Inquiry

Proses terjadinya suatu transaksi dalam dunia perdagangan pada umumnya dimulai
dengan surat permintaan keterangan (Letter of inquiry). Surat permintaan keterangan adalah
surat yang dikirimkan oleh calon pembeli kepada pihak penjual untuk mendapatkan keterangan
dan perincian barang atau produk yang ingin dibeli. Keterangan yang diminta biasanya antara
lain :
- Price-list/Daftar harga
- Sample of products/contoh produk
- Quotation / penawaran
- Terms of payment/ syarat- syarat pembayaran
- Terms of delivery/ syarat-syarat pengirim
- Method of transport/ cara pengiriman
Karena surat permintaan keterangan merupakan suatu proses awal terjadinya suatu
transaksi perdagangan, maka surat ini harus ditulis dengan sopan, jelas, singkat, dan langsung
pada tujuan.

Maksud/tujuan membuat surat :

1. Untuk meminta katalog dan keterangan- keterangan .

2. Menanggapi iklan, baik dimajalah atau surat kabar dan minta keterangan mengenai
produk,katalog,daftar harga, dan contoh barang atau produk.
Ungkapan-ungkapan yang lazim dalam “letter of inquiry”:

A. Opening Paragraph
- We should be pleased/glad if you could send us your latest catalogue.
Kami sangat senang/gembira jika saudara dapat mengirimkan kepada kami katalog
saudara yang terakhir.
- Please let us have your illustrated catalogues, terms of payment and terms of delivery.
Harap kirimkan pada kami katalog-katalog bergambar, syarat-syarat pembayaran
dan syarat-syarat pengiriman .
- We are interested in your products and should be pleased if you could send use your
catalogue, price-list and terms of payment.
Kami tertarik dengan produk-produk saudara dan kami merasa senang jika saudara
dapat juga mengirimkan pada kami katalog, daftar harga, dan syarat-syarat
pembayaran.
- We have seen your products at your stand at Jakarta fair and should be pleased if you
could send us your latest catalogues and price-list.
Kami sudah melihat produk-produk saudara pada stand saudara di Pekan Raya
Jakarta dan kami sangat senang jika saudara dapat mengirimkan pada kami katalog-
katalog saudara yang terakhir beserta daftar harganya.
 - We have seen your advertisement in Jakarta Times and should be glad if you could
send us your catalogues and price-list.
Kami sudah melihat iklan saudara disurat kabar Jakarta Times dan kami sangat
senang jika saudara dapat mengirimkan pada kami katalog-katalog berserta daftar
harganya.
- With reference to your advertisement in Jakarta Times I read a few days ago, would
you please send us your catalogues, price-list and terms of payment.
Berkenaan dengan iklan saudara di surat kabar Jakarta Times yang saya baca
beberapa hari yang lalu, sudilah kiranya saudraa mengirimkan katalog-
katalog,daftar harga dan syarat-syarat pembayarannya.

B. Requesting Information
- We would like to know whether you can offer us a special discount.
Kami ingin mengetahui apakah saudara dapat memberikan kami potongan khusus.
- Please let us know your terms of payment.
Harap beritahukan pada kami syarat-syarat pembayaran saudara.
- Would you please let us know whether you can offer us a special discount for this
month.
Sudilah kiranya saudara memberitahu kami apakah saudara dapat memberikan kami
potongan khusus untuk bulan ini.

C. Closing Paragraph
- We should be pleased to receive your prompt replay.
Kami akan sangat senang menerima jawaban saudara secepatnya.
- We look forward to receiving your replay.
Kami akan menunggu jawaban saudara .
- We should appreciate your prompt replay.
Kami sangat menghargai jawaban saudara secepatnya.
- We look forward to receiving your reply immediately.
Kami menunggu balasan saudara dengan segera.
- We hope you will be able to send us reply by return.
Kami harap saudara akan dapat mengirim kami jawaban dengan segera.
 Contoh 16.

PT. MULTISAFARI INTERNATIONAL

Jln. Jend.Sudirman No.15
Surabaya 20002

Ref: AA/NA/12A
21st October, 20.....

Johnson Allwood & Sons

25 Bridgestone Street
New York, NY 239001
USA

Dear Sirs,
We have seen some of your excellent men’s belts products
exhibited at World Expo in New York last week. As we are
interested in your Belly men’s belts, Would you pleased send
us your latest catalogues, price-list and terms of payment.
We appreciate your prompt reply.
Yours faithfully,

Anwar S. Abdullah
Purchase Manager

Answer the following question.

a. Who is the Purchase Manager of PT. Multi Safari International?

b. Where did Mr. Abdullah see the products of Johnson Allwood & Sons?
c. Where was the WorLd Expo held?
d. What did Mr. Abdullah ask for in his letter?
e. What are the products of Johnson Allood & Sons?
Contoh 17.

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL TRADING LTD

Jln. Irian Jaya Satu No.23
Jakarta 10009

7th May, 20....

PT. Multi Jaya Abadi
132 Jln. Maphilindo Raya

Dear Sirs,

We visited your stand at the Indonesia Trade Fair five days ago and
we was very insterested in your Montana ladies shoes displayed at the Fair.
We should be pleased if you would send us your catalogues of your
complete ranges of the ladies shoes, price-list, and terms of payment. Perhaps
at the same time you could let me know the time required after you received
the order. If they are competitive and the terms are satisfactory, we may
place our reguler orders in future .
Your faitfully,

Hassan M. Salim
Purchase Manager

Answer The following question .

a. What is the position of Mr. Hassan M. Salim?
b. When did Mr.Hassan M. Salim visit the stand of PT. Multi Jaya Abadi?
c. What did Mr. Hasan M.Salim ask for ?
d. When was the letter typed?
e. Did Mr. Hasan M. Salim interested to buy the products of PT. Multi Jaya Abadi?
 Contoh 18.

SINGAPORE TRADING LIMITED

26 Payalebar Street
Singapore 20001
23rd July, 20........
Marketing Manager
Maestro International Inc.
143B Jln. Semanggi Raya
Jakarta 10009

Dear Sir,

With reference to your advertisement in today’s Jakarta Times,

would you please send us your color catalogue with full details of prices and
terms of payment of your quality futniture and lightings.
We should also be grateful for a quotation for 100 units of table
MZ5 and lighting TU 25Z c.i.f Jakarta.

We should be pleased to have your reply promptly.

Your s faithfully,

Robert T. Lee
Purchase Manager

Answer The following question .

a. Who is the Purchase Manager of Singapore Trading Limited ?
b. In what newspaper was the furniture advertised ?
c. When was the furniture advetised ?
d. What is the address of Maestro International ?
e. For many units of table does Mr. Robert Lee ask for quotation ?

Language study:
- Pleased send me/us.
Harap kirimkan pada saya/kami.
- Would/chould you please send me/us.....
Sudilah saudara mengirimkan pada saya/kami......
- We are interested in ....
Kami tertarik akan .....
- Please let us have ....
Harap kirimkan pada kami .....
Now translate the following sentences into English.
a. Harap kirimkan pada kami katalog dan daftar harga saudara yang terbaru.
b. Harap kirimkan pada saya brosur-brosur saudara dan syarat-syarat pembayarannya.
c. Harap kirimkan pada kami katalog-katalog bergambar dan contoh-contoh hadiah
promosi saudara.
d. Sudilah kiranya saudara mengirimkan pada kami syarat pembayaran dan daftar
harganya.
e. Kami sangat tertarik akan produk-produk saudara yang kami lihat di Pekan Raya Jakarta
beberapa minggu yang lalu.
f. Harap kirimkan pada kami daftar harga dan katalog saudara secepatnya.

Key words:
Excellent/adj bagus sekali/unggul
Advertise/v mengiklankan
Advertisement/n iklan
Product/n produk
Exhibit/v memamerkan
Exhibition/n pameran
Interested/adj tertarik
Interest/n bunga, minat
Terms/n syarat-syarat
Latest/adj terakhir
Appreciate/v menghargai
Pay/v membayar
Payment/n pembayaran
Visit/v mengunjungi
Visit/n kunjungan
Trade/n perdagangan
Complete/adj lengkap
Require/v memerlukan
Competitive/adj bersaing
Regular/adj teratur
Satisfactory/adj memuaskan
Color/n warna
Details/n perincian
Grateful/adj berterima kasih
Quotation/n penawaran
Prompt/adj cepat
Gift/n hadiah
Exercises:

1. Write sentences and ask for information whether:

a. They could send the orders next week.
b. The prices include delivery charges.
c. Their products are covered by one-year guarantee.
d. They could offer 10% discount.

2. Write sentences and ask a compony to send you:

a. Catalogue and price-list
b. Full details of their new products
c. Their newest brochures and terms of payment.
d. Samples of products and promotional gifts.

3. Write a latter to one of year regular suppliers (your may use any name) in Jakarta
and ask for their latest catalogues, price-list, and terms of payment. You may us
your own name as Purchase Manager of a company and use today’s date for the
latter you write.