2. Read the letter where exporter informs prospective customer of packing and marking procedures

Farmers Food Products

Taunton, Somerset

England

30^th January 2011

Robers Import Company

Avenue Rio Branco 278

Rio de Janeiro

Dear Sirs

We thank you for your letter of 20^th January, and can confirm that we are still offering our range of luxury food at the prices quoted in our initial offer to you.

We understand your concern with packing, and can assure you that we take every possible precaution to ensure that our products reach our customers all over the world in prime condition.

For your information, ‘Ariel’ caviar is packed as follows:

Each jar is wrapped in tissue paper before being placed in its individual decorative cardboard box. The boxes are then packed in strong cardboard cartons, twelve to a carton, separated from each other by corrugated paper dividers.

The cartons are then packed in strong wooden crates. Since the crates are specially made to hold twenty-four cartons, there is no danger of movement inside them. In addition, the crates are lined with waterproof, airtight material. The lids are secured by nailing, and the crates are strapped with metal bands.

In the case of consignments being sent to you, transshipment at Buenos Aires will be necessary, so each case will be marked with details required by the Argentinean authorities, as well as with your own mark, details of weights, etc., and symbols representing the following warnings and directions:

USE NO HOOKS, STOWAWAY FROM HEAT, and DO NOT DROP.

We hope this has answered your questions, and look forward to receiving orders from you.

Yours faithfully

Dispatch Department

3. Write a letter from your firm to an English engineering firm, ordering a special machine. Give packing and marking instructions.

4. Send an order to a Swiss manufacturer of optical instruments, giving full packing instructions. Talking point

1. A. Read the liabilities of the parties under the contract.

The seller’s liabilities under the contract: to deliver the goods on time and in perfect condition; to ensure that the title to the goods is transferred to the buyer – in other words, the seller has to make sure that the buyer becomes the owner of the goods. This is normally done by passing a special document, the document of title, to the buyer.

The buyer’s liabilities are: to accept delivery of the goods (this prevents him changing his mind after the goods have been sent); to pay for the goods within the time agreed.

If one party doesn’t fulfill its liabilities, the contract is broken (this is called breach of contract). In this (case the other party (the injured party) can claim compensation.

B. Read the following situations. Discuss with your partner if a breach of contract has taken place? If so, how? If not, why not?

1. Mail order company sent some goods to Mr. Williams. However, he refused to accept delivery of them as they had not been ordered.

2. Mr. Abraham ordered 20 televisions from a company selling electrical goods. However, he had to return one of the televisions because it didn’t work.

3. Mr. Watson refused to pay the full price for a customised machine he had ordered, because it didn’t exactly meet the specifications he had given.

4. Mr. Adams sent a free sample of wine glasses to a potential new customer. Unfortunately, the package burst open in the post and the glasses were broken.

5. Mr. Wright sent some spare parts to an airline. However, a series of staff strikes brought the airline into financial difficulties and his invoice was only paid six months later.