Chapter 8 Inquiry and Reply

Useful Expressions

We have obtained your name and address from..., and we're writing to ask whether you would be willing to establish business relations with us.
Your favorable reply will be highly appreciated.
We're interested in extending our range and would appreciate your catalogues and quotations.
If your prices are competitive we would expect to place volume orders with you.
We wish/are pleased to inform you that we are specialized in the export of arts and crafts/that we handle a wide range of electric fans.
We're willing to enter into business relations with you on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
We assure you of the best quality and moderate prices of our goods.
Please send your catalogue and price list at your earliest convenience.

Exercises

We introduce ourselves as importers and exporters of light industrial products, having many years experience in this line of business.
We have been buying walnut meat from the local commission houses, who are used to send us quotations regularly.
We take the liberty of writing to you with a hope to get your best offer for Chinese bicycles.
It is gratifying to learn from your letter that you are in a position to supply us with bitter apricot kernels.
The import and export business in China is handled by the state trading corporations.
We have concluded considerable business with Biddle and Sawyer Company in this lane of business.
Your prompt response to this matter will be very much appreciated.
As regards machine tools, we regret to say that we are not able to supply for the time being.
In keeping with our company's growth, to further expand our market, we have decided to establish an office in Dalian.
Please be good enough to provide the necessary information for us.
If your price is competitive, we shall be glad to place a substantial order with you.
This article is of particular interest to us.
Our sales contract provides that the seller shall ship the goods within one month after signing the contract.
Will you please provide Mr. Chadwick with a letter of recommendation, which you think would be useful?
We are gearing our production to your requirements and shall soon be in a position to offer you substantially.
If your price is in line with the market price, we can take large quantities.
There's nothing available at present.
Enclosed please find a copy of our price list.
He owes his success to chance.
Through the introduction of a chamber of commerce, we have learned that you are one of those representative importers of electric goods.

Letter One

Your company has kindly been introduced to us by Messers Freenan&Co. Ltd., Nigeria, as a prospective buyers of Chinese Cotton Piece Goods. As this item falls within the scope of our business activities, we shall be pleased to enter into direct business relations with you at an early date.

To give you a general idea of the various kinds of cotton piece goods now available for export, we enclose a brochure and a price list. Quotations and samples will be airmailed to you on receipt of your specific inquiry.

We're looking forward to your early reply.

Letter Two

Your name and adress were introduced to us by the London Trade Board as a large exporter of fabrics of high quality.

We're importers of quality clothing materials, and have large annual reuqirements from our markets in Spain.

We should be obliged if you would send us your pattern books showing the complete range of these fabrics, together with your price list.

We look forward to the pleasure of hearing from you soon.

Letter Three

We were impressed by the selection of sweaters that were displayed on your stand at the "Menswear Exhibition" that was held in NY last month.

We are a large chain of retailers and are looking for a manufacturer who could supply us with a wide range of sweaters for the teenage market.

If you can meet orders of over 1,500 garments at one time, please send us your current catalogue and price list. We hope to hear from you soon.