FIRM OFFER AND CONFIRMATION

 

Offers are proposals by the seller to invite the buyer to enter business transactions. Agreeing to an offer means that both parties are legally bound to fulfill their duties of the arrangement agreed by them. The offer as stated in a price list must contain details concerning the products involved (product description), prices (unit price and total cost based on the terms of FOB, CIF, or C&F) and time for shipment or delivery. A letter known as Confirmation Letter is written by the seller after a firm offer is accepted by both buyer and seller.

A confirmation letter is a reply to inquiry and order. The seller may correspond with its clients concerning placing orders or request information about his products or services. Responses are thus necessary. It is demanded that the seller must take this opportunity to retain and promote good will for his company. In this case, he may say "yes" to such a request if the conditions are favorable. On the other hand, it is also possible that the seller may say "no" if the conditions are just the opposite. In this letter, the used language must be precise. Even if a seller has the bargain the buyer wants, the buyer will quickly refuse the offer if he feels the terms are too vague. In this letter, the writer should not only draw the buyer's attention to the sold products but also to getting the facts correct.

In addition, you need to write a cover letter to explain what is sent and why when certain type of documents are sent. This type of letters as a valuable record is termed "transmittal letters". In my lecture, a transmittal letter can be a confirmation letter because a cover letter is written to announce your decision about a business and the relevant action being taken.

 

Sample 1/ Sample 2/ Vocabulary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VOCABULARY:

p. 93 Transmitting Payment on Account

1. to transmit: to convey an important message
2. Payment on account:
由銀行代收的付款方式
3. hospital supply business: 醫療用品
4. to arrange credit terms: 付款條件
5. a wholesaler: 批發商 量販電
6. four equal installments: 分四期以同等金額付清的付款方式
installment: 分期付款 down payment: 頭期款
7. to transmit a check: to hand on or to send
8. calculation: to estimate by mathematical methods
9. balance: the amount by which the two sides of a financial account (money spent and money received) differ
收入及支出的差額
10. deluxe: very luxurious or elegant
11. to catch on: to become popular

P. 93 Transmitting Final Payment on Account

1. on a large order; on a small order
2. to make payment on schedule: to make payment on time
3. to transmit the second: to send the second payment

p.95 Transmitting a Contract

1. to lease: to rent
2. a treasure:
總務長
3. to draw up a contract: to plan a write a contract
4. kinks: arguments and negotiations
5. to be ironed out: to be solved or settled
6. to encompass: to include or contain something
7. to assure someone: to promise


p. 96 Transmitting a Program Draft for Approval

1. a program: convention events or agenda 大會的議程及活動表
2. draft: 草稿
3. to approve: to agree or to permit
4. to release: to make known publicly; to offer for sale of a performance i.e.
film, or music album
5. to release the program: to give the program to the printer
6. the printer:
印刷商
7. to turn something over to someone: to give something to someone
8. the layout: the design
美工設計
9. typeface selection: letter styles 鉛字字體
10. logo: emblem ( a type of trade mark)used by a company
11. panel: a team of people selected to judge a contest
panelists: members in such a panel

p.102 Confirming Travel Arrangement

1. an itinerary: a plan for a trip 行程
2. to confirm: to give formal approval; to agree
3. a grand tour: an impressive tour
熱情招待閣下參觀本廠

p.106

1. to commemorate: to honor the memory of someone
2. a bonus: an extra of money given on top of what is due as wages, interest or
dividend
紅利
3. prestigious: respectable and reputable
4. to revere: to show great respect
5. coveted: something to be possessed for a long time
6. pocket watched:
袋表
7. pendant watched: 掛表
8. to identify: to recognize something
9. timepiece: a watch