1、Chapter 3 Inquiries and Requests,Reasons for writing a request letter:,to obtain information; to receive printed matter; to receive sample products; to order merchandise; to engage service; to make reservations; to seek special favors.,General Plan for Direct Order,1. Begin directly with the objecti
2、veeither a specific question or a general request for information. 2. Include necessary explanationwherever it fits. 3. If a number of questions are involved, list the questions by numbers or bullets, or leave space between questions. 4. End with goodwill words adapted to each particular situation.,
3、What is an inquiry?,In international trade, inquiries are usually made by the buyers to get information about the goods to be ordered.,Generally a detailed inquiry includes many parts:,the name and descriptions of commodity; quality or specifications; quantity; terms of price (FOB, CFR, CIF, etc.) t
4、erms of payment (by L/C, D/P, etc. ) time of shipment; packing method; ,Patterns and Substitutions,1. We visited your stand at the Canton Fair and are now writing you to inquire about your silk neckties.,我们参观了你方设在广交会上的展位，现特致函向你方询问有关丝制领带的情况。,Useful Sentence Patterns,1. Would you please/ Could you ple
5、ase/ Will you please? 2. We are interested in/ We are in the market for/ We would like to 3. We will appreciate it very much if,Useful Expressions,Canton Fair: Chinas (Spring / Autumn) Export Commodities Fair 广交会：中国（春季/秋季）出口商品交易会,Patterns and Substitutions,2. We are interested in / in the market for
6、 / potential buyers of / considering buying / ready to purchase your mens shirts displayed in your showroom.,我们对你方货品展览室里陈列的男式衬衫很感兴趣。,Patterns and Substitutions,3. Your advertisement in the latest issue of China Foreign Trade interests us, and we would like to receive full details of your commodities
7、.,我们对贵方在最新一期中国对外贸易上所刊登的广告很感兴趣，并希望得知该商品的详细情况。,Patterns and Substitutions,4. Please send us five copies of your latest catalogues at your earliest convenience.,请尽早寄来最新目录5份。,Patterns and Substitutions,5. Perhaps at the same time you could quote us your lowest / best / prevailing / competitive prices fo
8、r the above-mentioned goods.,也许与此同时你方能报给我们上述商品的最低价。,Patterns and Substitutions,6. We would also like to know your terms of payment.,我们还想了解你方的支付条件。,Patterns and Substitutions,7. Your products are of great interest to one of our clients in Tianjin, who wishes to have your quotations for the items spec
9、ified below.,我们一位天津的客户对你方的产品很感兴趣，并希望了解下列项目的报价。,Patterns and Substitutions,8. If terms and delivery date are satisfactory, we should expect to place regular / trial / large / considerable / substantial orders with you.,如果交易条件和交货日期合意的话，相信我们会定期向你方订货。,Patterns and Substitutions,9. Please advise if you a
10、re able to offer / provide / supply / furnish this product and include lead time, packaging and price FOB China port and CIF Chicago.,请告知你方是否能供应这种商品，包括订货与交货之间的时间、包装、FOB中国港口和CIF芝加哥的价格。,Translate the inquiry into English,敬启者：纽约的琼斯史密斯公司告知我们，你们是各类棉布床单和枕套的出口商。请你寄给我们各种产品的详细资料，包括型号、颜色和价格以及所用各种品质原料的样品。我们是本地
11、最大的纺织品经销商。相信所提到的这种产品如在我地定价适当市场将会看好。报价时，请说明你方的支付条件和就每种商品购买量不少于100打所能给予的折扣。所报的价格应包括保险和到利物浦的运费。 诚挚问候。,Sample version,Dear Sirs,Messrs Johns & Smith of New York inform us that you are exporters of all cotton bed-sheets and pillowcases. We would like you to send us details of your various ranges, includi
12、ng sizes, colors and prices, as well as samples of the different qualities of material used.We are the largest dealer in textiles,Sample version page 2,here and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of this kind mentionedWhen quoting, please state your terms of
13、payment and discount you would allow on purchases of quantities of not less than 100 dozen of individual items. Price quoted should include insurance and freight to Liverpool.Yours faithfully,Chapter 4,Replies,Direct plan for writing a reply,1. Express thanks for receiving the inquiry. 2. Supply all
14、 the information concerning the matter, and refer both to enclosures and to samples, catalogues and other items being sent by separate post. 3. Provide additional information, such as market quotation and marketability of the goods concerned, in order to attract the prospects. 4. Finish the letter w
15、ith hope by encouraging customers to place orders but not force them to.,Guidelines for replying to a routine request,1. Begin with the answer or state that you are complying with the request. 2. Show thanks or sincere interest in the request and the person. 3. Present the most important information
16、 in a positive way. 4. Focus on the readers benefits associated with the information. 5. Provide additional helpful information and tell the reader what actions you will take for him or her. 6. End the letter with confidence and courtesy.,Patterns and Substitutions,1. We have received / are in recei
17、pt of / acknowledge / wish to thank you for your inquiry dated March 20, 2006.,我们收到了你方2006年3月20日的询盘。,Patterns and Substitutions,2. We are enclosing / mailing to you / sending you with this letter / attaching to this letter our illustrated catalogue and export prices.,随函附寄给贵方我们的产品插图目录及出口报价单。,Patterns
18、 and Substitutions,3. We are pleased to forward you the samples of our products with their quotations and discounts for your reference.,很高兴寄去我们产品的样品、价格和折扣率，供你方参考。,Patterns and Substitutions,4. We shall make delivery of the goods upon receipt of / immediately after we receive / as soon as we have / s
19、hortly after we receive / once we receive your order.,一旦收到你方订单，我们将立即发货。,Patterns and Substitutions,5. Please note that we can only accept payment by L/C in our business dealings with developing countries.,请注意，我们与发展中国家做生意时只接受信用证付款方式。,Patterns and Substitutions,6. In reply to / In response to / With r
20、espect to / With reference to your letter dated October 17 inquiring about our “Zhonghua” pencils, we are sending you the samples you requested under separate cover.,复你方10月17日询问我“中华”牌铅笔的函，我们将另寄去你方所需的样品。,Patterns and Substitutions,7. We have the products of fine materials and high craftsmanship and s
21、hall be ready to grant / give / allow / make you a 20% special discount for a quantity of more than 100 dozen.,我们的产品原料优良，加工精细。如果订货超过100打，我们愿给你方20%的特别折扣。,Homework: translation practice,敬启者：感谢你公司8月1日寄来的询价单，该函及所附的样品均已收悉。根据对该样品检验的结果，我们向你公司保证，我公司能够制造与该样品相同型号与品质的产品。基于你公司每年100 000双的需求量，我报盘如下：价格：CIF大连每双25美元
22、包装：塑料袋，外包装纸板箱,Homework (continued),支付：即期的不可撤销的保兑信用证 交货：收到订单后的90天内，即11、 12月船期 我们可向你公司保证，此种价格是基于上述数量的最低价。其他技术性事项可参阅我公司的商品手册。 希望尽早收到你方订单。 诚挚问候。附件：商品手册一本,Sample Version Page 1,Dear Sirs,We have received your enquiry sheet of 1st Aug. together with the attached sample for which we thank you.As for the re
23、sult of inspection of sample, we may assure you that we are in a position to manufacture the same products in design and quality as the sample.On the basis of 100 000 pairs annual requirement we offer you as follows:,Sample Version Page 2,Price: 25 cents CIF Dalian per pair Packing: in plastic bags
24、outer-packed in cardboard cartons. Payment: by irrevocable confirmed sight L/C Delivery: during Nov./Dec., 90 days after receipt of your order.,We can assure you that this price is the lowest price according to the above,Sample Version Page 3,quantity. You may refer to our catalogue regarding the other technical items. We look forward to receiving your order at an early date.Yours faithfully,Enc.: a copy of catalogue,The End,
