B1Monologue3 Min.

Offering a Discount for a Longer Contract

A client wants a lower price — how to tie the discount to a longer contract term in English.

SceneHead of sales Markus explains how he offered a client an eight per cent discount — in exchange for a two-year contract. Step by step, with all the phrases.

0:00 / 3 Min.

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

✓ To the comprehension test

Markus — Head of sales, software company in Frankfurt

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

01What is the main message of the episode?

02What do Markus and the client finally agree on?

03The client originally asked for a ten per cent discount.

04Markus offered the discount without any conditions.

05Which word is missing?

I can offer you a discount of eight per cent — ___ that you commit to a two-year contract.

06Which word is missing?

Please sign ___ the thirty-first.

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

Transcript

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

German support

MarkusHello and welcome. My name is Markus, and I lead the sales team at a software company in Frankfurt. Today I want to talk about a classic negotiation: offering a discount in exchange for a longer contract.

MarkusLast month, one of our clients asked for a lower price. Instead of simply saying yes, I saw an opportunity. A discount costs money — so it should always buy you something in return. And in our industry, a longer contract is worth far more than a high price for a single year.Ein Rabatt kostet Geld – deshalb sollte er Ihnen immer eine Gegenleistung einbringen.

MarkusOn the call, I said: 'I can offer you a discount of eight per cent — provided that you commit to a two-year contract.' The phrase 'provided that' makes the condition clear and polite at the same time.„Provided that" = vorausgesetzt, dass – macht die Bedingung klar und höflich zugleich.

MarkusThe client hesitated, so I explained the benefit: 'With a longer contract, you lock in today's price. Our list prices go up almost every year.'„You lock in today's price" = Sie sichern sich den heutigen Preis.

MarkusThen I added a deadline: 'This offer is valid until the end of the month. Please sign by the thirty-first.' Careful here — many German speakers say 'until' when they mean 'by'. 'Until' describes how long something lasts; 'by' means the latest possible moment.„Until" beschreibt eine Dauer, „by" den spätesten Zeitpunkt – das deutsche „bis" bedeutet beides.

MarkusSo the offer is valid until the end of the month, but the contract must be signed by the thirty-first. If you write 'please sign until Friday', an English customer will smile — and maybe wait too long.

MarkusThe client asked for ten per cent. I made a counter-offer: 'I can meet you halfway. Nine per cent, if we also agree on annual payment in advance.'„I can meet you halfway" = Ich komme Ihnen auf halbem Weg entgegen.

MarkusWe shook hands on nine per cent, a two-year term and payment in advance. Both sides won: the client pays less, and we have a stable, long-term customer.

MarkusOne more tip: put the whole package on paper the same day. My email had three bullet points — the discount, the contract term, and the payment terms. The client signed two days later, well before the deadline.

MarkusHere is your takeaway: never give a discount for free. Link it to a condition with 'provided that', explain the benefit, set a clear deadline with 'by' — and always confirm the details in writing.

Key phrases

provided that

on the condition that

We can start in May, provided that the contract is signed this week.

to commit to

to promise firmly to do or accept something

The client committed to a two-year contract.

to lock in a price

to fix a price so it cannot change later

Sign now and you lock in this year’s price for 24 months.

valid until

usable up to a certain point in time

The voucher is valid until the end of December.

by (a date)

no later than a certain moment

Please return the signed contract by Friday.

counter-offer

a new offer made in response to an offer

They asked for ten per cent, so we made a counter-offer of nine.

to meet someone halfway

to compromise between two positions

Let's meet halfway: seven per cent and free delivery.

in advance

before something happens or is delivered

The annual fee is paid in advance.

Language notes

In this episode a head of sales explains how he ties a discount to a longer contract term: stating the condition ("provided that"), explaining the benefit, setting a deadline and making a counter-offer. You learn the key phrases for discount negotiations in English (level B1) — and why "until" and "by" are not the same.

Always tie discounts to conditions

The central phrase is "provided that": it links the concession directly to what you get in return — "eight per cent, provided that you commit to a two-year contract". It is immediately followed by the benefit for the client ("you lock in today's price"), not your own advantage. This pattern — concession, condition, client benefit — keeps the negotiation fair and professional.

The "bis" trap: until or by?

German "bis" has two English translations. "Until" describes how long a state lasts: "The offer is valid until the end of the month." "By" names the latest moment for a one-time action: "Please sign by the thirty-first." Writing "please sign until Friday" literally means "keep signing continuously until Friday" — and the English reader may not read the deadline as binding.

The counter-offer: meeting halfway instead of giving in

When the client demands ten per cent, Markus does not simply give in; he makes a counter-offer with a new condition attached: "I can meet you halfway. Nine per cent, if we also agree on annual payment in advance." "To meet someone halfway" signals willingness to compromise without abandoning your position. Finally, every agreement should be confirmed in writing — "confirm the details in writing" is the standard close of any negotiation in English.

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 monologue uses clear negotiation English with distinct pronunciation; the vocabulary list explains all eight key phrases bilingually.

How do I offer a discount in English?

In four steps: state the condition ("provided that you commit to …"), explain the benefit ("you lock in today's price"), set the deadline with "by" ("please sign by the thirty-first") and counter further demands ("I can meet you halfway").

What is the difference between "until" and "by"?

"Until" describes duration ("valid until the end of the month"); "by" names the latest moment for an action ("sign by the thirty-first"). German "bis" covers both — which is why "please sign until Friday" is a typical German mistake.

Where can I practise these phrases 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. Start 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?

The podcast trains your ear — in our online lessons you practise the conversation yourself, with real teachers. For companies across Germany since 2004.

Online lessons with real teachers Book a free consultation