In this lesson， you should learn some points about enquiries， such as the basic knowledge of translating or understanding enquiries， and grasp how to write a good and effective reply letter.

　　1.Brief introduction of enquiries and replies（簡介）

　　An enquiry is the first step during the negotiation of a contract. It can be sent and received when a buyer or a seller wants some information. A buyer usually makes an enquiry to invite a quotation or offer from the seller in order to buy a certain commodity or obtain a kind of service. Reply letters answer questions， supply specific information and attempt to meet the needs of those who make the requests. Therefore writing of enquiries has become the general practice in international business correspondence.

　　2.How to write enquiries and replies

　　Good enquiries and replies usually have the following essential writing strategies：

　　1. Enquiries should state simply， clearly， specifically and concisely what you want.

　　2. Begin the letters with the questions you want to ask： the goods needed， usual terms of trade， catalogues， price lists， samples， quotations， etc.， so as to enable the seller to quote or offer the correct goods.

　　3. In an enquiry， such expressions as “Please quote your best prices”， “Your quotation is favorable” or “Should your prices be competitive”， are often used.

　　4. Replies to enquiries should be prompt， courteous， objective， and entire， and contain all the information your customer required .You‘d better assure your clients that you have full confidence in your product or service.

　　Introduction

　　Inquiries for information about goods are sent and received in business all the time. Briefly speaking ，when a businessman intends to import， he makes enquiries.

　　Inquiries mean potential business， so both the buyer and the seller should take great care in writing or replying to them. When making an enquiry， begin with the question

　　you want to ask， your reader then knows at once what your enquiry is about. Keep your enquiry short and to the point. If a prospective customer approaches sellers for the

　　first time， it is useful to tell them something about his or her own business the kind of goods he or she needs and for what purpose they are required. In the case of

　　customers of long -standing or repeat orders， the inquiry may be very simple. Often a phonecall or a printed enquiry form will do.

　　A first inquiry——a letter sent to a seller with whom you have not previously done business——should include：

　　1. A brief mention of how you obtained your potential supplier‘s （or seller’s） name. Your source may be an embassy， consulate or chamber of commerce； you may have seen the goods in question at an exhibition or trade fair； you may be writing as the result of a recommendation from a business associate， or on the basis of an advertisement in the daily， weekly or trade press.

　　2. Some indication of the demand in your area for the goods which the supplier （or seller） deals in.

　　3. Details of what you would like your prospective supplier to send you. Normally you will be interested in a catalogue， a price-list， discounts， method of payments， delivery times， and， where appropriate， samples. When you have many points on which information is required， it may be useful to enumerate your inquiry.

　　4. A closing sentence to round off the inquiry.

　　First inquires must be acknowledged promptly and a reply to a first inquiry should be handled with special care in order tocreate goodwill.

　　Sentence Structures and Examples（例句）

　　Structure 1

　　be interested in …（對……感興趣）

　　We believe that you will be interested in doing business with customers like us.

　　我們相信你方會有興趣與我們這樣的客戶打交道。

　　We are interested in the desk lamps you advertised in the March issue of “China Daily”。

　　你們在3月份《中國日報》上刊登的臺燈廣告，我們很感興趣。

　　We have the pleasure to know that you are interested in our “Double Deer” Brand canvas shoes.

　　很高興獲悉你方對我們的“雙鹿”牌帆布運動鞋感興趣。

　　Structure 2

　　We shall appreciate it very much if you …（如果你方……我們將不勝感激）

　　We shall appreciate it very much if you send us a catalogue of your products together with price lists and the largest discount you can allow us.

　　如果你方寄上一份產品目錄，以及價格單和可給予的最大折扣，我們將不勝感激。

　　Structure 3

　　Thank you for your…（感謝你方……）

　　Thank you for your enquiry of August 12 for the captioned goods.

　　感謝你方8月12日對標題項下貨物的詢盤。

　　Structure 4

　　Please inform us whether you…（請告知貴公司是否……）

　　Please inform us whether you can guarantee your products.

　　請告知貴公司是否愿意對產品加以保證。

　　Structure 5

　　If your quotation is favorable/ Should your prices be competitive

　　（如果你方價格優惠/極具競爭力）

　　If your quotation is favorable， we shall place a trial order with you.

　　如果你方價格優惠，我們將下試單。

　　Should your prices be competitive， you will have the opportunity to obtain a large order from us.

　　如果你方價格極具競爭力，將會有機會從我處獲得大量訂單。