A Simple Business Deal

A series of business letters leading to the conclusion of a transaction usually includes the following sorts of letters: enquiries, replies to enquiries, offers, orders, order confirmations, advice of shipment, complaints and adjustment letters, and agency letters.

All these types of letters will be discussed in details below, but to give a schematic idea of a business transaction, the following simple transaction with short letters has been selected.

1. Enquiry.

St Petersburg, May 30*\20..

Transportmaschinen

Export-Import G.m.b.H.,

64, Mohrenstrasse,

Berlin W 8, BRD

Dear Sirs,

We have seen your advertisement in "General Export" and should be glad to receive your bicycle catalogues with price lists. The prices should be given CEF St Petersburg. If they are competitive we may be able to place larger orders subsequently.

We trust to receive an early reply.

Yours faithfully,

The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd.,

(Sergey Ivanov)

2. Reply to Enquiry. The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd.,

114 Nevsky Prospect,

St Petersburg, Russia

Berlin, June.15^th, 20.

Dear Sirs,

Re.: Your Enquiry of May 30th.

We thank you for your above letter and are pleased to send you our latest catalogue and the current price

list. All our bicycles are of a very good quality. The enamelling can be done in any colour you want.

We shall send you a specified offer as soon as we have your exact requirements.

Yours faithfully,

Transportmaschinen Export-Import G.m.b.H.

(Schulze) (Gebhard)

St Petersburg, July 1^st, 20.

3. Detailed Enquiry.

Transportmaschinen Export-Import G.m.b.H.,

64, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin W 8, BRD

Dear Sirs,

Offer for Trial Order

With pleasure we received your catalogue and have studied it with interest. We should like to have an offer for one piece of your gent's cycle MIFA "Mowe" for a trial order.

If its quality proves to be satisfactory we shall place a big order. The enamelling should be red and green.

We look forward to your offer with interest.

Yours faithfully,

The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd.,

(Sergey Ivanov)

4. Offer.

The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd., 114

Nevsky Prospect,

St Petersburg, Russia

Berlin, July 14^th, 20..

Dear Sirs,

Offer

We thank you for your letter of July 1^st and are pleased to offer as follows:

One piece gent's cycle MIFA "Mowe", green and red enamelling, tyres 28 x 1.75, with bell, saddle, and pump, without lighting set, at USD 95.00

Terms of deliver: Price is quoted CIF St Petersburg cycle packed in seaworthy case, wheels removed²³.

Delivery: Can be effected ex works two weeks after the receipt of your order.

Terms of payment: Establishment of an irrevocable letter of credit with the Deutsche Notenbank, Berlin, in favour of Transportmaschinen Export-Import G.m.b.H., Berlin W 8, Mohrenstrasse 64.

This offer is valid until September 30, 20..

Yours faithfully,

Transportmaschinen Export-Import G.m.b.H.

(Schulze) , (Gebhard)

5. Order.

St Petersburg, July 28, 20.

Transportmaschinen Export-Import G.m.b.H.,

64, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin W 8, BRD

Dear Sirs,

Order No. 279/57

We received your offer of July 14^th and order: 1 gent's cycle "M6we" as specified, at

USD 95.00 - CIF St Petersburg

We are establishing the L/C²⁸ in your favour immediately and ask you to inform us when you can ship the bicycle.

Yours faithfully,

The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd.,

(Sergey Ivanov)

6. Order Confirmation Accompanied by this Letter.

The Modern Cycle Co. Ltd., Berlin, Aug. 15^th, 200...

114 Nevsky Prospect, St. Petersburg, Russia

Dear Sirs,