W:Oh, hello, John. Are you using your dictating machine this

W:Oh, hello, John. Are you using your dictating machine this morning? I've got a long report I must dictate. Can I borrow your machine?
M: Of course. But can you spare me a second? It's the message you sent me about the delivery delay of the control desks. What's gone wrong?
W: Everything, John. We have to get the steel sheets we need for these desks from new suppliers. Well, the suppliers have got some trouble or other.They say they will be a bit late with the delivery.
M: But they can't be. Those control desks are a special order. They are wanted for one of the big computer companies. It's a very important contract.
W: When did we promise the delivery?
M: On Thursday next week. And there's a penalty clause. We stand to lose 10 percent of our price for each week of overdue delivery.
W: Oh, these penalty clauses! Why did you sales people accept them?
M: We have to accept them; otherwise, we don't get the contracts.
W: Well, let's get on to the Buying Department. I only heard about the delay yesterday because we kept the production line clear to handle these special sheets. It's a dreadful nuisance.
M: It will be more than a nuisance if we don't meet on delivery date. It will cost us a lot of money.
W: Keep calm, John. We can perhaps claim compensation from the steel suppliers for failure to deliver on time. Then we will offset the penalty clause.
M: Well, if you can.