Task 2 Study the sample phrases that might be helpful when a customer decides to place an order.
Opening and acknowledging an order 1. Thank you for your reply of 14 May regarding our email about the mobile phones. Enclosed you will find our official order (No.B561) for… 2. I would like to place a trial order for the material we discussed at the trade show last month. Please find enclosed… 3. Thank you for your order No.338B which we received today. We are now dealing with it and you may expect delivery within the next three weeks. 4. Your order No. 6754/3 is now being processed and should be ready for dispatch by the end of this week.
Terms of payment, delivery and packing 1. We would like to confirm that payment is to be made by irrevocable letter of credit, which we have already applied to the bank for. 2. …and we agreed that payments would be made against quarterly statements… 3. We would like to thank you for the 30% trade discount and 10% quantity discount you allowed us. 4. Finally, we would like to confirm that the 25% trade discount is quite satisfactory. 5. …and we will certainly take advantage of the cash discounts you offered for prompt settlement 6. Delivery before 28 February is a firm condition of this order, and we reserve the right to refuse goods delivered after that time. 7. Please send the goods by express freight as we need them urgently. 8. Each piece of crockery is to be individually wrapped in thick paper, packed in straw, and shipped in wooden crates numbered 1 to 6. 9. The carpets should be wrapped, and the packing reinforced at both ends to avoid wear. 10. The machines must be well greased with all movable parts secured before being loaded into crates.
Delays in delivery and refusing an order 1. I was surprised and sorry to hear that your consignment (order No.B145) had not reached you. On enquiry I found that it had been delayed by a local dispute on the cargo vessel on which it had been loaded. I am now trying to get the goods transferred to the SS Samoa, which is scheduled to sail for Yokohama before the end of next week. I shall keep you informed. 2. I am writing to tell you that unfortunately there will be a three-week delay in delivery. This is due to a fire at our Greenford works which destroyed most of the machinery. Your order has been transferred to our Slough factory and will be processed there as soon as possible. I apologize for this delay, which is due to circumstances beyond our control. 3. We no longer manufacture this product as demand over the past few years has declined. 4. We are sorry to say that we are completely out of stock of this item and it will be six weeks before we get our next delivery, but please contact us then. 5. We would only be prepared to supply on a cash basis. 6. As there is heavy demand at present, we have very few of these products in stock. It is extremely unlikely that we will be able to deliver within the next four months. 7. I am sorry to say that we must turn down your order as we have full order books at present and cannot give a definite date for delivery. 8. Delivery cannot possibly be guaranteed within the time given in your letter. 9. It would be uneconomical for us to offer our products at the discounts you suggest as we work on a fast turnover and low profit margins. 10. The discount you asked for is far more than we offer any of our customers. 11. We only accept payment by Letter of Credit. 12. We are a small company and couldn’t possibly handle an order for 20,000 units. 13. Unfortunately, our factory does not have facilities to turn out 30,000 units a week. 14. Our factory only sells material in 30-metre rolls which cannot be cut up.
Closing 1. We hope that this will be the first of many orders we place with you. 2. If our sales targets are met, we shall be placing further orders in the near future. 3. I look forward to receiving your shipment/confirmation. Task 3 Read the covering letter and the order form and answer the questions:
1. On whose terms are F. Linch & Co. paying? 2. If any of the sweaters they have ordered are out of stock, would they accept alternatives? 3. How soon do they want the sweaters? 4. In the email enquiry Mr Crane suggested that he might place orders for over 500 sweaters, but this order is for only 150. Why do you think it is relatively small? 5. Which reference identifies the sweaters? 6. What sort of discounts has been agreed? 7. By when should the order be delivered? 8. If F. Lynch & Co. have further correspondence with Satex on this order, what reference would they use? Unit 6
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