实用外贸英语4.ppt

Unit Two Inquiries and Offer Inquiry and Reply In international business activities, making inquiries is the initial stage of business negotiations between the buyers and sellers. The purpose of which is to seek a supply of products, services or relative information. 在国际商务活动中，询盘是买卖双方商务洽谈的第一步，其目的在于寻求货源，服务或获得有关信息。 Usually, the buyers make inquiries without any engagement to get information about the goods to be ordered. The sellers, however, can also make inquiries to get information about the goods to be sold, without any engagement, too. 一般来说，询盘往往由买方提出，以得到想购货物的情况，但不承担任何义务。同时，卖方也可以提出询盘，以获得所售商品的信息，当然也不承担任何义务。 The information wanted by the buyers or the sellers usually includes the following elements: 买方或卖方所要了解的主要信息包括以下内容： The supply of commodities 货源情况 The price 价格 The packing 包装 The catalogue 产品目录 The delivery date 交货期 Terms of payment 支付条款 Other terms concerned 其他条款 Inquiries can be made orally or in written form. If the written form is adopted, the person who makes inquiries should remember to consider carefully to which regions the inquiries are to be sent and how many suppliers or purchasers are to be approached in one and the same region. Failure to take into consideration the relevant situation would lead to adverse effect on future transactions. 询盘既可以口头进行，也可以书面形式进行。如采用书面形式，询盘人应认真考虑向哪些地方发出询盘以及在同一地区要与多少供货商或购货商联系。若考虑不周，将对以后的交易产生不良影响。 When writing enquiry letter to your counterpart, there is no need to choose words and phrases carefully to draw the reader’s attention. A request for a price list or catalogue can be made in a single sentence. A request for a quotation of price and other trade terms may need a little longer description, which should be clear and exact. But remember there is no need for long, over-polite phrases and still less humbleness. 向对方发询盘时，无需太讲究措辞来吸引对方注意。索取价格表或目录只需一句话即可；要求提供报价和其他贸易条款时，所需说明