stefan closes, as is usual in German business too, by asking for written form: "Can you confirm both dates in writing?" A verbal agreement plus a written order confirmation is the clean close in both business cultures.

Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

What language level is this episode for?

Level B1 (CEFR). The phone call uses clear business English from purchasing and logistics; all eight key phrases are explained bilingually.

Is "bis Freitag" in English "until Friday" or "by Friday"?

For deadlines always "by Friday" (no later than Friday). "Until Friday" describes a duration that ends on Friday — "I'm on holiday until Friday". This episode practises exactly that difference in the dialogue and the test.

Is there a transcript to read along?

Yes, the full transcript with German support notes is on this page — listen first, then take the test, then read along.

Where can I practise delivery negotiations in English live?

In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services (englisch-lehrer.com/online): live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, for companies and individuals across Germany — since 2004. It starts with a free consultation.

Are the voices real?

Episodes are produced with high-quality AI voices (Hume) and editorially reviewed by our trainer team — the same method as our interactive lessons.

Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?

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