ENQUIRIES

An enquiry is a business letter written by a potential buyer requesting for: information, samples,
catalogue, price lists, quotation, delivery time, method of payment, etc.
THE CONTENTS OF AN ENQUIRY
Þ Clarify 3 main things:
Þ How well you know the supplier.
Þ What type of goods/ services you are enquiring about.
What you really want: general information, samples, catalogue, price lists, quotation, etc.
OPENING
1. Address who you are:
E.g. - We are one of the country’s leading trading company dealing with ….
- Our company is a subsidiary of …. and we specialize in ….
2. How you know the supplier
E.g. - We are given your name by ….
- You are recommended to us by ….
- The British Consulate in Vietnam has told us that you are interested in supplying
…
- We are impressed by the selection of ….
MESSAGES
State your enquiries:
• Asking for catalogues, price lists, etc.
Þ Need not to give a lot of information about yourself.
Þ Give your postal address (office address, telephone number, fax, telex, email)
Þ Point out briefly items you request.
E.g. – We are particularly interested in stands suitable for displaying furniture. Could you
please send your current catalogue and price list for exhibition stands?
• Asking for details
Þ State exactly what you want.
Þ Mention the journal/ newspaper + its date (if replying to an advertisement).
e.g. I am replying to your advertisement in the Vietnam News on 25 October. I would like to
know more about the washing machine LG 201 which you are offering at cost price.
Þ Quote the reference (if ordering from a catalogue, a brochure, etc.)
e.g. Could you please give me more information about the tour “2 days in Nha Trang”, which
appears in the Vietnam Traveling section of your summer prospectus?
• Asking for samples, patterns, and demonstrations:
Clarify: - what materials/ items you want to see.
- when you want to see them.
- how you want to see them
e.g. – I would like to discuss the maintenance before deciding which model to install in my
factory. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could arrange for one of your representatives to
call on me within the next two weeks.
- When replying, could you please send/ enclose some samples of the material so that we can
examine the texture and quality.
• Suggesting terms, methods of payment, and discounts:
- Mention that you expect certain concessions.
- Suggest politely that you will place an order if your terms are met.
e.g. – Could you let us know if you allow cash discounts?
- As we intend to place a substantial order, we would like to know what quantity discounts you
allow.
Asking for goods on approval, or on sale or return
- Asking for an estimate or tender.
* This should tell the reader what you want; e.g.
» Please send me... (for things that the organization offers to
send)
» I would be grateful if you could tell me... (for things that
are not normally offered)
» I am writing to enquire whether... (to see if something is
possible)

» I would especially like to know... ( + a more detailed

request)
 » Closing:
» This paragraph should contain a polite expression and/or an expression of thanks to the
reader. The degree of politeness (and therefore the length), depends on how unusual or
difficult your request is. Possible language includes:
» I look forward to hearing from you.
» I am looking forward to hearing from you.
» Thank you very much for your kind assistance.
» I appreciate that this is an unusual request, but I would be
very grateful for any help you could provide. I look
forward to hearing from you.
» If you think the reader might have further questions, you can suggest that he or she
contact you; e.g. 'If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me'.
Exercise 1
Anh/ chị hãy viết một bức thư theo gợi ý sau:
- Anh/ chị ở công ty Golden Gate Engineering, Prince Square, Prince Street, Kowloon
muốn hỏi xem công ty ProSkills Training Centre – địa chỉ: Jubilee Building, Silver Road,
Wan Chai – có thể cung cấp cho các nhà lãnh đạo của công ty mình khóa học Quality
Control không.
- Anh chị đã xem quảng cáo về khóa học này trên tờ HK Daily, ngày 19/ 8/ 2011 (Ref: QC
101) và thấy rất phù hợp. Anh chị muốn có một khóa học 3 tháng bắt đầu vào ngày thứ
tư, 28/8/2011 cho một nhóm 20 người. Anh chị muốn có thêm các thông tin về giáo viên
và lịch học.
- Ngày viết thư là ngày hôm nay.
Exercise 2
Anh/chị hãy viết thư cho bà B.Kaasen, giám đốc bán hàng công ty Worldhouse, 231 Florence,
Italy theo gợi ý sau:
• Qua phòng thương mại VCCI anh/chị biết họ là nhà xuất khuất khẩu máy móc và thiết bị
xây dựng lớn ở Ý.
• Cho họ biết rằng phía anh/chị là 1 công ty TNHH chuyên về xuất nhập khẩu máy móc và
thiết bị xây dựng có trụ sở ở Hà Nội.
• Hiện nay phía anh/chị đang có nhu cầu nhập một số gạch men cao cấp nên đề nghị họ gửi
cho catalo và báo giá mới nhất về các loại gạch men mà họ có.
• Đề nghị họ báo giá CIF Haiphong. Ta có thể mua nhều nếu giá cạnh tranh và chiết khấu
thỏa đáng.
• Anh/ chị có thể thêm các thông tin khác phù hợp với bức thư!