Situation 2：Writing“Replying to an Inquiry”
A prompt reply may well be appreciated. Different areas have different timings, therefore, for customers from China, Japan, Korea or Australia, an immediate reply letter after receiving the inquiry letter is needed, but for customers from India, reply before 11 o'clock.As for customers from the Middle East, reply before 1pm.For customers from Europe, reply before 3 pm.And reply before 5 pm for customers from America, Canada, Mexico and other American or Latin-American countries.But sometimes, some inquiry letters are mass mailings or defrauding letters which requires caution and patience.Below are some reply samples of various customers and inquiry letters.
Sample 1：To Uncertain Buyers
Dear Mr. Matheson，
Thanks for your letter. Large companies such as Wall-mart, now take our company as their reliable supplier of child's clothes.
For a cost equating to ABC Company, your customers will be able to save cost by 5%.
We are reliable supplier and have passed COC and WRAP. You can select from an abundant variety of stylish child's clothes of good quality at very reasonable prices.
Best regards，
Maggie
Sales manager
F&L Co.，Ltd.
Notes：
An inquiry letter without definite purchase list may be attracted by some simple and direct questions. Do not provide detailed information and prices.
Sample 2：To Negotiating Buyers
Dear Mr. Lee，
We are very pleased to receive your email. You asked about the FOB Hong Kong price（100%L/C at sight）for the children's zipped hooded sweater.Would you please tell me the MOQ?And do you have any specific quality requirements for the products?
We are the supplier of Chouchou（a famous Chinese brand）and Disney. The design and quality are perfect.Enclosed are our best-selling products catalogue.We look forward to your earliest feedback.
Warm Regards，
Janice
Sales manager
Qunli Garment Cooperation
Notes：
Price inquiry would list price as the key and the trickiest problem in trading. But quotation may not be the first topic of discussion, whereas the purchase power and buyer's specialty will affect the price negotiation strategy.
Sample 3：To Big Buyer
Dear Mr. Nelson，
Thank you for the email. Here below are the quotations of the T-shirts you mentioned（Table2-1、Table2-2）.
Table2-1
Table2-2
Enclosed are our most popular products.
Awaiting your prompt reply.
Cengiz Dana
Sales supervisor
O&OU Co.，Ltd.
Notes：
Big buyers care about prices less than small ones, as long as the suppliers meet their requirements. To be professional in quotation, products, market and in foreign trade will help you get the business done in a blink.
Sample 4：To A Purposeful Buyer
Dear Mrs. Adrian，
I sent 2 samples via FedEx this morning. The tracking No.is******，please take note.Thanks！
As for the unit price, I had a long and arduous talk with the factory after receiving your mail. The factory and I ended up meeting each other half-way, to reduce the unit price to$19/Piece.The following are the quotation details for your review（Table2-3）：
Table2-3
Client： Date：
Style：Girls'Skirt Style No：
Exchange
Total 55. 79 Rate6.2，USD9.0
An early reply will be much obliged.
Best regards，
Peter Lee
Sales manager
Sunshine Sand
Notes：
For inquiry letter with a clear purpose, right product and confidence are two keys to success. Send out a persuasive quotation to the buyer and list him or her into your contact book.
Exercise：
1.According to the former inquiry letter you wrote in Lesson 1，please write a reply letter.
2.Can you list the differences among different buyers?
3.If you reply to an inquiry letter but receive no letter afterwards, what would you do?
Words and Expressions
abundant 丰富的、充裕的
appreciate 欣赏、感激、鉴别
arduous 努力的、费力的
caution 小心、谨慎
consumption 消费
definite 确切的、确定的
defraud 诈骗
equate 使相等
feedback 反馈、回复
fob 船上交货
garment wash 衣服水洗
iron 熨斗
mass 大量
moq 最小订货量
mutually 互相地
negotiation 谈判
oblige 迫使、帮忙
patience 耐心
persuasive 有说服力的
profit 利润
purposeful 有目的的、有决心的
quotation 报价
reliable 可靠的
requirement 需要
stylish 时髦的
supervisor 监督人、管理人
supplier 供应商
timing 时间控制、时机
tracking 追踪、跟踪