The Chinese Online Writing Lab

5.17 Price quotations - information services Dear Ms. Smith,

Acknowledgement of information sent

Thank you for your brochure related to autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC). The brochure was quite informative.

Your organization's cooperative intentions

As described in my previous letter, Union Chemical Laboratories' mission in this project is to assist local companies throughout the process of manufacturing ALC products and to obtain necessary technologies through licensing agreements (if such agreements are required). Several of the local companies that we have already been in contact with are interested in the following information. This information will affect their decision as to whether or not to enter in an agreement with your corporation.
1. For a 200m/day plant that produces ALC blocks: What is the total machinery and equipment cost? What is the licensing fee?
2. Same questions as in (1), but for a daily plant capacity of 600m of ALC block and panel.

Please fax this information as soon as possible so that we can reach a preliminary consensus. If everything works out well, a representative from UCL will visit your corporation next month for a demonstration. Thank you for your kind attention.

Sincerely,

Writing exercise

Requesting a price quotation. Using 5.17 on the accompanying software as a model, request a price quotation for a product. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines: Refer to previous correspondence, if any. Describe your organization's interest in this product. Request a price quotation for a particular product. Propose a next step that could be taken after the price quotation is agreed upon.

5.18 Price quotations

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I would like to inquire into the retail prices of zirconium compounds manufactured at your company. I need nine species of zirconium compounds: the product code numbers are attached to this fax transmission.

I am also interested in zirconium hydroxide/oxides stabilized with CeO2, CaO, Y2O2, MgO and TiO2. If these are available, please quote me their retail prices so that I can decide whether these two orders can be combined.

I need roughly 500 grams of each species. By the way, the zirconium compounds are to be used for catalysis research. My department belongs to a non-profit research institute and I was wondering whether this would qualify us for some kind of discount? Thanks.

Sincerely,

5.19 Price quotations - reminders

Dear Miss Thompson,

In our last fax transmission, sent to you on January 11, I expressed UCL's intention of purchasing L.B.R. equipment from ABC Corporation. However, I have not yet received your response. Since procurement for this fiscal year will close at the end of this month, we will need your decision before January 20. Our offices will be closed during January 21-27 for the Chinese New Year.

With regard to the price quotation, please include both the L.B.R. equipment and the associated training fees. A training period held during April or May would be preferable for UCL, if this is convenient with your schedule.I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

5.20 Price quotations - machine installation

Dear Mr. Jones,

Thank you for your facsimile dated August 25 regarding the cost of installing and commissioning our weighing systems. In order to avoid a misunderstanding regarding your quotation, we want to confirm the following points. We hope to have your response as soon as possible:
1. The quoted price is as follows:
* 6 working days plus 2 days allotted for travel
2. Is the V.A.T. included in the price of item "Daily Rate"?
3. The accommodations for your engineer will be based on our previous arrangement.

By the way, we will inform you of the exact installation date once all of the related administrative procedures have been completed.

Your comments on the above points would be highly appreciated. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

5.21 Negotiating price quotations

Dear Mr. Brown,

Thank you for your proposal. We agree that the three-step approach (identify potential candidates, arrange business contacts, and negotiate technology transfer) is necessary. In the past, we cooperated with another consulting company on another technology transfer program. However, their quoted fee was considerably lower than what you have stated. In light of our budget constraints, we would appreciate it if you could reconsider your original quotation.

Sincerely yours,

5.22 Negotiating price quotations

Dear Mr. Smith,

Unfortunately, the total cost you quoted us has turned out to be considerably higher than what we had originally budgeted for. Our original budget was based on information from last year's survey. You may have heard that the PPS (model no.1234) produced by ABC, Inc. is similar to your PPS (model no.1234).

Your retail price far exceeds their quoted price.

We hope that you will reflect upon our circumstances and adjust the quoted price accordingly.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,

NOTE:

Price quotations-information services 資訊服務之議價 belongs to requests for information. Requests for information often include the following:

Mention of your organization's interest in the requested information

Requests for information should not be viewed as merely a means to obtain information. Instead, information requests should be considered as the first step in the identification of the mutual interests of both organizations. For instance, how will the other organization benefit from supplying you with information?
"We intend to explore other possible applications of these films, particularly in the IC, electronics and packaging industries here in Taiwan."
"We plan to file an IND for scopolamine T.D.D.S. with the Bureau of Drugs (Taiwan's counterpart of the FDA). Please provide us with the following documents and samples required by the Bureau."
"Our laboratory is currently developing a flow measurement test rig. Our design consultant suggests the use of ABC valve products on some of the mechanical components. The following is a list of items we are interested in purchasing from your company."

Requesting information

By clarifying your organization's interests, you allow the reader to make a correlation between the interests and goals of both organizations.
"Please send me introductory information as well as other relevant publications that provide information on your strategies, methodologies, achievements, and future objectives?"
"Since our goal closely resembles that of your organization, we would like to develop a partner relationship with your Industrial Material Exchange Service and in this way facilitate information exchange and other possible collaborations."