The document discusses counter-offers in business negotiations. It provides guidelines on writing counter-offers, including thanking the other party, regretting the inability to accept the initial offer, and making a counterproposal to do business. A sample counter-offer letter is included, reducing the requested price by 5% and hoping the other party will reconsider in view of the long-standing relationship. Reasons are given for not being able to meet the initial price such as it being too high compared to market levels.
2. 1. Counter proposals 2. The outline of a counter-offer 3. The reasons for concession. Main & Difficult Points
3. A satisfactory offer will include following an expression of thanks for an offer or bid; regret that being unable to accept what has been offered and state your reasons ; Make a counteroffer or suggest other opportunity to do business together. Writing Steps
5. 3-3-2-2 Sample Letters A counter-offer for price Dear Sirs, We have received your letter of October 12, offering us 1,000 pieces of Silk Scarf at RMB66.00 per piece CFR Rotterdam or any other European Main Ports on usual terms. In reply, we very much regret to state that our end-users here find your price too high and out of line with the prevailing market level. Information indicates that the price of your products is 10% higher than that of the Japan origin. To step up the trade, on behalf of our end-users, we counteroffer as follows, subject to your confirmation reaching us before the end of this week: Sample Letter 2
6. At RMB58.00 per piece CFR Rotterdam or any other European Main Ports, other terms as per your letter of June 10. It is in view of our long-standing business relationship that we make you such a counter-offer. As the market is declining, we hope you will consider our counter-offer and inform us acceptance at your earliest convenience. Yours faithfully, XXX
8. 4 £® find your price too high ÈÏΪÄã·½¼Û¸ñÆ«¸ß Different Expressions find our prices too low ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñÆ«µÍ find our prices reasonable ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñºÏ find our prices competitive ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñ¾ßÓоºÕùÐÔ find our prices in line with the market ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñ ÓëÊмÛÒ»Ö find our prices workable ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñ¿ÉÐÐ find our prices acceptable ÈÏΪÎÒ·½¼Û¸ñ¿É½ÓÊÜ 5 £® out of line with Ó롲»Ò»Ö in line with Óë¡Ò»Ö 1) Äã·½µÄ¼Û¸ñÓëÏÖÐеÄÊг¡¼Û¸ñÍêÈ«²»Ò»Ö Your price is entirely out line with the price ruling in the present market.
9. 6 £® the prevailing market ÏÖÐÐÊг¡£»ÏÖÐÐÐÐÊÐ Similar Expressions: the present market the current market the ruling market at your earliest convenience ph. ¾¡ÔçµÄ£»Ôç ÈÕµÄ ; Á¢¼´ Similar Expressions at an early date at an early moment as soon as possible by return
10. A reply to the above letter Dear Sirs, Thank you for your letter of 20 October, 2005. We are disappointed to hear that our price for Silk Scarf is too high for you to work on. You mention that Japanese goods are being offered to you at a price approximately 10% lower than that quoted by us. We accept what you say, but we are of the opinion that the quality of the other makes does not measure up to that of our products. Although we are keen to do business with you, we regret that we cannot accept your counter offer or even meet you half way. The best we can do is to reduce our previous quotation by 2%. We trust that this will meet with your approval. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, XXX Sample Letter 3
12. Declining a counter-offer Dear Sirs, We thank you for your letter of October 15. Although we are keen to meet your requirements, we regret that we are unable to comply with your request to reduce the prices to the level you indicated. Even if there is a difference between our prices and those of other suppliers, you will find it profitable to buy from us because the quality of our products is far better than that of other foreign makes available in your district. However, in order to help you to develop business in this line, we are prepared to allow you a discount of 5%, if your order calls for a minimum quality for 5,000 pieces. This is the best we can do. We look forward to receiving your order. Yours faithfully, XXX Sample Letter 4
15. 3-3-5 Practicing Part1 Words and Expressions This part is to practice your ability to use words and phrases correctly
16. Ex1. Translate the following terms and expressions A £® into Chinese 1. make a reduction of 2% 2. counter-suggestion 3. be borne by 4. net profit 5. the prevailing market price 6. much to one¡¯s regret 7. wholesale price 8. step up 9. tie-up of funds 10. the best we can do 1. ½µ¼Û 2% 2. »¹ÅÌ 3. ÓÉ ...... ³Ðµ£ 4. ¾»ÀûÈó 5. ÏÖÐÐÊг¡¼Û¸ñ 6. Òź¶ 7. Åú·¢¼Û 8. ´Ù½ø 9. ռѹ×ʽð 10. ÎÒÃÇÖÁ¶àËùÄÜ×öµÄ
18. Ex2. Fill in the blanks with the words or phrases given in the box. It is impossible for us to persuade our ________to accept your price, as goods of similar quality is easily obtainable at a much lower figure. 2. May we suggest that you make some_________, say 6%, on your quoted prices. 3. We hope you will consider our _________ favorably and cable us your acceptance. 4. Much to our regret, as your price is out of _____with the market level, it is difficult for us to accept it. 5. We can offer you a _________ which is the same price and of similar quality to the goods ordered. end-users allowance counter-offer line substitute turned down satisfactory stock substitute grant counter-offer line heavy allowance end-users
19. 6. If your prices prove reasonable and __________ , we shall soon pass you a large order 7. In view of the _______demand for this line, you will please reconsider our quotation and place an order in time 8. Since our prices are closely calculated, we regret being unable to _______the discount you asked for. 9. Owing to shortage of______, we regret that we are unable to accept your repeat order. 10. We regret to note that you have _________our counteroffer. turned down stock grant heavy satisfactory
20. Ex3. Choose the best answer to complete each of the following Sentences. 1)We _____ your terms satisfactory and now send you our order for sets of the generator. A. find B. believe C. think D. suppose 2)We understand the goods can be supplied_____ stock. A. from B. out . C. in D. out from 3)We look forward to _____ the goods in the fourth quarter. A. delivery of B. your deliver C. deliver D. delivery 4)The buyer suggested that many important orders ______ follow. A. may B. will be to C. will D. should 5)We place this order _______ the understanding that the discount is 10%. A. based on B. with C. on D. through A A A D C
21. 6)As a special attraction to the customers, we are ______ a free gift of a new heater for every order exceeding $1000. A. offering B. giving C. paying D. sending 7)We wish to offer you the new ¡°Rose¡± paint we have _____ to the trade. A. given B. introduced C. recommended D. reported 8)The customers are ___ __ opportunities to alter the program. A. offered B. given C. to be given D. allowed 9)This chemical is made ___ __ a special formula. A. from B. of C. according to D.i n 10)Our display is __ ___ Stand 34, where you will find our new range of furniture. A. in B. on C. at D. under A B B C C
22. Ex4. Put in the missing words Dear sirs, We wish to thank you for your letter of the 20th inst ________us 50 long tons of the _________goods at Stg. 235 per long ton CFR Shanghai, usual terms. £ £ In reply, we very much regret to state that our end-users here find your price too high and out of _______with the prevailing market level. Information indicates that some parcels of Japanese make have been sold at the ________of Stg.228 per long ton. Such being the case it is __________for us to persuade our users to accept your price, as material of similar _______is easily obtainable at a much _______figure. Should you be prepared to reduce your limit by, ______, 8%,we might come to terms. offering captioned line level impossible quality lower say
23. It is in ______of our long-standing business relationship that we make you such a counter-offer. As the market is declining, we hope you will consider our counter-offer most favorably and cable us acceptance at your __________convenience. We are anticipating your early reply. £ £ Yours faithfully, xxx view earliest
24. Part 2 Sentences This part is to test your ability to make sentences correctly . Ex5. Identify one error in each of the following sentences and then try to correct it. 1. Since your price is from line with the prevailing market, it is not possible for the buyers at our end to accept. 2. As soon as we are a position to make an offer for black tea, we shall contact you by cable. 3. As the market is declining, your price is found to the high side. 4. You may rest assured that the goods under Sales Contract No.9898 will be shipped with delay. 5.Replied to your inquiry of July 3 for a supply of Felix stationery, we are pleased to quote as Replying follows. /out in on without Replying
25. 6.We can offer for you various kinds of iron nails. 7.To much our regret, we haven¡¯t got a reply from you about our offer. 8.If you have any enquiries, please let us to know. 9.We can accept your offer until the price is reduced by 4%. 10.Considering the friend business relations between us, we shall grant you a special discount by 10%. unless Much to friendly
29. Part 3 Letters Writing This part is to test your ability to do practical writing. Ex9. Translate the following letter A. into Chinese Dear Sirs, We have carefully studied your letter of July 5. As our two firms have done business with each other for so many years, we should like to grant your request to lower the prices of our underwear. But there are difficulties. Our cost of raw materials has risen sharply in the past three months and to reduce prices by 5 percent as you mentioned could not be done without considerably lowering our standards of quality. This is something we are not ready to do. Instead of 5 percent reduction on underwear, we suggest a reduction of 3 percent on all lines. This way we could manage to make reduction without lowering our quality. We hope you will agree to our counter-offer, and look forward to receiving your orders, as in the past. Yours faithfully, Xxx
32. Dear Sirs, With reference to your letter of July 1st, we regret to learn that since Other suppliers are offering at lower prices, you are unable to accept our offer. Desirous as we are to close more business with you, we feel very regretful that we can¡¯t entertain your counter-offer. The best we can do is to make a reduction of 5% in the previous quotation. We doubt whether the quality of other suppliers is Similar with ours. We hope that your customers should direct their attention to it. We would like you to persuade them to consider not only the price, but also quality .The latter is more important. We look forward to your early reply Yours faithfully, xxx