Unit 3 inquiries and replies.pptVIP

Introduction to an inquiry letter As a business person, you will have to write many letters to ask for information, to give information and to get your business done. Among the most common in business are letters to make an inquiry and their replies. In international trade, when you write to request some specific information usually about buying of a certain commodity, your letter is called “inquiry”. In this sense, the letters to start business with other company can also be taken as a kind of inquiry letter to inquire about the possibility of doing business with other companies in a certain line. An enquiry is usually made to seek a supply of products, service or information. In order to obtain the needed information, the enquirer should state simply, clearly and concisely what he wants general information, a catalogue, a price list, a sample or a quotation, etc. According to the content, there may be first enquiries and specific enquiries. A first enquiry is an enquiry sent to a supplier with whom you have not yet done business, so it should begin by telling the supplier how you obtained his name and address. But in a specific enquiry, the enquirer points out a certain product or commodity he intends to purchase, he may ask the supplier to make an offer or a quotation on this product. After receiving your inquiry letter, the other party will give you a yes or no answer. 什么是询盘？ (在国际货物买卖中，交易磋商一般开始于买卖双方的一方主动向对方发出询盘或发盘。所谓询盘又称询价，是指买方或卖方为了洽购或销售某项商品，而向对方提出关于交易条件的询问。询盘通常由买方向卖方提出，以了解所拟订的货物的情况。询盘的内容可只包括有关货物的价格，也可兼问商品的规格、性能、包装和交货期，以及付款方式等各项交易条件。买方在贸易询盘中也可要求对方提供商品目录或样本，有时还可以列明所需货物的品质、规格、数量或交货期等，以便供货人据以发盘。询盘分为一般询盘和具体询盘。一般询盘通常是买方向卖方询问产品的信息，而具体询盘是买方针对卖方的某一种或几种产品作出的，询问的内容比一般询盘要更具体，更有针对性。 询盘必须简洁、具体，用词得体。对于对方的询盘应及时答复，有针对性，防止答非所问，以利于交易磋商的进行。询盘对双方均无法律约束力，多是交易的起点。 Specimen letter 1 Words and expressions inform sb. that 告知（某人） a variety of 各种各样的 of various ranges 各类产品的various ranges= various lines=a wide range of range n.（同类货物的）一组，一套，一批 leading 最重要的；第一位的，主要的 a promising market 销路良