Chapter 7 Inquiry and offer

 

Language Focus

 

•          Could you give us some idea of your price?

•          Can I have your (a copy of) price list?

•          By how much will you reduce the price if we order 1,000 units or more?

•          Do you offer FOB or CIF?

•          Could I have a firm offer for this item?

•          What is the unit price of this type of item?

•          Are you able to provide quotations for all the items we need?

 

•          How many cotton sheets can you supply at present?

•          What’s the minimum quantity of an order?

•          What is the minimum we would have to order?

•         How long does it usually take you to make delivery?

•         Could you make prompt delivery?

 

•         Is it possible to effect shipment during September?

•         Could you deliver the goods sooner?

•         Could you advance the date of shipment?

 

•          We’re willing to make you a firm offer at this price.

•          We can offer you a quotation based upon the international standard/market price.

•          My offer was based on a reasonable profit expectation, not on wild speculations.

•          Let me make you a special offer.

•          We have the offer ready for you.

•          We will give you a firm offer by 11 a.m. tomorrow.

•          This offer will remain open/firm/valid for three days

 

•          We can only supply you with 20,000 yards of pure silk.

•          This is the maximum quantity we can supply t present.

•          We will try to meet your request for the additional 10,000 tons of coal.

•          Small orders are also welcome.

•          I’m sorry. We can only supply you with 1,000 sets at present.

 

•          I’m sure that shipment will be effected according to the contract stipulation.

•          I’m sorry that we can’t advance the time of delivery.

•          We can guarantee delivery within three weeks.

•          Your order is being shipped via FedEx and should arrive in two days.

•          Under normal conditions, we’ll deliver the goods within two weeks after the receipt of the order.

 

 

•          You ask for at least 5% more than your competitors do.

•          We are happy to accept your offer provided that you cut your price by 2%.

•          We can’t accept your offer unless the price us reduced by 5%.

•          No other suppliers have offered prices higher than yours.

•          We think your offer is too high. We’re afraid we won’t have any margin.

•          Your offer is reasonable and realistic. It’s in line with current market price.

•          If you are unable to decrease your price and can’t make any concessions, there won’t be much point in further discussion.

•          Still, I think it unwise for either of us to become entrenched on price.

•          If the price is any higher than $1,000, we’d rather call the whole deal off.

 

•          You would save a lot if you order a little more. We offer a discount for large orders.

•          May I suggest that you cut the quantity of your order by half?

•          Is there a minimum order?

•          Can you give us an additional 200 cases?

•          If the quantity is too small, there is no discount.

 

•          Is there any way to make the shipment earlier?

•          I’m terribly worried about late shipment.

•          Unless we receive the goods we ordered within the next seven days, the order will be canceled and placed elsewhere.

•          As we are in urgent need of these articles, could you manage to speed up delivery?

•          The goods we ordered are seasonal goods, so it would be better if you could ship them in one lot.

 

•          We regret we have to decline your offer.

•          I’m afraid the offer is unacceptable.

•          Your price is too high to interest us in entering a negotiation.

•          I appreciate your position, but we simply can’t afford to accept your price.

•          Compared with prices quoted by other suppliers, yours is not workable.

•          We thank you for your offer, but regret to say that your price is not acceptable.

•          Your counter-offer is too low. I’m afraid we can’t accept it.

•          The margins are too low. We won’t make any money. I’m sorry, we’ll have to drop the deal.

 

•          We can’t handle an order that small.

•          We can’t split a case to fulfill your order. Could you take the whole case?

•          We’re not interested in small orders.

•          We can’t supply you with such a large quantity at present.

•          I’m afraid we’re not able to supply as much as require.

•          It’s not acceptable to have the goods unloaded at Hamburg.

•          We don’t think it’s a good idea to unload the Chinese teas in London.

•          The delay in delivery will cause inconvenience.