Inquiry from Canadian Importer to German Manufacturer of toys.

 

Gentlemen:

 

We have learned from our representative in New York that your Construction Kits for boys have proved very popular in the United States.

As they should also be of interest to Canadian customers, we would be glad to receive samples and quotations.

Please include in your quotation full information on packing, quantities and shipping weights, as well as prices, terms and probable delivery dates.

We are one of the leading importers of toys in this country and are therefore very much interested in learning if you are prepared to grant us the sole agency for your products in Canada. There is a considerable demand for German toys here, and we are convinced that good business could be developed.

Yours very truly,

 

Another Inquiry for German Toys

 

Dear Sirs,

 

We are looking for a reliable supplier of mechanical toys in Germany.

Your firm has been recommended to us as one of the leading manufacturers of these articles, and we should be glad if you would send us your catalogue together with quotations for large quantities. Please also state your terms of payment and the earliest delivery dates.

The following firms will be glad to furnish information as to our financial standing and reputation:

…

…

We hope that you will facilitate business by quoting your keenest prices.

Yours faithfully,

 

Inquiry for Air Compressors and Concrete Mixers

 

HENRY CHAPMAN & COMPANY LIMITED

NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD, LONDON, N.W.2

 

Telephone: GLAdstone 2266

Telegrams: Chapco, London

5th February, 19…

Your Ref.

Our A/. HE/NJ

 

Firma Greimel & Sohne

46 Dortmund

Ruhrstrasse 267

W. Germany

 

Dear Sirs,

 

We have received an inquiry from International Trading Company Tehran, Iran.

Their main activity is participation in government tenders and they enjoy good relations with most government purchasing organizations.

They would like to receive your offers and descriptive literature regarding the following:

15 two-wheel trailer unit air compressors providing approximately 60 bhp and controlled by pneumatic speed governor

20 tilting drum concrete mixers with a capacity of approximately 3 cu.ft.

Their local reference is the Iran Credit Bank, Tehran. Foreign references may be obtained from Messrs. Holmes Bros., 611 Theobald's Road, London W.C.I, and Corram Engineering Works Ltd., Edinburgh.

We trust that you will be able to quote these clients of ours and protect our interests by crediting us with any business which may be received from them.

 

Yours faithfully,

HENRY CHAPMAN & COMPANY LIMITED

Harold Ellison,

Sales Manager

 

Inquiry for Filing Cabinets

 

CALDWELL PRODUCTS CORPORATION

PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS

322 CONSTITUTION AVE.

BOSTON, MASS.02101

May 26, 19..

Modern Office Furniture Company

730 Madison Avenue

New York,N.Y.10017

 

Gentlemen:

We are in the market for filing cabinets and would like to see your newest models. Will you please send us your latest catalogue that gives full information about them.

The cabinet shown in your advertisement in the May issue of the “Office Equipment Journal” seems to be what we want. Please send complete details on that model.

 

Yours very truly,

L.B.Plumber

Purchasing Agent

 

Inquiry from Indian Department Store to German Export Merchant

 

Gerhardsen & Co.

Export/Import

Bremen

 

Dear Sirs,

Your name was given to us by the German Embassy in New Delhi.

We are the proprietors of a medium-sized department store in Bombay. Up to now we have been supplied by importers in Bombay, but, as our sales are steadily rising, we are now thinking of obtaining merchandise from overseas direct.

We enclose a list of the goods we intend to buy from German manufacturers and should be much obliged if you would send us quotations and samples.

We are also sending you some references, including the names of our bankers, our principal suppliers in India, and the name of a manufacturer in Leeds who knows the undersigned personally.

Your prompt reply will be appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Sivaraman Stores Ltd.

K.V.Sivaraman

Director

Encl. 2

Tasks

I. Translate letters from Russian into English:

Запросы

№1

Уважаемые господа!

О Вашей фирме мы узнали от наших деловых партнеров …. Мы были заинтересованы в фирме-изготовителе товаров, указанных в прилагаемом списке. Они порекомендовали обратиться к Вам и сообщили, что имеют с Вами деловые отношения более десяти лет.

Конфиденциально сообщаем Вам, что наш обычный поставщик оказался не в состоянии соблюдать сроки поставки в этом году, и из-за этого мы можем сорвать сроки выполнения внешних договоров.

Если Вы сможете поставить нам необходимые товары, пожалуйста, считайте это нашим заказом. Оплата будет произведена в соответствии с Вашими обычными условиями.

Мы были бы благодарны, если бы Вы прислали нам ответ телексом.

С уважением,

 

Приложение

 

№2

Уважаемые господа!

Из журнала “Camera review” мы узнали, что Вы являетесь представителями лондонской фирмы “Derby & sons” в Южной Африке. Прошу Вас прислать нам прейскурант и каталог всей продукции, имеющейся у Вас в наличии, а также информацию о скидках и условиях оплаты.

С нетерпением ждем Вашего ответа.

С уважением,

 

II. Draft letters in English from the following particulars:

№1

Фирма «А» в Мюнхене прочитала в журнале «Trade Channel» объявление фирмы «В» в Шеффилде о наличии необходимых ей товаров. Немецкая фирма просит выслать ей каталог с образцами и дать им информацию о наиболее благоприятных экспортных ценах, а также об условиях продажи.

№2

Фирма «А» в Лондоне ищет поставщика кленового сиропа (maple syrup). От канадского посольства в Лондоне стало известно, что фирма «В» является одним из ведущих импортеров кленового сиропа. Фирма «А» просит фирму «В» выслать ей образцы сиропа и наиболее благоприятные цены при заказе более 2000 бутылок.

 

III. Read, translate and act out the dialogue:

Discussing the Price

B. – Beresov, P. – Peterson

P.: Hello, Mr Beresov. Nice to see you again.

B.: Hello, Mr Peterson. Nice to see you too.

P.: If I got you right from our telephone conversation, you want to speak about the prices.

B.: You are quite right. I’ve studied your catalogues very carefully and find your prices somewhat higher as compared with those on the world market.

P.: Yes, I agree with you, but you should take into consideration that these prices include packing, transportation and insurance expenses.

B.: Really? I see. In any case I’d like to find out if you grant quantity discounts?

P.: As a matter of fact, we do. We grant a 5% discount for orders from 200 items.

B.: That suits me perfectly.

P.: What can I say? I’m glad we’ve settled the price question.

B.: So am I.

 

IV. Read and translate the text:

What is the Price?

Ill-at-ease amidst big city surroundings, an elderly farm couple approached one of the ticket windows in a railroad station.

«What is the fare to Plattsville?» asked the woman.

«That is $4.65, Ma`am», responded the clerk. Turning to her husband she said, «Well, Dad, we might as well buy the tickets here. I have asked at all these windows and they all charge the same».

 

II. Offers

Replies to Inquiries

Every inquiry holds the promise of future business and should therefore be answered promptly. In his reply to an inquiry, the supplier gives the desired information, sends the price list, catalogue, etc. that the prospective customer asked for, or submits a detailed offer.

If a delay in answering the inquiry is inevitable, the seller should send a brief acknowledgment to inform the prospect that his inquiry is receiving attention. Sometimes the seller has to ask for additional information before he can answer the inquiry. Should it be necessary to refer the inquiry to an agent or distributor, both the inquirer and the agent or distributor are notified.

If the supplier is unable to quote, he should inform the inquirer immediately, suggesting, if possible, other sources of supply from which the latter is likely to obtain the goods he requires.

 

Offers

By submitting an offer, the seller declares his willingness to sell certain goods at certain prices and on certain terms. The price at which the seller offers the goods, and the offer containing the price, are called quotations. Quotations are sometimes made in the form of a pro-forma invoice. A tender (US: bid) is a quotation for the supply of goods or the performance of work, made in response to an invitation to tender. (The term is also loosely applied to the whole system of awarding contracts on a tender basis.)

Offers can be made orally or in writing. Verbal and telegraphic offers should be confirmed by letter. Frequently offers are prepared on printed forms (quotation forms), which are mailed either with or without a covering letter.

Offers may be submitted in answer to an inquiry (solicited offers), or without an inquiry having been made (unsolicited or voluntary offers).

Unsolicited offers are sent to old customers to inform them of special opportunity, or «to revive inactive accounts» that is, to win back old customers who have ceased sending orders. To create new business, businessmen send unsolicited offers and sales letters to a carefully chosen list of potential customers (mailing list).

An offer is firm that is binding on the seller, unless it contains a clause to the contrary. If the seller makes a firm offer, he undertakes to supply the goods in question at the prices and on the terms stated, provided the offer is accepted within reasonable time. The seller often fixes a time limit for acceptance, for example, I offer you firm until noon Friday next or This offer is firm subject to acceptance by 10^th June.

A firm offer can be withdrawn at any time before the buyer has mailed his acceptance (order). Once the acceptance has been mailed, the seller can revoke his offer only with the buyer’s consent.

A complete offer should cover the following points:

1. Nature and quality of the goods offered.

2. Quantity.

3. Prices and discounts (if discounts are granted).

4. Delivery period.

5. Terms of delivery.

6. Terms of payment.

If necessary, the offer is supplemented by printed material, illustrations, samples or patterns. An order form may be enclosed for the customer's convenience in ordering. Should the offer fail to produce a response, follow-up letters may be sent.

 

Sales Letters

Sales letters are usually unsolicited. They do not necessarily ask for orders; their purpose may be to produce inquiries, to prepare the ground for the representative, or to build goodwill.

Sales letters may be personal letters or duplicated letters (circulars) distributed to a large number of private individuals or firms.

Terms and phrases

a. Opening Phrases	Фразы для начала письма
We thank you (Thank you, We are obliged) for your inquiry of …	Мы благодарим Вас (Спасибо, Мы благодарны Вам) за Ваш запрос от … (дата)
Many thanks (Thank you very much) for your letter of…	Большое спасибо за Ваше письмо от … (дата)
As requested (As desired) we are sending you …	По Вашему требованию мы высылаем Вам …
We have received your letter of …, from which we are pleased to note that you are interested in our products.	Мы получили Ваше письмо от … (дата), из которого мы рады узнать, что Вы интересуетесь нашей продукцией.
We refer to your inquiry of … and are glad to quote as follows (to submit the following quotation): …	Мы ссылаемся на Ваш запрос от … (дата) и рады назначить следующие цены (представить следующие расценки): …
The German Consul General has kindly provided us with your address.	Немецкое Генеральное консульство любезно предоставило нам Ваш адрес.
We have been advised by the German-American Chamber of Commerce that you are interested in …	Германо-американская Торговая палата сообщила нам, что Вы интересуетесь …
b. Prices and Discounts	Цены и скидки
Our prices are quoted F.O.B. London.	Наши цены указаны на условиях ФОБ Лондон.
Packing included	Упаковка включена
Packing not included	Упаковка не включена
Packing extra	Упаковка отдельно
Packing at cost	Упаковка за счёт
Gross for net	Брутто для нетто
We grant a trade discount of 10% on our list prices.	Мы предоставляем торговую скидку 10% на цены по нашему прайс-листу.
The quantity discounts indicated in our price list vary according to the size of the order.	Количественные скидки, указанные в нашем прайс-листе, изменяются согласно размеру заказа.
Our catalogue prices are subject to a special discount of 10%.	На наши цены по каталогу мы предоставляем специальную скидку в 10 %.
c. Terms of Delivery	Условия поставки
ex works / ex factory	франко-завод / франко-фабрика
ex warehouse	франко-склад
Franco	франко (условие поставки в международной торговле, в соответствии с которым расходы по доставке груза до порта, станции, склада покупателя и т.д. несёт продавец).
F.O.R. / F.O.T. or f.o.r. / f.o.t. (free on rail / free on truck)	F.O.R. / F.O.T. или f.o.r. / f.o.t. (франко-железная дорога, франко-грузовик)
F.A.S. or f.a.s. (free alongside ship)	ФАС или фас (франко у борта судна)
F.O.B. or f.o.b. (free on board)	ФОБ или фоб (франко-борт)
C.I.F. or c.i.f. (cost, insurance, freight)	СИФ или сиф (стоимость, страхование, фрахт)
C.& F. or c.& f. (cost and freight)	С & Ф или с & ф (стоимость и фрахт)
Carriage paid to …	Провоз оплачен до …
Franco frontier / Franco border	Франко-граница
Carriage paid to frontier (to border)	Провоз оплачен до границы
Franco domicile, free … (buyer’s address); US: F.O.B. buyer’s warehouse	Франко-дом (адрес покупателя); США: ФОБ, склад покупателя.
Carriage (or: freight) paid; US: freight prepaid	Провоз (или: фрахт) оплачен; США: фрахт оплачен заранее
Carriage (or: freight) forward; US: freight collect	Провоз (или: груз) форвард; американский английский: груз надлежит уплате грузополучателем в порту назначения.
d. Delivery Period	Сроки поставки
The goods can be delivered immediately on receipt of your order.	Товары могут быть поставлены сразу же после получения Вашего заказа.
Delivery will be effected as soon as possible (at the earliest possible date).	Поставка будет произведена, как только это станет возможным (в возможно короткие сроки).
Machines made to buyers’ specifications can be supplied within 4-6 months.	Машины, сделанные по заказам покупателей, могут быть поставлены в течение 4-6 месяцев.
We cannot promise delivery within the period stated in your inquiry, unless we receive your order by Monday next.	Мы не можем обещать поставку в сроки, указанные в Вашем запросе, если мы не получим Ваш заказ к следующему понедельнику.
e. Terms of Payment	Условия платежа
payment in advance	Оплата заранее
cash with order (C.W.O. or c.w.o.)	Наличный расчёт при выдаче заказа
payment on receipt of invoice	Оплата по получении счета-фактуры
payment on invoice	Оплата по счёту-фактуре
payment by bank draft on London against pro-forma invoice	Оплата банковской траттой в Лондоне по получении предварительной счета-фактуры
one-third with order, one-third on delivery, and one-third within two months after delivery	Одна треть с заказом, одна треть по доставке, и одна треть в течение двух месяцев после поставки
cash on delivery (C.O.D. or c.o.d.)	Оплата по доставке
payment on receipt of goods	Оплата по получении товаров
payment within 60 days from date of invoice	Оплата в течение 60 дней после получения счета
30 days net	30 дней нетто
two months credit	Кредит на два месяца
Strictly net	Точно нетто
2% for cash	2% скидки за наличные деньги
… less 2% cash discount for payment within seven days	… менее 2%-ой скидки при оплате наличными в течение семи дней.
10 days 2%, 30 days net (or:2/10, net 30)	Оплата в течение 10 дней с 2% скидкой или в течение 30 дней нетто
against three months acceptance	Против трех месяцев принятия
documents against payment (D/P), cash against documents (C.A.D)	Документы против оплаты, наличные против документов
documents against acceptance (D/A)	Документы против принятия
Shipping documents will be surrendered against bank acceptance	Документы на грузопоставку будут отданы против банковского акцепта
Payment by irrevocable and confirmed documentary letter of credit (documentary credit)	Оплата безотзывным и подтвержденным документарным аккредитивом.
f. Firm Until …, Without Engagement, etc.	Действительно до …, без обязательства и т.д.
This offer is firm subject to immediate acceptance, otherwise without engagement.	Это предложение является твердым при немедленном принятии, в противном случае без обязательства.
Our offer is firm subject to acceptance by 15^th June.	Наша оферта действительна при условии ее подтверждения до 15 июня.
We offer you firm until …	Наша оферта действительна до … (дата).
We give you the refusal of these goods until …	Мы даем Вам возможность отказа от этих товаров до … (дата).
The offer is firm for three days only.	Предложение действительно только в течение трех дней.
The offer is without engagement (subject to confirmation).	Предложение без обязательства (подлежит подтверждению).
Prices are subject to change (alteration) without notice.	Цены подлежат изменению без предупреждения.
Prices are subject to market fluctuations.	Цены зависят от колебаний рынка.
Subject to price ruling at time of dispatch.	Расчёты производятся по действующим на момент отправки ценам.
…as long as our stocks last.	… пока у нас есть запасы.
… until our stocks are depleted (exhausted).	… пока наши запасы не исчерпаны.
g. Closing Phrases	Заключительные фразы
Please let us know your requirements soon, if possible by cable.	Пожалуйста, сообщите нам свои требования скорее, если возможно, телеграммой.
As prices are likely to rise soon, we would advise you to take prompt advantage of this offer.	Поскольку цены, вероятно, скоро вырастут, то мы посоветовали бы Вам быстро воспользоваться преимуществом этого предложения.
We trust that our favourable prices will induce you to place an order.	Мы полагаем, что наши благоприятные цены побудят Вас сделать заказ.
We assure you that your order will be carried out to your complete satisfaction.	Мы уверяем Вас, что Ваш заказ будет выполнен к Вашему полному удовлетворению.
You may rely on the prompt and careful execution of your order.	Вы можете рассчитывать на быстрое и тщательное выполнение своего заказа.
A trial order will convince you of the efficiency of our service.	Пробный заказ убедит Вас в эффективности нашего обслуживания.
As we have not yet had the pleasure of doing business with you, we would ask you to furnish us with the usual references when sending your order.	Поскольку у нас еще не было опыта ведения деловых отношений с Вами, мы попросили бы Вас при размещении заказа предоставить нам обычные рекомендации.

Specimen letters