Warm-up
Pricing & Quotations
Pricing & Quotations
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for prices and quotations
- Ask for and give a price politely
- Make an offer with the first conditional: If you …, we will …
- Negotiate a discount and confirm the total
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- When did you last ask for a price at work? What did you ask?
- Is price the most important thing when you choose a supplier?
- Do you like it when a seller offers a discount? Why?
- What is a good price for you: cheap, fair or premium?
Say it out loud
Make an offer. → If you order 500 units, we will give you a ten per cent discount.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| Could you send me a quotation, please? | Чи не могли б ви надіслати мені комерційну пропозицію? |
| What is the unit price? | Яка ціна за одиницю? |
| Is the price inclusive of VAT? | Ціна враховує ПДВ? |
| If you order 500 units, we will give you a 10% discount. | Якщо ви замовите 500 одиниць, ми дамо вам знижку 10%. |
| The quotation is valid for 30 days. | Пропозиція діє 30 днів. |
| Is the price negotiable? | Ціна договірна? |
| We can offer a competitive price. | Ми можемо запропонувати конкурентну ціну. |
| Delivery is charged separately. | Доставка оплачується окремо. |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
The first conditional for offers
| If + present simple, will + verb | If you order 500 units, we will give you a discount. Use it for real offers and promises in the future. |
| Either order is possible | We will give you a discount if you order 500 units. No comma when the if-clause comes second. |
| Never will after if | Wrong: If you will order … Right: If you order … |
| unless = if … not | Unless you order today, the price will go up. = If you do not order today, … |
| as long as / provided that | We can lower the price as long as you pay in advance. It means “only if”. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Make an offer with the first conditional. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Make one real offer to a client or colleague. → If you …, we will …
Reading
Read: a quotation email
Subject: Quotation for 500 office chairs
Dear Mr Evans,
Thank you for your enquiry. I am pleased to send you our quotation for 500 office chairs, model Comfort 2.
The unit price is 48 euros. The total price is 24,000 euros, exclusive of VAT. Delivery to your warehouse costs 600 euros.
If you order before 15 March, we will give you a 5% discount. We can also deliver free of charge if you increase the order to 800 chairs.
The quotation is valid for 30 days. We need a 20% deposit when you confirm the order.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Kind regards, Laura Hill, Sales Manager
True or false?
The unit price is 48 euros.
The total price includes VAT.
Mr Evans gets a discount if he orders before 15 March.
Delivery is always free.
The quotation is valid for one year.
Answer the questions
How many chairs does the customer want?
How much is the total price?
When will Mr Evans get a 5% discount?
How much deposit do they need?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Is the discount in the email generous? Why or why not?
- What would you ask Laura before you accept?
- What details do you usually want in a quotation?
Practice
Picture the situation
Ask → Quote → Negotiate → Confirm. A good quotation shows the price, the conditions and the date it is valid until.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays a supplier or a customer. Ask for prices, make offers and negotiate. Use If you …, we will … / unless / as long as.
Asking for a quotation
Task: you need 200 laptops. Ask a supplier for a quotation.
Starter: "Good morning. We need 200 laptops. Could you send me a quotation, please?"
Checking the details
Task: ask about VAT, delivery and the deadline.
Starter: "Is the price inclusive of VAT? And how much is the delivery? How long is the quotation valid?"
Making an offer
Task: offer a discount for a big order.
Starter: "If you order 500 units, we will give you a ten per cent discount."
Asking for a discount
Task: the price is too high. Ask politely for a lower price.
Starter: "I am afraid the price is a little high for us. Is it negotiable? If we order 300, could you offer a discount?"
Setting a condition
Task: offer free delivery, but with a condition.
Starter: "We can deliver free of charge as long as you pay a 20% deposit."
Refusing an offer
Task: the price is still too high. Say no politely.
Starter: "Thank you for the offer, but unless the price comes down, we will have to look for another supplier."
Confirming the order
Task: agree on the final price and confirm the order.
Starter: "So the total is 24,000 euros, exclusive of VAT, with delivery on 10 April. We will send you the order today."
Full conversation — no stops
With your tutor, run through a short negotiation: ask for a price, check the details, make a conditional offer, ask for a discount and confirm the order — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Is it difficult for you to talk about money?
- Which conditional offer would you use most at work?
- What do you think of discounts for large orders?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for prices and quotations
- Ask for and give a price politely
- Make an offer with the first conditional: If you …, we will …
- Negotiate a discount and confirm the total
Quick self-check
How do we form the first conditional?
What does “unless” mean?
What is a quotation?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor one offer you can make to a customer. → If you …, we will …
Homework
Words to remember
| a quotation | комерційна пропозиція, розрахунок вартості |
| a price list | прайс-лист |
| a discount | знижка |
| a bulk order | гуртове замовлення, велике замовлення |
| a unit price | ціна за одиницю |
| a deposit | аванс, завдаток |
| a delivery charge | вартість доставки |
| VAT | ПДВ |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short quotation email (6–8 sentences) for a product or service. Include the unit price, the total, a conditional offer (If you …, we will …) and the date until which it is valid.
Practise out loud
Say your offer aloud as if you were talking to a customer on the phone.
Read aloud
Read the text “a quotation email” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice