A proposal to pay by a 30-day letter of credit

Irina Office Equipment 60 Via Roma Milan Italy Dear Sirs, We would like to place an order for 500 Irina 262 electric typewriters at your price of US$300 each, CIF Lagos, for shipment during November/December. We would like to pay for this order by a 30-day L/C. This is a big order involving US$150,000 and, since we have only moderate cash reserves, tying up funds for three or four months would cause problems for us. We much appreciate the support you have given us in the past and would be most grateful if you could extend this favor to us. If you are agreeable, please send us your contract. On receipt, we will establish the relevant L/C immediately. Yours faithfully,		Useful phrases Line 4 Since we have only moderate cash reserves, tying up funds for three or four months would cause problems for us. Line 6 We much appreciate the support you have given us in the past. Line 6 We would be most grateful if you could extend this favor to us. Line 7 If you are agreeable, please send us your contract. Notes Para. 1 Give details of the order. Para. 2 Make the request for the concession, giving the reasons for the request. Para. 3 Refer to past collaboration and urge the vendor to accept the order on the conditions you propose.
Comments The letter is businesslike and to the point. It politely asks for a favor, gives reasons, and holds out the prospect of a sale.	Alternative phrases Line 1      We would like to order . . . Line 3      Because the order is for US$150,000 and we have limited cash resources, . . . Line 6      We are grateful for the support . . . Line 6      ... if you could grant us this concession . . . Line 7      If you agree, . . . Line 7      When we receive it, . . .