Writing

Enquiries

Brief Introduction

进出口贸易通常先从市场调查开始,然后建立业务关系,接着是询盘(enquiries)、报价(quotations)、发盘(offers)、接受(acceptance)、发货(deliveryofgoods)、押汇(negotiation fordocuments)。而对于一笔特定的交易而言,询盘则是商业谈判中实质性的第一步。

询盘,又称询价(inquiry或enquiry),是买方或卖方对于所要购买或出售的商品向另一方做出的询问,可以分为普通询盘和具体询盘。

普通询盘(generalinquiry):索取普通资料,如目录(catalogue)、价目表或报价单(price-list or quotation sheets)、样品(sample)、图片(llustrated photo prints)等。

具体询盘(specific inquiry):具体询问商品名称(name of the commodity)、规格(specifications)、数量(quantity)、单价(unit price FOB...CIF...)、装船期(timeofshipment)、付款方式(termsofpayment)等。

询盘一般多为买方向卖方发出,买方通过询盘信,简明扼要地向卖方了解一般的商品信息。询盘信无须写得过分客气,只需具体、简洁、措辞得体。有的询盘信开门见山,直截了当说明订购打算,希望对方给予一定优惠条件;有的询盘信则以征询信息的方式,不做出订货承诺,以避免未订购可能形成的日后交易中的障碍。

Basic Expressions

1.May I have an idea of your prices?

可以了解一下你们的价格吗?

2.Can you give me an indication of price?

你能给我一个估价吗?

3.Please let us know your lowest possible prices for the relevant goods.

请告知你们有关商品的最低价。

4.If your prices are favorable,I can place the order right away.

如果你们的价格优惠,我们可以马上订货。

5.When can I have your firm CIF prices,Mr.Li?

李先生,什么时候能得到你们到岸价的实盘?

6.We'd rather have you quote us FOB prices.

我们希望你们报离岸价格。

7.Would you tell us your best prices CIF Humburg for the chairs?

请告知你方椅子至汉堡到岸价的最低价格。

8.Will you please tell the quantity you require so as to enable us to sort out the offers?

为了便于我方报价,可以告诉我们贵方所要的数量吗?

9.We'd like to know what you can offer as well as your sales conditions.

我们想了解你们能供应什么,以及你们的销售条件。

10.How long does it usually take you to make delivery?

你们通常要多久才能交货?

11.Could you make prompt delivery?

你们可以按期交货吗?

12.Would you accept delivery spread over a period of time?

不知你们能不能接受在一段时间里分批交货?

13.Could you tell me which kind of payment terms you will choose?

能否告知你们将采用哪种付款方式?

14.Will you please tell us the earliest possible date you can make shipment?

你能否告知我们最早船期吗?

15.Do you take special orders?

你们接受特殊订货吗?

16.Could you please send us a catalog of your rubber boots together with terms of payment payment?

你能给我们寄来一份胶靴的目录并告诉我们付款方式吗?

17.He inquired about the varieties,specifications and price,and so on.

他询问了品种、规格和价格等情况。

Specimen Lette

Dear Sirs,

Thank you for your letter of 25 September.

As one of the largest dealers of garments,we are interested in ladies dresses of alldescriptions.We would be grateful if you would give us quotations per dozen of CIF Vancouver for those items as listed on the separate sheet.In the meantime,we would like you to send us samples of the various materials of which the dresses are made.

We are given to understand that you are a state-owned enterprise and we have confidence in the quality of Chinese products.If your prices are moderate,we believe there is a promising market for the above-mentioned articles in our area.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Canadian Garment Co.Ltd.

先生:

谢谢你们9月25日的来信。

作为最大的服装贸易商之一,我们想购买各种规格的连衣裙。若能按附页所示品种报每打温哥华到岸价,我们当不胜感激。同时,请将各种连衣裙的布样寄给我们。

我们得知你们是一家国有企业,我们对中国产品的质量很有信心。如你方价格合适,我们相信上述商品在我们地区会有很好的市场。

盼早复。

加拿大服装有限公司谨上

Exercises—Complete the following dialogue according to the Chinese sentences.

A:我很高兴有这个机会参观你们公司。我希望能与您谈下大笔生意。

B:很高兴见到您,布朗先生。我想您已经看过我们展示厅里的产品了。可否知道您具体对哪些商品感兴趣?

C:我对你们的五金产品感兴趣。我已看过你们的展示品并仔细看过你们的目录册。我想其中的一些产品很快就能在加拿大畅销。这是我所列的需求单,请给予最优惠的报价,温哥华到岸价。

A:I'm glad to have the opportunity of visiting your corporation.(          ).

B:It's a great pleasure to meet you,Mr.Brown.I believe you have seen our exhibits in the showroom.(          )?

A:I'm interested in your hardware.I've seen the exhibits and studied your catalogues.I think some of the items will find a ready market in Canada.(          ).