_Unit Five

Enquiries

Making Enquiries

--To learn ways of making an enquiry. - -To learn useful terms and expressions

for making enquiries.

--To practice writing letters of enquiry.

What is Enquiries?

• 介绍• 如果一个商人想购买某种商品，他就会发出询问，以获得服务或相关该商品的相关信息。这种情况下，他就是一个买者或可能成为买者。有些公司就是通过写询问函来开始他们的业务的。询问可通过书信、传真、电子邮件、电话或面对面进行。询问意味着买方愿意与卖方做生意。

Generally an enquiry includes many parts:• the name of goods• quality• quantity • terms of price• terms of payment • time of shipment • packing methods, etc. • If possible, tell the reader where you learnt of his company or its products.

-----Kinds of enquiry

Kinds of enquiry(1)• General enquiry • In which the buyer hopes to get the gener

al information about the goods he wants to buy from the seller.

Kinds of enquiry(1)

• Dear Sir/Madam,• Thank you very much for your letter of December 12th from wh

ich we know that you are exporting Electric Products. We have an enquiry here for your products and their packing in detail as soon as possible for our reference. We would also like to have your price list.

• We will really appreciate it if you quote us your most favorable terms.

• Yours faithfully,

Sample 1 A General Enquiry

Kinds of enquiry(1)• 亲爱的先生 / 女士• 非常感谢您 11 月 12 日的来件，从而得知您们是一个电器出口公司。• 本次询盘，希望贵公司能尽快提供公司产品，以及产品包装的细节以我们供参考。• 同时，我们也希望得知产品的具体价格单• 如果您们给我们最优惠条件 将不胜感慨。• 您们真诚的伙伴至上

Sample 1 A General Enquiry

Kinds of enquiry(2)• Specific inquiry• In which the buyer hopes that the seller ca

n quote prices for specific commodities 商品, .

Kinds of enquiry(2)• Dear Sir/Madam, • Thank you for your fax of August 8, 2005 from which we learn that you a

re an exporter of medicine.

• Please quote the lowest prices on CIF(=cost insurance and freight) Sea for the following:

• 1. 2 MT Vitamin E 50%• 2. 4 MT Vitamin B complex • Packing: 25KGS/BAG• Terms of payment: By Irrevocable L/C at sight• Time of Shipment: September 20th, 2005• Your prompt reply will be appreciated.• Yours faithfully,

Sample 2Specific Enquiry

Kinds of enquiry(2)• 亲爱的先生 / 女士• 感谢您 2005 年 8 月 8 日的来电。从而我们得知贵公司是一家药品出口公司• 请报价以下药品最低海运到岸价格• 1. 2 MT Vitamin E 50%• 2. 4 MT Vitamin B complex • 包装要求： 25 公斤 / 袋• 付款方式：既付不可撤销信用证• 运送截止时间： 2005 年 9 月 20 日• 期盼您的及时回电，• 您真诚的朋友

Sample 2Specific Enquiry

– obtain...from: 从……获悉；从……得悉• e.g. I obtain your name from an old friend of mine. • Commercial Counselor’s Office: 商务参赞处• establish: 建立• e.g. establish business relationships 建立贸易关系 establish new business 开拓新业务 – extend: 延长，扩展，给予

• e.g. We would like to extend our business with you in this line.

• quotation: 报价 ( 常与之连用的动词有 make, send, give, cable,… 后常跟着介词 for, 少数情况下买方提及卖方的报价时用 of 。 )

• e.g. Please make (send, give, cable) us your quotation for 300 cups.

• enter into business relationships: 建立贸易关系– latest: 最新的，最近的

• e.g. This is the latest fashion. 0

• irrevocable confirmed Letter of Credit: 不可撤消保兑信用证 ( 如果一张信用证除了开证行的付款保证之外，还有另一家银行作了付款保证，那么这个信用证就是保兑信用证。经过保兑的信用证被称保兑信用证，对信用证加以保兑的银行称保兑银行。只有在不可撤消信用证上，才能加以保兑，成为保兑的不可撤消的信用证。 )– leading dealer/largest dealer: 最大 ( 主要 ) 经营者

• e.g. leading department stores (importers, exporters, etc.) 大百货商店 ( 进口商、出口商 )

– our products are of best quality: – 句中 of 是表示特征的介词。句子相当于 our pro

ducts are best in quality 意为“我们的产品质量上乘”– for your reference: 供你参考

• 类似的表述： for your guidance; for your information; for your consideration

• e.g. A market survey will be sent to you for your reference.

总结

• 介绍• 在国际贸易中，当一家公司想打开某种商品的销路或向其他公司购买东西时，该公司的主管人员首先要查明他将同谁打交道，然后和相关公司建立业务关系。要获得此类信息通常可通过以下几种途径：• 银行• 外国商会• 贸易行行名录• 中国驻国外商务处• 同业商行等• 广告

• 在发出询问时，确保将自己的意思表达清晰以避免获得错误的信息。通常情况询问包括以下几个部分：商品名、质量、数量、价格条款、支付条款、装运时间、包装方式，等等。如果可能的话，告诉对方你是从哪里获得有关其公司及产品信息的。• 在写询问函时要表示出你的礼貌来，用诸如“请”或“不禁感激”等词语表述。

写作规则

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