外贸英语函电BusinessEnglish1.ppt

外 贸 英 语 函 电 Business English Correspondence,Chapter Three,Enquiries,Contents of Chapter 3,Section One Introduction Section Two Useful Words & Expressions Section Three Specimen Letters,Section One: Introduction （P46）,What is an enquiry? An inquiry is a request for information on goods. When a business intends to import, he may send out an enquiry to an exporter, inviting a quotation or an offer for the goods he wishes to buy or simply asking for some general information about these goods.,The exporter, on receiving the enquiry, will make a reply to it. In this way, the negotiation is getting started An inquiry can be made by written correspondence, such as a letter, telegram, telex, fax, e-mail or verbally by talk in person.,Inquiries from regular customers may be very simple in content, in which only the name and/or specifications of the commodity will be mentioned. Other inquiries may include great details such as the name of the commodity, quality, specifications, quantity, terms of price, terms of payment, time of shipment, packing method, etc. required by the buyer so as to enable the seller to make proper offers.,2. The Reply to an Inquiry,An inquiry received from abroad must be answered fully and promptly. The reply to an inquiry can be regarded as an OFFER if you state all the terms and conditions as requested.,If there is no stock available for the time being, you should acknowledge the inquiry at once, explaining the situation and assuring that you will reply to it once a supply becomes available. If the inquiry is from an old customer, express how much you appreciate it. If it is from a new customer, say you are glad to receive it and express the hope of a future business relationship. In a word, the reply to an inquiry should be prompt and courteous and cover all the information asked for.,3. Categories of Inquiries,General Inquiries: If the importers want to have a general idea of the commodity, which the exporter is in a position to supply, they 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 without first writing a letter to establish business relations,Specific Inquiries: If the importers intend to purchase goods of a certain specification, they may ask the exporter to make an offer or a quotation for specific goods. That is an specific inquiry.,4. The Main Contents of a Letter for Inquiry,1) General inquiry A general inquiry usually includes the following contents: a. Telling addressees the source of information and making a brief self-introduction b. Indicating the intention of writing the letter, i.e. to ask for a catalogue, samples or a pricelist. c. Stating the possibility of placing an order and expectation of an offer (Expectation for early replay or future cooperation),2) Specific Inquiry A specific inquiry usually includes the following contents: a. Indicating the names and descriptions of the goods inquired for, including specifications, quantity, etc. b. Asking whether there is a possibility of giving a special discount and what terms of payment and time of delivery you would expect. C. Stating the possibility of placing an order and expectation of an offer. D. (Expectation for early replay or future cooperation),Section two (P28),Words and expressions,SectionThree,Specimen Letters,Letter one,Dear Sirs We are in the market for Melon Seeds of the first and second grade and should be appreciated if you let us have your offers with some representative sample by airmail When offering the seeds ,please state the earliest possible time of shipment and quantities available . Yours faithfully,Specimen Letter 1 P47 Comments: This is a short and simple letter of enquiry for you to get acquainted with the general form, from which you can see that the enquiry from regular customers is short, simple and brief to the point. Notes 1 first grade 甲级 2 representative sample 具有代表性的样品 3 by airmail 航邮 4 earliest possible time of shipment最早装运期,Section Two Specimen Letters,Specimen Letters 2,Dears sirs , We are pleased to tell you that we are interested in hand-made gloves in a variety of genuine leather. Recently, there is a growing demand here for gloves of high quality at our end. Although sales are not particularly high ,good price can be obtained .,We wish you would send us a copy of your illustrated catalogue of the gloves we wish to buy ,together with details of your price and terms of payment .We should find it most helpful if you could also send us samples of the various leather, of which the gloves are made . Yours faithfully,Specimen Letter 2 P47 Comments: This is a letter of inquiring for leather gloves, in which the writer asks for sales terms and samples. Notes 1 genuine leather 真皮 2 rowing demand 日益增长的需要 3 at ones end 在某地 4 terms of payment 支付条款,Specimen Letters 3,Dears Sirs, Please let us know at what price per yard and upon what terms of payment ,you are able to deliver quantities of Printed Cotton made in china ,If your quotation is favorable ,we propose to cover all our present requirements through you. Yours truly ,Specimen Letter 3 P47 Comments: This is another short and simple letter of enquiry. Remember to keep your enquiry brief, specific, courteous and to the point. Notes 1 at price 按照价格 2 pon/on terms 按照条款 3 to cover all our present requirements through/from 从购入我方目前全部所需,Specimen letter 4,Dears Sirs, Thank you for your letter of May 4 and your interest in your products. A copy of our illustrated catalogue has been sent to you today, in which you will find samples of some skins we regularly use in our manufactures. Unfortunately, we cannot send to you immediately a full range of sample, but you may agree after checking them, that such skins as chamois and doeskin, not represented in the parcel, are of the same high quality.,Mr. Li, our sales representative ,will be in Tehran early next month and will be pleased to call on you .he has brought with him a wide range of our manufacturers and, when you see them, we think you will agree that the quality of the materials used and the high standard of craftsmanship will appeal to the most selective buyers.,We also manufacture a wide range of hand-made leather handbags in which we hope you may be interested. They are fully illustrated in the catalogue and are of the same high quality as our gloves. Mr. Li will show you the samples when he calls on you. We look forward very much the pleasure of receiving an order form you. Yours sincerely,Specimen Letter4 P49 Comments: In this letter, the writer answers the enquiry in detail. Even though the writer does not say how good their products are, we can see clearly from the lines that the writer thinks of his products highly. Notes a full range of samples 全部样品 craftsmanship 工艺,Specimen letter 5,Dear sirs, Re: parts of machine Type B-268 Thank you for your letter of march 15,2010 and the enclosure requesting quotes for parts of the captioned machine.,As requested, we are submitting our quotation in triplicate and wish you to place your order with us as early as possible because have a large backlog. We await your early reply. TRULY YOURS,Specimen Letter 5 P50 Comments: When replying the enquiry, the writer submits his quotation. Notes 1 As requested 按照要求 2 in triplicate 一式三份 3 in duplicate 一式两份 4 to place order with/before 向某人下订单 5 captioned 标题,Specimen letter 6,Dears sirs, Messrs. brother and Clark of this city inform us that you export all cotton bed-sheets and pillowcases. We would like you to send us details of you various ranges, including sizes, colors and prices, and also samples of the different qualities of material used.,We are a large dealer in textiles and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of the kind mentioned. When replying, please state your terms of payment and discount you would allow on purchase of not less than 1000 dozen of individual item. prices quote should include insurance and freight to New York. Yours sincerely,Specimen Letter 6 P50 Comments: This is a very good example of enquiry letter to follow, sentences are short, words and phrases simple. But the meaning expresses very clearly. Notes 1 sizes 尺寸 2 freight 运费 3 allow/grant/give discount 给予折扣,Specimen letter 7,Dear sirs We are very pleased to receive your enquiry of 20th August and enclose our illustrated catalogue and price list giving you the details asked for Also by separate post we are sending you some samples and feel confident that when you have examined them you will agree that the goods are both excellent in quality and reasonable in price.,On regular purchase of not less than 200 dozen of individual item we would allow you a discount of 2%.payment is to be made by irrevocable L/C at sight. Because of their softness and durability, after studying our pries you will learn that we are finding it difficult to meet the demand . But if you place your order not later than end of this month , we would ensure prompt shipment.,We invite your attention to our other products such as table-cloth and table napkins ,details of which you will find in the catalogue ,and look forward to receiving your first order. Yours sincerely,Specimen Letter 7 P51 Comments: The writer in this letter gives details of the goods and the sales terms. While showing comments on the goods, the writer invites the buyers attention to his other products. This is often used in letter-writing. Notes 1 by separate post/by separate mail/under separate cover 另封航邮； 2 be both excellent in quality and reasonable in price 价廉物美 3 not less than 不迟于 4 irrevocable L/C 不可撤消信用证 5 at sight 即期 6 be popular 受欢迎,Specimen letter 8,Dear sirs Table-cloths Thank you for your letter of June 10. We note with pleasure that you intend to develop business with us in the captioned goods. We have gone through your catalogue and are interested in cotton Table-Cloths Art NO.510