QUOTATIONS

PARTS OF A QUOTATION

1. Expressing your thanks for the enquiry

2. Giving details of prices (stating clearly terms of delivery: FOB, CFR, CIF),
discounts and terms of payment

3. Specifying the date of delivery

4. Hoping for early order

A quotation is a promise to supply goods on the terms stated. The prospective buyer is
under no obligation to buy the goods for which a quotation is requested, and suppliers
will not normally risk their reputations by quoting for goods they cannot or do not
intend to supply. A satisfactory quotation will include the following:

 An expression of thanks for the enquiry

 Details of prices, discounts and terms of payment

 Clear indication of what the prices cover, e.g. packing, carriage, insurance

 An undertaking as to date of delivery

 The period for which the quotation is valid

 An expression of hope that the quotation will be accepted.

1
PART I. Sample letters

1. Quotation for aquatite rainwear

Dear Mr. ...

We were pleased to learn from your letter of 15 June of the enquiries you have
received for our raincoats.

Our AQUATITE range is particularly suitable for warm climates, and during the past
year we have supplied this range to dealers in several tropical countries. We have
already had repeat orders from many of them. This range is popular not only because
of its light weight, but also because the material used has been specially treated to
prevent excessive condensation on the inside surface.

We are pleased to quote as follows:

Item Size Quantity Unit Total

Price amount
AQUATITE medium 100 $7.50 750.00
coats men’s
AQUATITE small -do- $6.80 680.00
coats men’s
AQUATITE medium -do- $6.00 600.00
coats women’s
AQUATITE small -do- $5.40 540.00
coats women’s
2,570.00

Less 33 1/3 %Trade Discount 856.66

Net Price 1,713.34

Freight (London to Alexandria) 86.00

Insurance 22.50

TOTAL 1,812.84

Terms: 2½ % one month from the date of invoice

2
 Shipment: within 3-4 weeks of receiving order.

For acceptance within one month.

We feel you may be interested in some of our other products, and enclose descriptive
booklets and a supply of sales literature for distribution among your customers.

We hope to receive your order soon.

Yours sincerely

Comprehension questions

1. Where are AQUATITE products popular?

2. What are AQUATITE’s selling points?

3. How much is one medium-size AQUATITE coat for women?

4. When will the goods be dispatched?

5. What will be enclosed with the letter?

3
2. Quotations for printing paper

Dear Mr. …

We thank you for your enquiry of yesterday and, as requested, enclose samples of
different qualities of paper suitable for poster work.

We are pleased to quote our Printing Paper as follows:

Quality Colour Unit Price per

kg

A1 White $1.21

A2 White $1.15

A3 White $1.10

These prices include delivery at your works.

All these papers are of good quality and quite suitable for poster work. We
guarantee that they will not discolour when pasted.

We can promise delivery within one week from receiving your order, and hope
you will find both samples and prices satisfactory.

Yours sincerely

Comprehension questions

1. When was the enquiry made?

2. What were asked to be enclosed?

3. What are the unit prices?

4. What should be noted about the quality of the paper?

5. When can they deliver the goods?

II. Words and definitions

Make words from the jumbled letters and match them with the definitions below:

a. TMINEROC

4
 b. TEN RCIPE

c. RIGACREA ROFDRAW

d. TNQOAOIUT

e. NREDU PATESRAE VREOC

f. SORSG IERPC

g. LTAYOLY NUTCOSID

1. Condition of sale when the customers pay for the transport of the goods.

2. International used term which indicate which price is being quoted to the customers

3. Price which does not include additional costs such as transport and insurance.

4. Amount taken off the usual price of goods when they are sold to a regular customer.

5. In a separate envelope or parcel

6. Price which includes additional costs such as transport and insurance.

7. Price for work to be done or a service to be provided.

5
III. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words

1. Quotation for potteries

Dear Mrs Croft

Thank you for you enquiry of 14 May (1)........................ our fitness

equipment.

I can (2)........................ that only the highest-quality materials are

used in all our equipment, and this is reflected in our 5-year
(3)........................ .

Our prices are highly (4)........................, due to small profit margins,

so I (5)........................ that we can not offer credit (6).........................
However, we do offer a 5% (7)........................ discount on orders over
$5,000.

I have (8)........................ in enclosing our catalogue and a price list.

Please (9)........................ that all prices are quoted CIF London.

If there is any further (10)........................ you need, please contact us .

Once again, thank you for your letter.

Yours sincerely

6
2. Quotation for oven-to-table ware

Dear M. Morrow

Thank you for your (1)……………… of 28 June in which you expressed an interest
in retailing a selection of our products in your shops in Nancy.

Please find (2)……………… our current catalogue and price list. You might also be
interested in visiting our website.

In (3)……………… to your request for a 20% trade discount, we (4)………………

that we cannot offer more than 15%. However, we do give a 5% (5)………………
discount on orders over $20,000. In comparison with similar companies in the UK,
these terms are extremely (6)………………. Payment would need to be by sight draft
until we have (7)……………… a business relationship.

Finally, we are confident that we can (8)……………… well within the two-month
time limit you (9)……………….

Thank you for your (10)……………….. We hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

J. Merton

Sales Manager

Enc.

7
3. Quotation for delivery vans

Dear Mr. Russell

Thank you for your phone call of Thursday March (1)……………… about hiring
our delivery vans.

My colleague Ms Angela Smith, who took the call, said you were mainly (2)
……………… in 5-ton vehicles like the “Tobor”, so I am (3)……………… our
booklet “small truck hire”, giving you details of our (4)………………. These also
appear on our website at www.vanhire.co.uk. You will (5)……………… that the
summer months of June, July, and August are the least expensive and that we (6)
……………… a 20% discount on weekend hire, starting Saturday at 08.00 and
ending Sunday at 20.00.

Our main (7)………………in the UK are in London and Birmingham, but we also
have (8)……………… in France, Germany, and Italy. If you are thinking of hiring
abroad you will (9)………………details on our website.

Please let me know if I can be of (10)……………… help.

Yours sincerely

Michael Craddock

Transport manager

8
IV. Translation

A. English - Vietnamese Translation

Opening

1. We thank you for your enquiry No.103 dated 13 March, 20- and have pleasure in
submitting our estimates as under.

2. In reply to your enquiry of… we are glad to inform you that we are in a position to
supply you the TL20 television sets.

3. Thank you for your enquiry of… but we regret to say that we have run out of stock
of K135 and for K136 we do not expect delivery until later this month.

Prices, payment and discount

4. We are sending you a copy of our latest price list under separate cover.

5. Because of their low price and the small profit margin we are working on, we shall
not be offering any trade discounts on this consignment.

6. Our usual trade discount is 10%. However, in addition to this, 5% discount is

allowed to the wholesalers provided the minimum order is for 10,000 units.

7. Please note that the above-mentioned prices are FOB Saigon Port excluding
packing.

8. Prices are subject to variation without notice, in accordance with market fluctuation.