顧客寄來的求購單和約翰製作的售貨單都稱作訂單。書麵訂單是商務文件，它是一張包含信息的紙。訂單也被稱作商務交易。當兩個以上個人或公司同意相互履行一定義務時，交易即達成。訂單就是一筆商務交易。買方或客戶同意以某廠價格購買貨物。賣方則同意以那個價格銷售，有時買賣雙方會達成其他協議。於是，訂單也稱為售貨交易。
銷售公司接受了訂單，其交易的部分內容是發貨。購買公司發出了訂單，其交易的部分內容是收貨與支付貨款。買賣雙方交易相輔相成。
約翰的工作就是為公司接收訂單。他要檢查訂單以確保不出錯，即認真地核實其真實性。約翰查訂單時應確認訂單的貨由公司生產並確保產品號準確無誤。
約翰也必須核實訂購的貨備妥待運。如果所訂貨物須為某一客戶備妥，他將確保公司準時備妥貨物待運。約翰也將進行資信調查，即了解訂貨客戶的信譽，客戶信譽好約翰才能製作訂單。信譽將保證客戶能夠收到所訂貨品後付款。約翰通過電話收到過許多售貨訂單，也收到客戶郵寄給他的求購訂單。
(6) Practice in Telephone Sales
電話售貨實務做法
When the telephone rings on John’s desk，he tries to pick it up right away.He always tries to answer his telephone before it rings three times.John feels it is important to answer his telephone quickly.He says this is part of giving good service to customers.
"Customers don't want to listen to the telephone ring，"John says."They call to talk to somebody who can give them service.It is part of my job to answer the telephone as soon as possible."
When he answers the telephone，John always gives his department and name.John learned when he first became a salesman that when you answer the telephone it is important to give your name and to say who you are.When you answer the telephone，the person calling can't see you.If you give your name，the caller will know who you are.Then，the caller should do the same.The caller should give his or her name to the person who answers the telephone.In this way，people know each other before they begin talking.