Ben 叔精选文章: 成功勾搭上500强采购的7个秘诀

时常听朋友说:“宁愿做中小企的小生意,也不做500强公司的大买卖”。

其实,有这种想法也不难理解。虽说与500强客户谈生意可谓可遇不可求,一方面可以大大增加其他客户对你的信心, 另一方面还可以提升公司自身的整体业务能力。但是,在你成功地把他们的LOGO添加到你的PPT之前, 你所花费的时间和金钱可能将远远超过你的预期,尤其是他们繁重的流程及各种要求都可能让你望而却步。

事实上, 根据我亲身参与过的一些项目经验,单就新产品开发成本这一方面而言,一些欧洲大型企业的花费有时都可能是同类中小型公司的数倍以上。到底,是什么导致了这种差异呢?

在你拿到第一份TRIAL ORDER之前,可能就已经有一大堆人静侯着准备为难(考验)你。但这些500强的人都在做什么呢? 现在,我们看看,你的订单背后有些什么人:

1. 有人力排众议, 决定采用新供货商或把某工序/配件/产品的供应外包。
结果就有人在阿里上找上了你和你的对手。这些一般都是有份量的高层, 因为他们关心利润多于失业率。

2. 有人去决定究竟他们要向你买什么东西,什么功能, 大小, 颜色, 物料等。
这些一般应该是产品经理或研发工程的人。

3. 有人决定找怎么样的供货商: 大的, 小的, 低价的, 技术平台好的…等等。
一般来说都应该有一个SCORECARD去衡量,这是当采购的技术活。偶尔也会有一些其他部门来个集体问责制, 而他们大多也是自愿的。因为很多人觉得当采购好玩…。

4. 然后就有人来找上你了。
(当然你要是阿里用户…)。他们会发问卷(RFI),询价(RFQ), 要样板等。 他们就是你眼中的“客户”了。 可是,你最好知道其实这都是前线小弟小妹的工作,又或者是他们在中国分公司的人 (我刚毕业时就干这个的…)

5. 如果你的整体评分不错,客户一般也会派人来拜访你。
他们会来看工厂,审查等等。来的人是采购以及品管。特别是品管很多时候都是中国人。

6. 最后,也是最重要的——做决定用谁的人。

很难说会是什么人…但除非你的项目特大,否则决策的不一定是高层。 够多人了吧? 还没算发订单后的供应链部门呢。 如果要把他们分类,大致上就4批人:

一、采购:就算你跟客户某部门的老大关系超然, 请你也千万不要意图架空采购部行事。 他们是你的官方接口, 有权对你公司表现进行综合评分,有权决定采购价格。 他们也负责你每年的减价目标,和决定你们还能委以多少个项目。虽说一般大公司都有一套相对公平,标准的供货商评分系统,但说穿了,很多时候还是主观的感觉为先。 还是好好建立长期关系为上策。
采购人的典型性格是好奇爱发问, 商业敏感度高, 也有可能对你的行业颇为熟悉。 面对采购人时,不防大胆提出不同的合作方案。

二、品管:品管人最重视流程。 他们的世界没那么多灰色地带,也不应有太多弹性。有时候他们会问一些简单得让你不明白为何要问的问题; 有时候你可能也会觉得他把问题简单复杂化。 但不论如何,我还是建议你尽量配合并尊重,这是他们的专业精神。 如果你对品管系统如ISO9000没太多了解,那你最好找上你的品管经理一起。 最能打动品管人的, 就是你的专业知识。

三、 产品/市场的人: 如果你有幸碰上了名片上的写的是产品经理, 市场或销售经理等人, 而你们是在谈新产品开发的话,请注意! 真正的客人来了。我之所以说是真正的客人, 是因为他们是你的“客户”(采购/品管) 的“INTERNAL CUSTOMER”。 他们了解消费者,了解最终客户以及产品的要求, 也知道产品年销量的最真实数据。 不过,就工作岗位来说他们不该与你有太多接触, 因为那是采购的工作。

如果他们来参观公司/工厂,建议你派贵公司最牛的人陪同。 尽量安排晚餐等能增加沟通的机会。谈的内容也该高层次一点。 了解了以上,下面我给大家来点在500强多年采购总结出来的经验,希望增加大家被”垂青”的机会。

1. 首先抱歉告诉纯贸易商朋友, 除非是500强HMLV (High mix, low volume)的买家, 又除非你有超强的增值能力, 否则你的机会不会太大。
他们在中国成立采购部为的就是取代你作为中间商的地位。 他们(或者该说“我们”)在绝大多数情况下都会直接找到工厂并确保整个生产至交付全部顺利。

2. 请注意谁才是你的“客户”。
我在某美资家用品公司时短短4年就换了4个直接上司及3个VP sourcing。 难听点说是谁说了都不算。对于他们的各种宏才大略我们打工的拿份工资笑笑就算了。可是供货商拿出真金白银就要万分小心各种口头甚至书面的承诺。 你PARTY时那八拜之交的老外哥儿们固然有机会卖了你 (毕竟SOURCING是一个有吃有喝的高薪职业,您就别怪他了, 哈哈!), 更可怕的是他自己还真以为自己说了算, 回去老家后一堆部门各种疑问把他打倒了。
总之, 客户关系是要维持, 但请紧记你对的是一个企业, 并不是一个人。

3. 事情也总有美好的一面,有时,押注对了成果也可以是很不错的。
我一位亦师亦友的老领导就是一个好例子。 这仁兄在6年内从senior sourcing leader(前线小领导, 好比排/连长)混到一个business unit的President, 自身能力,人脉, 运气等固然一项都不能少。但我想说是,他事业上的成就离不开数家与他一起成长的供货商的相互支持。 小厂家当年押注大力支持他的项目, 他也不忘旧情在有机会时扶厂家一把。 中间也不必有什么猫腻, 他只须多谈谈新项目,多沟通,厂家自己又有一定能力,自然水到渠成,成功也是很合理的。
不论大小企业也好, 在冷冰冰的process document之内都是有血有感情的人。 Business is all about people。

4. 我可以肯定的告诉你, 让你入围的可能是你的价格(我是说“可能”), 但让你成功的绝对不止是价格。
就我所见成功的厂家都深明“诱敌深入”的道理。此等使用手段可以变化多端但总结还不是极力提高客人对你的依赖度, 先苦后甜, 最终反客为主。 情场上有过去的人, 你懂的。

5. Payment term执行压力大。
我见过一些整体都不错的供货商最后因为坚持L/C而做不下来。 原因其实很可笑。500强中每人每部门都只会关心自己的KPI, 而cash flow一项,不知怎的,老是落到财务部大爷们的头上。他们懒得管你采购部的什么标准(最好别管!), 但只要是prepay, L/C等他们都会大力反对, 又或跟你大玩文字游戏等。反正就是烦得要你采购部就范。高层们一般也心高气傲, 我堂堂500强你还要我PREPAY? 结果往往不是那最了解你的采购员能改变的。

6. 避免不合理的价格浮动。
最近跟一位阿里商友在讨论为什么她的客人告诉她的报价太低了要她再报。听起来客人像神一样的公平正义。但我告诉她客人当然可能是好人, 但其实大部份有计划的采购者都会这样做。 我们最不愿意看到的,是不合理的价格浮动。 宁愿你贵点但长期不加价,也不愿你贱价切入然后每个月来跟我哭诉如何亏钱。

7. 报价后没回音请别气馁, 因为这是万分正常的。
建议你定时跟进直到他对你说你被淘汰了。 从RFQ到ORDER的过程可以是惊人地慢长, 而当中你的定时跟进既显得你重视他们也可以给他们一定的压力。 但请一定注意跟进时没必要打客户手机。比较恰当的做法是在工作时间打坐机电话,发SMS等。小心做成反效果。
大企业的人虽然比较傲慢, 但中高层的人一般都算是合理和专业。要在他们身上拿大单大项目你必须有足够的高度和耐心, 而你的英文能力反而是其次(他们有很多中国人)。
多用SOCIAL MEDIA(SNS)让他们了解你吧! 我是BEN朱子斌。一个在500强混了15年的买家。

BEC 《本叔的商業英語》9 - DDU怎么谈才好?

这一篇是来自门徒俱乐部的投稿,属于“商务条件谈判”。我们来看看怎样才是“说之以理,动之以情”。BE用得好,就必须两者具备。以下正文:

Ben叔叔你好!

看了很多篇您写的BE,很精彩。终于忍不住,我也来投稿了!

我的背景很简单。
客人要DDU模式到付,我们一般是100%发货前付清。鸿沟啊~!
之前跟客人拉锯过一次了,各种招数,装高大上啊,装可怜啊,还扯过说公司之前出过一次没有收回货款的例子,所以现在只接受前TT,能扯的理由基本扯过了。客户稍微动摇了一点最后还是回归原位了。
然后自己就是默默跟进,有点死嗑的味道,因为心里总感觉这个客户的付款方式也不是完全改变不了的。自己反思之前的邮件都不是很理想。
最近又收到客人的询盘,还是问付款方式能不能接受。
以下是我的回复,自我感觉比之前进步好多,但是自己读读还是觉得挺生硬的。请Ben叔叔改改,谢谢!Ben叔叔轻点喷。 ;-)

客户邮件:

Hi I,

I am about ready to place more orders for 4mm white?

Let me know if you are interested in doing business with us.

Material to be paid upon arrival.

?我的回复:

Hi ,
Very glad to get your 2nd inquiry.

?To be honest, our standard payment terms is 100% prepaid before loading. (30% deposit before production + 70% balance paid before loading ). I don't want you think we are too rigid, but actually this is also the standard terms in our industry.?(这句不错,不是英文不错,而是看到诚意。Standard term不要乱吹,真的是standard才说,不然客户看到其他供应商不是这个standard时会迷之怒。)

I've do my best to persuade our management to meet your request, but it's too hard for?us to fully accept your way. I hope you can understand my thoughts.?(你又不解释为什么不能接受,只说是高层争取过了,说服力不够。不过好像比上几篇说:我跟老板说了下他就答应减价了。。。要好很多了。

We cherish every customer,?(cherish, 用字不錯)so below is the our solutions for you:
25% deposit before production, we also need deposit to pay our raw material supplier, 75% balance paid 15 days after see the copy of bill of lading.?(注意。。。你这句在说,我的物料成本只是占了25%其他的除了人工就是利润了~哇。。。1元的料4元卖出去,暴利啊。。。另一个要点,客户可能会觉得你这什么破公司?买料都不够钱了?我还敢用你吗?)

At this way you will pay balance when material almost arrive at you. I hope this make you feel much better.

I understand as a serious buyer you may worry about our quality,?(感觉除了品质外,他在乎的还有其他。你先别一厢情愿地以为人家对你的品质没信心。。。还是你自己没信心?)my suggestion is you can request a third party to inspect goods before shipment, we will do shipment until get approval from your inspection. We welcome inspections before shipments, this help assured for both buyers and us. Or you can place a trial order to check our quality and services before place regular orders.

I hope this time can make you satisfied.

单以英文来说,本篇不过不失。不过,我再三强调,BE的B比E大,就是说,回复时的思维比用语重要。不知读者有否发现,回文完全没提及客户要求中的一个要点:DDU。
我估计少于20%的业务员做过DDU的单,而要求过供应商做DDU的人也一定不多。做之前,先要明白一点:为什么客户要做DDU?

首先,我把维基百科里DDU的定义抄出来,如下:

DDU – Delivered Duty Unpaid (named place of destination)
This term means that the seller delivers the goods to the buyer to the named place of destination in the contract of sale. A transaction in international trade where the seller is responsible for making a safe delivery of goods to a named destination, paying all transportation and customs clearance expenses but not the duty. The seller bears the risks and costs associated with supplying the goods to the delivery location, where the buyer becomes responsible for paying the duty and taxes.

简单说,除了客户当地关税之外的所!有!费!用!都是供应商负责的。我第一次接触DDU是在某500强位于厦门保税区的组装工厂。参照VMI/JIT的模式,我们要求供应商报价必须以DDU来报。结果是,大的供应商还好,小的供应商我都得花不少时间去解释这跟FOB有什么分别。中国外贸界,绝大部分人都还是只会做FOB,连CIF都不想报。(别误会,这不一定是坏事!!)所以DDU这个“全包”的定义把很多供应商都吓退了。

那么,为什么买家/客户方要求DDU呢??一个原因是风险,特别是未试过在本国以外的地方进口一些不是太懂的产品时,买方怕有任何未可预计的风险时,DDU是最安全的。假如中间突然来个海关抽验费用(可能某个野蛮国家海关不够钱过年时),成本都能转嫁给供应商。

另一个原因,哼,说你都不信:懒!老外懒得去查中间还有个什么鬼费用,反正你就报送到我家门口的费用就行了。

所以我们回这信时也该把DDU的元素回了。我直觉,这客户这次要求100%DDU货到付款的原因,并非在于现金流问题,而是风险!这位同学一直坚持死磕的力度,可能用在错的方向上了!他一直只说自己工厂如何受过伤,却没帮老外想如何降低他的风险。

Ben叔叔认为logic应该是这样的。1,?你的单我当然是要接定的了,现在只剩下一个简单的技术性问题,我们可以谈好的。2,我们也没做过DDU,不过我查了,以下是整个费用的清单。3,您看看其实也不是那么危险的。4,?风险是对等的啊,我们也有担心呢~ 5,所以,一人让一步吧。

说之以理,以上logic就是理了。接下来就看你的BE如何动之以情了。来吧!

?Hi,

Of course I am ready to intake your order :)? We’ve spent long time together trying to make things happen (yeah…yeah..ok.. 文法老師又来说我错吧)and I am sure we can figure it?out. (拉拉战斗友谊。不过此处这一段不是所有情况都合适。有时,你想拉近距离,有时你却是想怎样保持礼貌的距离。这一点要你自己决定。)

As an industrial norm?(Norm跟standard差不多,不过standard是个比较科学和生硬的字), 100% payment before shipment has it reason.? If you are so kind (这里我用了你们一直很爱的Kind字。为什么?)to put yourself into my shoes: you get a paper or sometime just a verbal?confirmation from customer and then you start to spend money on material and processing.? Until the goods arrive your customer you don’t get anything back.? The risk and the cash cycle are just too much for us.??(要让他明白你的处境,这个put yourself into my shoes是挺好用的)

We also notice your request on DDU term.? To be frank we don’t normally work on this term simply because we don’t understand the risk behind it. (不明白这个风险,所以我们很少做DDU。非常合理)?In order to win your order (我是有多想要你的订单啊!)we seriously look into it and work together with a logistic provider who has good experience and presence in your country.? (要说明,你找的不是一个一般的三流物流公司。他们专业,更重要的,是熟悉贵国情况
)I do a total cost breakdown for your reference by attachment with the hope that make our cost structure more visualize to you.(这就是服务!不是你嘴上常说的服务好,不是那种跪着接单管接管送管陪玩的服务。这是实际解决客户痛点,为他增值的服务。)

We’ve been looking for a reasonable middle point that balance our risk and cost, and here is the proposal:?(列点是最能清楚条理的方法)

1.???We need XX% of deposit to kick off this project and cover all the related cost (material + overhead)
2.??We will do DDU, as you wish.? (as you wish, 如你所愿)We will cover part of your risk.
3.??Feel free to arrange 3rd party inspection if it is necessary.? However I personally don’t think it is a must.? We have a quality system that you can trust. (你要派人来可以,但我觉得没这个必要)
4.??We offer extra 15 days for your incoming inspection before paying us the balance.? This make sure you have enough time to check and reduce your quality risk. (仁至义尽了吧)

?This is by far the best deal we’ve offered.? I hope this time we could start the business.

BEC 《本叔的商業英語》7 - 这是真客吗?

你心目中的采购经理是什么模样的?是一副爷的嘴脸,还是口若悬河的雄辩家?有人会说:我的客户很好啊~又有人会说:我的客户跟我私底下还行但人多时就是另一个人了。其实很简单,一个好的采购经理是多面的。有需要时可以哭,可以怒,可以感恩,可以友善。嗯。。我们都是当演员的料。

扯回这次的案例。当我还在500强当采购时,有大规模项目都会正式的用RFQ(request for quotation)。就算是小项目,也很习惯地把大量背景写出来。为什么?因为:

1.??我一次性写出来不用每个工厂都来问我一遍,懒得回答。
2.??我们采购是有责任把正确的信息,尽力清楚,详细地告诉供应商,这叫专业。
3.??最近我看到一些习惯了跪着接单的业务员在评论我文章时说“问那么多,人家客户会觉得你烦啊”之类的话。嗯,只能说你未见过世面。
至于问题有多详细?有点像以下案例这个客户这样。大家看看原文:

Hi BEN叔,
以下是开发信回来的客人邮件,可是我发邮件过去之后就没再收到他的任何信息了,不知道是哪里弄错了。但是一开始我们产品太多也不可能按他要求的给他做完整的价表。

客户邮件:

Hello C,

Thank you very much for attention to this email.

?My name is B? and I'm the Operations Manager for XX.?(比起那些一个电邮只说send me your best price那种屌丝客户,这个礼貌多了。不过,这封电邮有点怪,看下去。

-??We are a large wholesale supplier to the promotional products industry, supplying distributors in the industry and not end users.(啊~?原来做促销品的。这个行业的特点是不停地需要新的供应商。对新供应商友善,是工作的一部分。。。)

-??We have been in business over 16 years, and we are highly respected with our current suppliers and have A+ credit ratings with both our domestic and overseas vendors.(这个A+什么的就不用太认真了,除非他是国际认可的标准,例如D&B。)

-??We have our own company and 2 other associated family businesses both doing very high volumes in the promotional product industry.

-??We advertise through trade organizations very heavily and produce up to 70-75 orders per day, with about 1/3 of these orders being XX items.?(看到这里。。。老外,你又有点太详细了吧?)

-??At the moment we are currently in the middle of a major advertising campaign to build our XX? business further, so we are very serious about our investment in this area.

-??We are very please with our current factory, however we're researching other factories currently because our business is expending rapidly, and we would like to establish a business relationship with another vendor.(老外你那么老实。。。。我特么不习惯啊。。。仿佛看到一个老好人在后面对你微笑一样。。。又或者。。。奸笑。。。)

-??We’re interested in receiving more information about your factory's customer service, product quality, lead times, pricing, and shipping costs. Please also advise if your factory provides any rush services on lapel pins or any other products.?(这里明确地列出他的要求了)

-??The majority of our products orders ship directly to our warehouse (zip code XX) via Fedex/UPS priority international as a bulk shipment and then we handle the shipping to our clients from our warehouse.

-??We will provide your factory with camera ready artwork for the proofs. Please kindly advise the turnaround time to receive a proof.(太详细了,不过我也真见过一些过度详细的老外)

-??If your pricing is good, and we continue our discussion about doing business together, we will have to have a valid Price Sheet from your factory.
We simply do to much business to receive pricing from you on a case by case basis.(这句老外也错文法了。。。挺正常的,不要介意。Business English 不看这些。)

-??Please provide us with a shipping quotation if possible, or please advise if your? pricing already includes the shipping costs.

-??It would be great to get set up with you and try out your services.

-??We have a large product range which includes XX. So if there is any other products you can provide us with information on please do so.(看,这是促销品的一贯做法。他们需要很多不同的新产品。)

-??Get back to me as soon as possible and let's start a dialogue. Thank you
这邮件有点详细得可怕,有点像编出来一样。但我又不觉得他是假的,可能是因为我明白为什么背后要这样做。但如果我是业务员的话,还是会留一个心眼的。

以下是同学仔的回复:

Hello B,

Thanks for kindly introduction on you and your esteemed company.?(又是教科书吧?Esteemed company不算是跪着说话,但用语也是重了点。可以用,但不太建议。)

It’s great to know your main business and we do hope to establish long term win-win business relationship with your esteemed company and become your stable and reliable supplier in China.(赞一个。Stable and reliable了,而不是cheap and best friend in china)

For XX products, we have more advantages of bulk production, quick turnaround and excellent quality guarantee.
?
1) For XXl items, X days for samples and X days for mass production( it will be rechecked based on detailed design & quantity)
??? For X products, X days for samples and X days for mass production( depends on design & quantity as well)
??? Rush lead time on all items are firmly supported without extra charge.

2) For the every beginning stage, we appreciate your detailed design inquiries or trial order for evaluation. For the following cooperation, price list will be arranged corresponding for your regular orders.?

3) Regarding shipment by UPS ( priority service), the rough freight is as below.

???? A.? within 20kg?? US$25/0.5kg+ US$4.30/0.5kg ( e.g 3kg = US$25+ US$4.3? x2.5 x2? =US$46.50)
???? B.?? 21-44kg??? US$6.0/kg
???? C.?? 45-70kg?? US$5.7/kg
???? D.? over 71kg? US$5.40/kg
(以上我都看晕了。强烈建议你列表说明,而不是用文字。)

4) We are always responsible for our customers.
???? 1. X - Keep for 3 years since the last date of shipment
???? 2. Free Artwork services
???? 3. Quality- strictly follow order instruction and approved artwork.???
???? 4. No MOQ for all items
???? 5.? Welcome to visit us once you and your team come to China.

(这也是不错。我看出服务来。)
Looking forward to our next dialogue
?
整体上,这还是个不错的回应。可是,这叫做一问一答。人家问多少,你就答多少。在回文中,可以以一个比例作回应。Says,8成是回答老外的问题(尽量一条一条全部回答。我见过太多太多问三条答一条的供应商了),2成是“策略性文字”。这是什么鬼?你就不想做一个有互动的供应商吗?你就不想很有针对性地说说你究竟有多适合成为他的供应商吗?我指的是“针对性”啊,而不是那种要跟人家establish long term relationship的陈腔滥调。
那么如何针对性?打开他网页慢慢看!既然他是有两三家公司的group了那么很有机会网站有足够的资料让你看。好好了解吧。
今晚就不写范文了。以英文的角度,同学仔写得可以的了。

BEC 《本叔的商業英語》6 - 洪荒之力来了!

这节我挑了一篇典型的中式英文。所谓的中式英语,是大家花了无数光阴硬背的英语单词,从小被老师挑剔出来的语法,以及考试前夜各种笔记中的回忆,统统总合起来的一种体现。用着中文的思维,去写英文的邮件,才是真真真正的硬伤。--,The good news is, 我们离开学校后要学的不是英国文学,不是莎士比亚。我们学英文是用来“用”,不是用来“炫”,你要懂的不是英式红茶的种类,不是美国共和民主党的差别(当然,你能懂更好。。。)。要写好的BE,你要懂的只是西方的商业习惯。一下子范围就缩小了,是不是对学好BE的信心大了很多?
?
以下原文:

您好,看到您可以帮忙优化案例,请赐教!

如下是一个英国的客户,购买意向很高;当时他有25000GBP预算,但是那时我们的报价需要用得用好的材料,降价后也还差USD3500多,所以僵持了,后来英镑贬值,差得就更多了,后来我们想出另一个方案,报价给他;按当时的汇率离他们的预算还有差了USD2000多;后来客户一直没有反映;追踪后,客户就是如下的回复,表示很会很下单,但是仍然希望我们降价;?后来我跟老板沟通,决定去MEET他们的预算(就是按汇率换过来的USD价),如下邮件不知道说理由是否合理,但是客户到目前是没有回复,虽然有互动,但是没有谈及引事...

?看到您的贴,所以想问问大叔的意见....感谢了!

?(大家习惯一下,邮件的时间顺序是倒过来的。最前面一篇的时间是最新的,越往后是越早的邮件。)

Dear
I know you were busy these days.

Are you watching Olimpics games? ?(做个spell check 不难的,你只需要right click红字。)

With one of very popular internet slang, " I have used my core power to obtain the new discount”.
(EXCUSE ME ??!!! 洪荒之力都出来了!!说真的,你觉得老外知道你在说什么吗。。?有些joke,只是我们中国人能明白。。。就算了吧。。。)

So I hope it could give you some help.

Thanks a lot! May I ask what's your opinion with the new prices?

(看得出来你是花了洪荒之力才想出怎样才好像是不经意地问老外:你看价格可以不?怎么说呢。。我不是你所以我可能不懂,但既然老外你问价时那么认真了,我又花了那么多时间去给你报价了,老外你其实回一回我邮件绝对是应!份!的!一句How is the quotation? 直接提醒一下就是一份礼貌的距离了。)

Best regards,

Dear XXXX(3个客户人员),

Hope you all had a good weekend!

My Boss and sales manager had a meeting regarding the YYY cases, and also we talked about the aluminum material supplier to cost down the cost.?(文法错了,不注解。)

They agreed to give us 5% off on mateiral? within the next 10 days!? it will be 3% off in total price.?(此处注意。这样你的material成本比例就暴露了。这不一定有所谓,但你open book 给客户看的那个比例要对得上,不然就会被challenge。。) So we would like to give you this offer;

In order to establish long business relationship with you, my boss would like to show his greatest sincerity, he is willing to give up the only 5% profit.

(来了来了。。。我指的中式思维来了。。你这真的是在挑战国际惯例!!我很理解你在国内跟客户称兄道弟喝酒时说:我那5个点不赚了都算你的好了,谁让咱是好哥们。然而,你信我吧!文化不同啊。。。老外第一反应必须是:你骗谁啊?没利润谁做啊?另外,“long business relationship, greatest sincerely….必须加上as your best friend in china,才能组成让老外调笑的三合一chinglish大招啊!!)

So there is new next 8 % off for you totally.( this must be the lowest price this year we would offer).
(8% cost down是太高还是太低我不知道,行业各异,但有一点肯定的,此文没针对客户是因为exchange rate的问题而来的成本痛点做上什么。你只是“跟老板开了个会”,“跟供应商聊了聊物料价”,然后,奇迹就出现了,8个点马上就能下来。记住:所有cost down都必须有理由,不然后面就有你受的了。延伸读物是本叔写的“VE价值工程”一文。

We regard you as value as much, and please find the revised formal quoation as attached.

P.S? Because the supplier give us a time limited, so if you agree with new price,? we are going to sign the material purchasing right now, and I will sent the PI for you soon.
(这种“今天做特价啊亲,不买明天就没有啊亲”真的不是B2B该有的思维。。。千万不要再这样!!)

Thanks and have good day!

Best regards,
J

以下是客户之前的来件。单看内文,我认为连讲价也算不上,只是简单问问你还有什么可以做的吗?然后就轻轻松松8个点折扣了。说!你还有多少是骗我的?说!!

Hi J

I'm sure we can do something. N(客戶的同事), I'm sure will be in touch with you soon like you we are all finding it hard this year so anything you can dicoumt (人家不做spell check啊,谁让他是客?你可不行!)would be great.

Kind regards

好了,以下是最精彩的环节了。其实,单以老外这封邮件,你实在不必急于降价的。我在讲negotiation时提过,沉默是高招。你看?这不就是最好的案例了?人家再不說话,你是不是要再减10%?不过由于剧情需要,Ben叔叔是这样改的:

?
Hi,

I am glad we are back to track eventually.?
We’ve been waiting your feedback for long.?
As a matter of fact, we put quite some effort to keep our offer valid up to the challenge of the recent currency fluctuation.?

I will explain. (THANKS GOD感谢主你终于回来了。这句是有很轻微怪责的意味的,小心。但我们还是该怪责他一下的,不对吗?都为你准备好这么多了,你看,你不在时我们仍然想尽办法帮你保持原价,你却走远了。。。你的良心呢?记住,像一个人一样去聊天,像一个君子一样去怪责,没有问题的。如果他有其他更好的选择,你跪着说话他也是会走的,懂吗?)

I am not sure we could offer you any further discount as you’ve got already our best offer. (I am not sure 是非常非常好用的负面词。这是所有老美一听就懂的NO两个字的客气版。) Be assured the offer you’ve got is not something we will let go normally.?
(Be assured就是说,信我吧!没骗你的!同一意思。)Yet, we understand the impact of the currency exchange rate could be a short term risk to you. (强调short term, 就是你不能用一个短期的风险来谈价格的,大家都不傻。但我也知道兄弟你也有难处的,我们来想想办法。)

What we would like to suggest is that we engage into a price change mechanism.? (这是个我常用的谈判手段。这里不详说了,有机会在《假装在500强》写一下。)Put it simple, the rule is that when the exchange rate does not in favor to you, you’ll be compensated; when the rate come back to normal level, we back to our original offer.? The attached document further explain it in details.

I wish that idea could strengthen your fate in our business.? (加强你对着生意的信念。你不是求他,你是在帮他成事。毕竟给你下单了对他也是件好事,对不对?)Unfortunately we have to put a period of validity of this offer (as this is obviously our way to trigger the business launch).? (学问在这里!!我上面说,“今天做特价啊亲,不买明天就没有啊亲”不要得,但我这里就用了。Ben叔你自打嘴巴啊。。。其实我特别加上这句就是想说,要是你真的想用这方法去逼他早点下单,那么请你直接说。我们就是为了让你早点下单的,怎样?有时,光明正大做个小人也是一种手段啊。。)

I am available to talk with you online any time.? Just give me a ring.

Regards,
Ben

看完后这次学到了什么?留言告诉我吧。

BEC 《本叔的商業英語》4 - 客户由于质量问题不付款怎么办(下)

续上一个故事,双方一直在拉锯是先让重验货还是先付钱。跳过一些细节,老外后来翻脸了,直指D小姐办事不力,向她的老板K先生投诉了。单从business English 的角度,这一节的例子都写得很专业,所以我就不作修改了。那么我们就在一旁静静地看着他们装B吧。

1.这是老外发给K和D的:

Hi K/D,

?I tried to call D’s phone but failed.

We relooked into the remittance of USDXXX and found that we had accidently paid you too much. We had now stopped the payment to recalculate. We will send through payment again after recalculation. I wanted to discuss with Dora on the phone but it seems that you are avoiding answering my phone calls.

(他一直在强调,是D不接电话。先不管这里是真的假的没人接,我想说的是一个500强常用的把戏,让看到的人对D的印象不好。谁对谁错我不知道,但你这么一说D就好像很不专业了。作为500强老鸟,我一看到这句都会特别多一个心眼。。。。)

We do not know what reason you could not arrange our QC’s ?inspection. There must be some quality issues otherwise you could have arranged our QC to check the goods. We made 30% upfront payment on this product based on the trust to your company. It is unfair that you do not follow our instruction. As my discussion with my boss, we would rather not deliver the skirts if there is going to have potential problem.

依我看,这不让他们重验这事也没那么简单。原因是什么我就不深究了,毕竟这不是我们要学习的事情。

You must communicate with us ASAP as tomorrow is the cutoff date for the skirts!
Regards,

2.这一封是老外的高层追加的电邮

K,
I would appreciate a phone call from you as dealing with Dora on this matter has not been beneficial for either of us.
(这一句有时可以害死一个尽责的同事了。。。。。我的确是有点偏袒某一方,但这个案例我也不必太客观,反正在看戏。。。)I will await your phone call,
?
Kind regards

3.?如果我是D,看到以下这一封K的邮件我可能就哭着高呼:“领导英明,我必以死相随。”

Dear XXX,

That has make me so surprised and disappointment (建议大家多用surprise and disappointed这两个高雅地表达不满的字眼)when I saw YYY’s email. Pls take exactly immediate action to push all thing come back the right way.

I am really appreciated for D has strictly complied with company's policy. And pls clearly to be noted, all her previous and coming actions are under my authorization!

看到没??这才是好老板!老外你别TMD搞分化,是我让他这样做的,咋样?

Here I would like to list the details again, even thought D has shown your side for many times:

QC inspection for TCS:

All of us know well about Q, and they represent the authority in the field. The end customer has enough confidence to them. I have been working together them in the past several years, and really know well for all the procedure. So I think that is no necessary from your side to doubt their QC report.

For make all things come back on the road, and show our strong willing to continue the business I would like to show our procedure(we only accept this solution at this moment):

BABABABABA。。。。。(不列出了)

先说明为何我方坚持不让你的人来重验,是因为最终客户第三方QC公司已经过了,你还吵什么吵?然后再给出一个轻微的让步,大家看着办,有个台阶下。

We believe above solution is our final accepting solution, and would not accept any future re-negotiation.
坚定要礼貌。

I would like to reiterate here, D has my all authority under handling this issue. For any future connection pls contact with her directly.
Regards
K

故事还有的,但我觉得这个CASE到这里就够了。这两方的邮件都不错,表达的方式值得大家学习。
这四节都是我从基友团门徒CLUB的同学借来的实际案例,而下一节将会是在阿里外贸圈的来信。
啊,啊,对了,我不是台湾人,我是香港人。因为没学过拼音所以我不会打简体字。不过对有心学习的人来说,百度转一下字体应该是阻止不了你学习的热情的吧?