Inquiry-Letter询问信

InquiryLetter--akindofbusinessletterContents•Definition•Structureofaninquiryletter•Tips•Sample•UsefulExpressions•ReplytoInquiryLetter•AssignmentInquiriesAninquiryletterasksthereaderforspecificinformation.Forexample,youmightwritesuchalettertoabusinesstoaskabouttheirproducts,discount,paymentterms,pricesandsoforth.Sinceaninquiryletterrequiresaresponse,itisessentialtomaketheletterspecific,clear,conciseandfriendlysothatthereaderunderstandsiteasilyandprovidestheinformationyouneed.Aninquirymustbeeasyandconvenienttoanswer.StructureofaninquiryletterGernerally,weshouldfollowthefollowingformat:Theintroductoryparagraphintroducesyourselfand,ifappropriate,theinstitutionorfirmyouareworkingfor.Themiddleparagraphsbrieflyexplainwhyyouarewritingandhowyouwillusetherequestedinformation.Thespecificinformationyouneedisthenlisted.Therequestsmaybephrasedasquestionsorasalistofspecificitemsorinformation.Ineithercase,makeeachitemclearandconcrete.•Theconcludingparagraphoffersthereadersomeincentiveforresponding,expressinggratitudeforthereader'sattentiontotheletter,oracknowledgingtheinconvenienceoftherequest.Insomecases,youcanalsoindicatefurtherbusiness,orotherproductsyouwouldbeinterestedinifyouthinktheycouldbesupplied.TipsWhenwritinganinquiry,Østateasourcewhereyoulearnedabouttheitem;Øshowyouareinterestedinonemodelorstatewhatyouarelookingfor;Ørequestinformationaboutcatalogs,cost,discount,stock,payment,delivery,etc;Øsuggestawayinwhichyoucanrewardwhenthereisnoprospectforapotentialsale.Sample1•Inquirybasedonanadvertisementforcassettes•DiscSA•251ruedesRaimonF-8600PloitiersCedex•Tel:[phone]Fax:[phone]•May12,2006•TheSalesDept.•R.G.ElectronicsAG•Havmart601•D-5000Koln1AdressofRequirerAdressoftheAdressee•Dearsir:•WelearnedaboutyourModelH-217pocketcomputerintheJuly3,2009issueofComputerWorldandareconsideringplacinganorder.Beforedeciding,wouldyoupleasetellushowmuchitcostsandhowsoonyoucoulddeliver?Whatisthedeliverycharge?Also,ifweordertenofthemandpayC.O.D.,couldyougiveusadiscount?•Pleasesendyourreplytothisaddress:[e-mail]•Sincerelyyours,•AndyLuItemSourceInformationRequestedSample2(Inquiryfromaretailertoaforeignmanufacturer.)F.lynch&Co.LtdHeadOffice,NessonHouse,NewellStreet,BirminghamB33ELTelephoneNo.:0212366671Fax:[phone]Telex:341641SatexS.p.AViaDiPietraPapa00146RomaFebruary6,2005ItalyDearSirs:WewereimpressedbytheselectionofsweatersthatweredisplayedonyourstandattheMen'sWearExhibitionthatwasheldinHamburglastmonth.Wewerealargechainofretailersandarelookingforamanufacturerwhocouldsupplyuswithawiderangeofsweatersfortheteenagemarket.Asweusuallyplaceverylargeorder,wewouldexpectaquantitydiscountinadditiontoa20%tradediscountoffnetlistprices,andourtermsofpaymentarenormally30-daybillofexchange,documentsagainstacceptance.Iftheseconditionsinterestyou,andyoucanmeetordersofover500garmentsatonetime,pleasesendusyourcurrentcatalogueandpricelist.Wehopetohearfromyousoon.Yoursfaithfully,L.CraneChiefBuyerUsefulExpressionsStartyourinquirywiththefollowingpatterns:üIlearned/heard/readaboutyour…from/through/in…üYournamewasreferred/recommendedtomeby…üIaminterestedinyour…UsefulExpressions①Ourcompanyisasubsidiaryof…andwespecializein…②Weareoneofthemainproducersof…inWuhan,andweareinterestedinyourproducts.③TheBritishEmbassyinBeijingtoldusthatyouwerelookingforanagentinChina.④WewereimpressedbytheselectionofWashingmachinesthatweredisplayedonyourstandatthisyear'sGuangzhouTradeFairs.⑤WeweregivenyournamebytheTradePromotionAssociationofHubeiProvince.⑥Wewereadvisedby…thatyouaretheleadingmanufacturerof…inEurope.⑦Couldyoupleasesendyourcurrentcatalogueandprice-listforexhibitionstands?Weareparticularlyinterestedinfurnituredisplaystands.⑧......SamplequestionsüWouldyoupleasesendmeacatalog/brochure?üWouldyoupleasetellmehowmuchtheunitpriceisandhowsoonwouldyoudeliver?üHowmanydoyouhaveinstock?üCouldyouofferusadiscountof10%ifweorderadozen?ReplytoInquiryLetterStructureofareplyTheintroductoryparagraphopenswithappreciationtotheinquirerforhis/herinquiry,acknowledgementofhis/herletterandquotinganyotherreferencesthatappear.Themiddleparagraphsfocusongivingdetailedinformationaboutwhathasbeeninquiredbytheinquirer,forexample,prices,samples,discountsandpaymentterms.Theconcludingparagraphexpressesthanksfortheinquirer'swritingtheinquiryletterifyouhavenotdonesointhebeginningoftheletterandencouragefurtherinquiriesorfuturecooperation.TipsHerearethecontentsofaninquiryreply:Thanktheinquirerandacknowledgetheinterestinyourcompany.Supplythespecificfactsrequested./Giveanexplanationifyoucannotsupplytheitemand,ifpossible,suggestanalternative.Encloseabrochure.Callattentiontotheparticularsofthebrochuretoencourageasale.Sample1•DearMr.Lu:•ThankyouforaskingaboutourModel-217pocketcomputer.Thisnewmodelisthebestsellerinthisseasonbecauseofitsexcellentperformanceandreasonableprice.•TheunitpriceforthismodelisRMB5,500,butifyouorder10ofthismodel,wemightgiveyoua10%discount.Wecoulddeliverwithin3to5daysofyourorder,andthedeliverychargewouldbeRMB200.•Ifyouneedmoreinformation,pleaseletusknow.•Sincerelyyours,•SusanChangT