付款Payment
卖方与买方就付款方式寻求合理的折衷方案。从以下会话，我们可发现交货前付款与交货后付款对双方的影响：

英文正文

A: If it's OK with you, we would like payment prior to delivery, since this is your first order.

B: I understand why you would like it that way, but we prefer payment after delivery, because these goods are very expensive.

A: I know they are very expensive, but why does that mean you should pay after delivery?

B: It's a large order, so if we give an advance payment, we will have money trouble, because it will take three or four months to sell the goods and start to make a profit.

A: I understand, but if we must pay to make the goods, and then must wait four months for you to pay, we will have money trouble too.

B: Let's do it this way.We will pay in installments, with the first payment to be two weeks after delivery, then once a month after that.

句型总结
●　我了解，但是…
1. I understand, but...
2. I sympathize, yet...
3. I can see your problem, but...

此句型通常用于听完对方的陈述或解释之后，仍不能赞同时。语气婉转，先表示体谅之心，再告知无法采取同一立场。"but"为转折连接词（等于"yet"），后面所接之句子，意义或人气须与前面之句子相反，但时态则须一致。

短语解说
payment prior to delivery 预付货款
"payment"‘付款’。"prior"‘在之前的’，"prior to..."‘在...之前’。"payment prior to delivery"意思等于"payment in advance"或"prepayment"，是指签约后，卖方尚未交货前买方即须付款。普遍适用于买方信用欠佳、买方所订的货物规格特殊、卖方资金短绌等情况。这种付款方式对卖方虽有利，对买方风险却很高，唯有在卖方信誉可靠时方可行。

payment after delivery 交货后付款
这种付款方式，由买卖双方约定付款日期，属于赊销（credit sale)。若卖方提供现金折扣，则会在发票上注明折扣的多少以及折扣的期限。若为记帐交易时，则买方只需在卖方所规定的期限之内付款。

advance payment 预付款
"advance"，‘预付’。"advance payment"是指买方在卖方将货品装船前，预先付给卖方的货款。

installments 分期付款
"installment"，‘分期付款’。又称"easy payment"。由卖方先将货品交予买方，并按契约规定于未来指定日，分若干期支付货款。卖方可采动产抵押、担保信用状、银行出具保证函等方式，保障自己的权益。