外贸英文函电 Business Letters Chapter Three Enquiry

Chapter Two Inquiry  Revision Revision  Objectives Objectives  Warming-up Questions Warming-up Questions  Sample letter Sample letter  Exercises Exercises  Practice Practice  Homework Homework

Objectives Upon completion of today’s class, you should:  know about the information to be covered in general inquiry and specific inquiry.  grasp all the important words and phrases. Return

Warming-up Inquiries may fall into two categories: general inquiries and specific inquiries. If the importer intends to purchase goods of a certain specification, he may ask the exporter to make an offer or a quotation for the goods. That is a specific inquiry.

Warming-up If the importer wants to have a general idea of the commodity, he may make a request for a pricelist, a catalogue, samples and other terms. This is a general inquiry. (Generally, it is also a first inquiry. That is an inquiry writing without first writing a letter to establish business relations)

Warming-up Question If you are interested in certain products and want to know something about them. What would you write in your letter of inquiry?

Warming-up Question General inquiry 1 The source of information and a brief self-introduction 2 The intention of writing the letter. (Ask for a catalogue, samples or a pricelist) 3 Stating the possibility of placing an order

Warming-up Question Specific Inquiry  The names and descriptions of the goods inquired for, including specifications, quantity, etc.  Asking whether there is a possibility of giving a special discount and what terms of payment and time of delivery you would expect.  Stating the possibility of placing an order. Return

Dear …… We thank you for your letter of May 3 and shall be glad to enter into business relations with you. We have seen your brochure and are interested in Green Tea Extract and Porcelain Tea Set No.TSM001. We shall be pleased if you will kindly send us samples and all the necessary information regarding these two products. We shall be pleased if sendregarding

Meanwhile, please quote us the lowest price, CIF Liverpool, stating the earliest date of shipment and the minimum quantity.please quote us the lowest price, CIF Liverpool, stating the earliest date of shipment and the minimum quantity Should your price be competitive and date of shipment acceptable, we intend to place a large order with you.competitiveacceptableplace a large order with Your early reply will be highly appreciated. appreciated Truly yours, Return

Language Points We shall be pleased if… 如果能 …… 我们将不胜感激 1. We shall be pleased if you could send us a sample. 2. We shall be pleased if you could reduce the price. 如果你方能寄送样品我们将不胜感激。 如果你方能降价我们将不胜感激。 Return

Language Points enclose 随函附寄 现随函附寄商品目录供你方参考。 send…under separate cover 另寄 现另寄商品目录供你方参考。 We are enclosing herewith a catalogue for your reference. We are now sending you under separate cover a catalogue for your reference.

Language Points send…under separate cover We have the pleasure of sending you under separate cover our latest catalogue. 请另寄一个样品。 我们很荣幸给你方另寄我方最新的商 品目录。 Please send a sample under separate cover. Return

Language Points regarding covering 关于 1. Please send us a catalogue regarding your new products. 2. We shall send the pricelist regarding these products for your reference. 请寄给我们一个关于你方新产品的商品目录。 我们将寄关于这些产品的价格单供你方参考。 Return

Language Points Please quote us the lowest price, C.I.F. Lagos, inclusive of our 5% commission, stating the earliest date of shipment. (1) 请报最低价。 (2) 请报上海船上交货最低价。 Please quote the lowest price. Please quote the lowest price, F.O.B Shanghai.

Language Points Please quote us the lowest price, C.I.F. Lagos, inclusive of our 5% commission, stating the earliest date of shipment. (3) 请报最低价，包括 3% 的佣金。 (4) 请报最低价，说明最早的装运期。 Please quote the lowest price, including 3% commission. Please quote the lowest price, stating the earliest date of shipment. Return

Language Points competitive 具有竞争力的 1. Their prices are more competitive. 2. Our products are selling very fast because of their competitive prices. 他们的价格更具有竞争性。 我们的商品卖的很快因为它们的价 格具有竞争力。

Language Points reasonable/ favorable 合理的 / 优惠的 1. Our price is very reasonable. It’s impossible for us to reduce the price. 2. Our price is very favorable, so we recommend you to purchase immediately. 我们的价格很合理。我们不能再降价了。 我们的价格非常优惠，所以我们建议你 方立即购买。 Return

Language Points acceptable can be accepted 可接受的 1. If your price is acceptable to us, we will buy in large quantities. 2. Your price is unacceptable to us. We have no choice but to purchase elsewhere. 如果你方的价格可接受，我们将大量购买。 我们不能接受你方价格。我们只好在别处购买。 Return

Language Points place an order with sb. for sth. 向某人定购某商品 1. We will place an order with you for 100 metric tons of apples. 2. We can place a large order if you can reduce the price. 我们将向你方订购 100 公吨的苹果。 如果你能降价，我们将大量订购。 Return

Language Points appreciate 感激，感谢 1.We shall be appreciated if you could send us a brochure. 2. We shall appreciate it if you can ship the goods before August. 如果你方能寄给我们一个商品小册子，我 们将不胜感激。 如果你方能在八月前装运货物我们将不胜 感激。 Return