Business Representation
代理

Brief Introduction

代理是国际贸易中采用的贸易方式之一。

所谓代理就是由进出口公司给予代理商，在特定地区和一定期限内，享有代销指定商品的权利。双方属于一种委托和被委托的代销关系，而不是买卖关系。代理商应积极推销代理商品，并享有收取佣金的权利。由于对代理权限的委托不一，代理可分为独家代理、一般代理和总代理。

独家代理指委托人在一定时期，特定地区给予代理人推销指定商品的专营权，委托人向代理人支付佣金，负担经营风险，一般不再向该地区其他商人销售该种商品。即使直接销售，也要按协议规定给独家代理应得的佣金，这种佣金叫做隐佣（Sleeping Commission）。独家代理则代表委托人与买主洽谈交易，并以委托人的名义或由委托人自己同买主签订合同。

一般代理是指不享有对某种商品的专营权，但其他权利、义务和独家代理一样。在同一地区，同一时期内，委托人可以选定一家或几家客户作为一般代理商，并根据销售商品的金额支付佣金。委托人可以直接与其他买主成交，无须另给代理商佣金。

总代理是指代理商在指定地区内不仅有权独家代销指定商品，而且还有权代表委托人办理一些其他非商品性的事务。

Basic Expressions

1. I would like to discuss with you the problem of agency for your electric fans.

我想同贵方商谈你们电风扇的代理问题。

2. I wonder whether your f.mp3 is represented in our country.
我不知道贵公司在我国是否有代理。

3. We should be glad if you would consider our application to act as agents for the sales of your products in our country.
如果贵方能考虑我们的申请使我们成为贵公司产品在我国市场的销 售代理的话，我们会很高兴的。

4. We are pleased to offer you a sole agency for the sale of our products in your country.
我们很乐意指定你们成为我方产品在贵国的独家代理。

5. We are pleased that you are prepared to appoint us as your sole agent for your products.
对贵方有意指定我们成为贵方产品的独家代理，我们感到很高兴。

6. We’re favorably impressed by your proposal for a sole distributor.
对贵方建议由我方担任独家经销商一事，我们颇感兴趣。

7. Thank you for offering us the agency for your products and appreciate the confidence you have placed in us.
谢谢贵方提出让我们代理你们的产品，我们很感激你们对我们所表示的信心。

8. If you give us the agency, we should spare no efforts to further your interests.
如果贵方给予我们代理权，我们将不遗余力为贵方争取利益。

9. As your agents, we’ll make greater efforts to push the sale of your products.
作为你们的代理，我们将会更加努力地推销你方产品。

10. We appreciate your efforts in pushing the sale of our electric fans.

我们感激贵方在推销我方电扇产品方面所做的努力。

11. I’m afraid we can’t agree to appoint you as our sole agent because the annual turnover you promised is too low.

恐怕我们不能同意指定你方作为我们的独家代理，因为你方所承诺 的年销售量太少了。

12. We will increase our turnover if you appoint us as your sole agent.
如果你方指定我们作为独家代理，我们将增加我们的销售量。

13. We’d like to sign a sole agency agreement with you on your electric fans for a period of three years.
我们想同你方签订一项为期三年专营电扇的独家代理协议。

14. As our sole distributor, you are not expected to handle the sale of similar products of other origins.
你方作为我们的独家经营商是不允许经营销售其他类似产品的。

15. I think you know already that I want to discuss the representation for your al.mp3 clocks.
想必你已知道，我想和你方商谈闹钟的代理事宜。

16. We usually get a 10% commission of the amount on every deal.
通常我们取得的佣金是每笔成交额的10%。

17. According to your estimate, what is the maximum annual turnover you could fulfill?
据你估计，你能完成最大年销售量是多少？

Conversations

Dialogue 1

A: First of all, I would like to thank you for your kind invitation to visit your beautiful country. I hope my visit will help to promote a friendly relationship between us.

B: We’ve been looking forward to your visit. It is a great pleasure for us to have you as our guest. It is always more convenient to discuss things face to face.

A: I would like to tell you that my clients are very satisfied with the last delivery of your slippers. The styles and colors are very much to the taste of our market.

B: We’ve received some similar comments from other Australian f.mp3s too.

A: I understand you are selling the same products to some other Australian importers. This tends to complicate my business. As you know, I am experienced in the business of slippers and

enjoy a good business relationship with all the leading whole- salers and retailers in that line. I have a mind to expand this business in the years to come. One of the reasons of my visit here is to sign a sole agency agreement with you on these items for a period of 3 years. As it is to our mutual interests and profit, I am sure you’ll have no objection to it.

B: We appreciate your good intention and your effort in pushing the sale of our slippers. As you know, the demand for this item in your market is quite substantial. However, according to our records, the total amount of your order last year was moderate, which does not warrant an agency appointment. Unless you

increase the turnover we can hardly appoint you our sole agent.

-- 首先，我想感谢你盛情邀请我访问你们美丽的国家。我希望这次 访问将有助于促进我们之间的友好关系。

-- 我们一直在盼着你的到来。有你来做客，真是我们的荣幸。面对 面的谈判总是比较方便。

-- 我想告诉你，我们的客户对你方的最后一批拖鞋非常满意。拖鞋 的式样和颜色很符合我们市场的需要。

-- 我们从其他澳大利亚公司那里也听到了类似的反映。

-- 我知道你们也向其他澳大利亚进口商出售同样的产品。这使我们 的生意很难做。你知道，我方在经营拖鞋业务方面很有经验，而 且和这一行业中的所有大批发商和零售商有很好的业务关系。我 打算将来扩大这项业务。我来访的原因之一就是想和你们签订一 项为期三年的独家代理协议。这符合我们双方的利益，我确信你 方不会有任何反对意见。

-- 谢谢你方好意以及在推销我方拖鞋上所做的努力。但是你知道你 方市场对这一商品的需求很大。然而根据我们的记录，你方去年 的订货总量不大，不够资格做代理。除非你方增加营业额，我们 无法指定你方为我们的独家代理。

A: I’ll come to that. My proposal is: Plastic slippers of all sizes. 50, 000 pairs annually within the area of the whole Australian market. We expect a 5% commission, of course.

B: As far as I remember, we sold about 40,000 pairs last year to you alone. Don’t you think this annual turnover is rather conserva- tive for a sole agent?

A: Well, I admit I always do business on the safe side. Could you let me have your proposal then?

B: Let’s put it this way. I propose a sole agency agreement for

Ladies and gents plastic slippers (excluding children’s) for a duration of 3 years; 60,000 pairs to be sold in the first year, 70,000 pairs in the second year, and 80,000 pairs in the third year, the area is to be within the continent of Australia (excluding any neighboring island), commission 5%.

A: You certainly drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Brown.

B: On the contrary, Mr. London, we value your friendship more than anything else. We both understand our slippers are very popular in your market on account of their superior quality and competi- tive price. And with the sole agency in your hand, there will be no competition and you can easily control the market, which would naturally result in bigger sales. I’m sure you can fulfill the agreement without much difficulty.

A: Well, if you put it this way, I’ll have to comply. When shall we sign the contract, Mrs. Brown?

B: Tomorrow afternoon.

A: Tomorrow afternoon will be fine.

-- 我就要谈这一点。我的建议是：各种尺寸的塑料拖鞋，每年销售 五万双，地区是整个澳大利亚市场。当然，我们希望有5%的佣金。

-- 我记得，光去年我们就向你们出售了大约四万双拖鞋。对独家代理 来讲，你不认为这个年销售量数字太过保守了吗？

-- 是，我承认我做生意从来谨慎从事，那么我听听你的建议，好吗？

-- 这样说吧，我建议订一个专销男、女塑料拖鞋（不包括童鞋）为期 三年的独家代理协议，第一年销六万双，第二年销七万双，第三年 销八万双，地区是整个澳大利亚（不包括任何邻近岛屿），佣金是 百分之五。

-- 你真会还价，布朗夫人。

-- 恰恰相反，伦敦先生，我们很珍惜你方友谊。我们双方都知道我们 的拖鞋价廉物美而畅销于你方市场。你取得了独家代理权之后，你 就可以轻而易举地控制市场，没有其他竞争，其结果自然是销售量 增大。我确信你完成这一协议不会有任何困难。

-- 好吧，如果你这么说，我只好同意了。布朗夫人，我们什么时候签 协议？

-- 明天下午。

-- 行，明天下午。

Dialogue 2

A: I think you know already that I want to discuss the representa- tion for your al.mp3 clocks.

B: Yes, Mr. Bergerson. You mentioned that in your letter. To tell you the truth, your proposal surprised us.

A: Is that so? Anyhow I want to go over the details with you in person, so you can give my suggestion thorough consideration. Our f.mp3 specializes in this line of business. We have six sales representatives, who are on the road all the time, covering the whole of the European market.

B: Do you sell direct to shops?

A: Yes, we specialize in handling clocks and watches of all sorts. We have well established channels of distribution and we canvass the retailers direct, without any middlemen.

B: Do you keep a stock of these things?

A: In some cases, such as the wristwatches, which always have a steady market, we keep a stock in London and act as distributors as well as agents. Generally, however, we pass on the orders of our clients to the manufacturers for supply. We are paid for our service, of course.

B: That is, your commission.

-- 想必你已知道，我想和你商谈你方闹钟的代理问题。

-- 是的，博格森先生，你在信中有提到。说实话，你方的建议使我们 有些意外。

-- 真的吗？我想亲自同你谈谈细节问题，这样你可以好好考虑我的建 议。我们公司专营这项业务，有六名销售代表常年在外，负责整 个欧洲市场。

-- 你是否直接销售给商店？
-- 对，我们专营各类钟表。我们有良好的销售渠道，不通过任何中间 商直接向零售商推销。

-- 你们有库存吗？

-- 有的商品如手表，市场很稳定，我们在伦敦有库存，经销商品兼作 代理。然而，一般来讲，我们把客户的订货单交给制造商去供货。 当然，我们根据所提供的服务取得报酬。

-- 那就是你们的佣金。

A: Yes, our commission is very reasonable. We usually get a 10% commission of the amount on every deal.

B: Our agents in other areas usually get a 3-5% commission.

A: The European market is not familiar with your products. You have competitors from Japan and other continental countries. At the beginning of our campaign, there is sales resistance to overcome, we must send out salesmen to do a lot of traveling and spend a considerable amount of money on advertising in news- papers and TV programs. A 10% commission will not leave us much.

B: According to your estimate, what is the maximum annual turn- over you can fulfill, in round figures, of course?

A: We will always do our utmost to enlarge the business, as our remuneration increases with the turnover, but we will not guar- antee anything, at least not to begin with.

B: We appreciate very much your intention to push the sale of our products. But our suggestion to you, Mr. Bergerson, as a

preliminary step, is to do a little research into the market……

-- 对，我们的佣金很合理。通常我们取得的佣金是每笔成交额的10%。
-- 我们其他地区的代理商通常拿到百分之三到五的佣金。
-- 欧洲市场对你方产品不熟悉。你们要对付日本和其他大陆国家的竞 争对手。在推销活动的开始阶段，需要克服销售方面的阻力，我们 得派出推销员到处出差，并且耗费大量资金在报纸上和电视节目里 登广告。百分之十的佣金对我们来说不算宽裕。

-- 据你估计，你能完成总的年销售量是多少？当然讲个整数就行了。

-- 我们当然将竭力扩大业务，因为随着销售量的增加，我们的利润也 会上升。不过我们不想作出保证，至少在开始阶段不行。

-- 谢谢你们有意推销我们的产品，但是博格森先生，作为第一步，我 们建议你们在市场上做一些调查研究工作……

A: Do you mean to say you refuse us the agency?

B: Mr. Bergerson, you leave us no alternative. We can not give you an exclusive agency of the whole European market without

having the slightest idea of your possible annual marketing turnover. Besides our price is worked out according to the costing. A 10% commission means an increase in our price. We must have the reaction of the buyers in this respect.

A: Oh, that’s just too bad. I intended to make great efforts in selling your products.

B: Well, we can still carry on our business relationship without the agreement. To start the ball rolling, we will provide you with price lists, catalogues and some samples. Only when you have a thorough knowledge of the marketing possibilities of our products, can we then discuss further details.

A: Ah, Mrs. Miller, but in this case am I covered?

B: Oh, yes. We will give you a 5% commission on every transaction.

A: All right, but I’ll be back again for the Autumn Fair. And then I hope we can see eye to eye about our commission and the t.mp3s of the agency.

B: Very good. We will discuss the matter again at the next Fair.

-- 你的意思是说，你拒绝我们做代理？
-- 博格森先生，你让我们没有选择了。我们不能连你方每年可能销售 多少都不知道就给予你们整个欧洲市场的独家代理权。 而且我方价 格是根据成本而定的。给予百分之十的佣金就意味着我们的价格要 提高。我们必须知道卖主在这方面有什么反映。
-- 那太糟糕了，我本想努力推销你们的产品。
-- 不过，即使没有这个协议，我们仍然可以继续发展我们之间的业务 关系。作为开始，我们愿意给你方提供价目单、目录册和一些样 品。等你们全面了解我们产品的销售可能性后，我们才能进一步商 谈。
-- 好吧，米勒女士，那么我有没有佣金呢？
-- 当然有，每笔交易，我们给你5%的佣金。
-- 行，我到秋季交易会再来谈。我希望到那时候我们能在佣金和代 理协议的条款上取得一致意见。
-- 好，我们下次交易会再谈。

Dialogue 3

A: I’m pleased to meet you again, Mrs. King.
B: Pleased to see you, too, Mr. Brown.

A: You’ve had a good trip, I hope.

B: Yes, a very pleasant journey, thank you.

A: It’s been a full two years since we last saw each other.

B: So it is, I’ve come again to renew our sole agency agreement for another 2 years.

A: We shall be pleased to talk the matter over with you. You’ve done very well in fulfilling the agreement.

B: I’m glad you’re satisfied with our work. I can assure you we’ve spared no effort and spent quite a sum of money in pushing the sales of your products.

-- 很高兴又见到你，金夫人。
-- 我也很高兴见到你，布朗先生。
-- 希望你旅途愉快。
-- 是的，旅途很愉快，谢谢你。
-- 我们整整两年没有见面了。
-- 是啊，这次我来是想把我们之间的独家代理协议延长两年。
-- 我们很高兴和你们详细讨论这件事情。你们的协议完成得很漂亮。
-- 你们对我们的工作表示满意，我很高兴。可以说在推销你们的产品 方面，我们费了不少力气，还花了大量资金。

A: Yes, we appreciate your efforts in pushing the sales of our pianos. We can see you are experienced in this particular line.

B: Thank you.

A: But I think the annual sale of 300 pianos for a sole distributorship in Canada is rather conservative. After all, you sold around 400 pieces there last year. You can sell more this year according to the marketing conditions at your end.

B: That is the result of our hard work. Well, what annual quantity would you suggest for the new agreement then?

A: 500 pieces.

B: No, no. That’s too big a number to be acceptable. Let’s put it at 450 pieces. And we’ll strive to sell more, of course. We wish to

add another clause. For every 50 pieces sold in excess of the quota, we’ll get 1% more in commission for our efforts.

-- 是的，我们很感激你方在推销钢琴上所做的努力，看得出来你们对 经营这一行很有经验。

-- 谢谢。

-- 不过我认为对加拿大的独家经销来说，年销售量300架钢琴未免太 过保守了。实际上，去年你都卖了400架左右。根据你们地区的市 场情况，今年应该可以销售更多。

-- 那是我们努力工作的结果。那你认为新协议的年销量应是多少呢？

-- 500架。

-- 不行，不行。这个数字太大了，我不能接受。定为450架吧。当然 我们会尽力多销。我们想增加一个条款，超过定额之后每多销50 架，我们的佣金就增加百分之一。

A: All right, let’s fix it at 450 pieces then. And for every additional 50 pianos sold, we’ll give you 1% higher commission.

B: I suppose all the other t.mp3s remain unchanged.

A: We would like to make a specific mention of one more point. As our sole distributor, you will neither handle the same or similar products of other origins nor re-export our goods to any other

area outside your own.

B: No, certainly not. That’s a reasonable restriction.

A: Another thing is that every six months we would like to receive from you a detailed report on current market conditions and the users?comments on our products.

B: Yes, we’ve already prepared one. I’ve brought it with me. I’ll put it forward when we talk with the manufacturers tomorrow.

A: Good, that’s all then.

B: Good.

-- 那好吧，那我们就定为450架吧。另外每多售50架，我们就再多给 你百分之一的佣金。

-- 我想其他条款都不变吧。

-- 另外一点，我想特别提一提。作为我们的独家经销商，你们既不能 经营其他国家的同类或类似的产品，也不能把我们的产品再出口到 加拿大以外的地区去。

-- 那当然不行，这是合理的限制。

-- 另外一点是我们希望每隔六个月收到你们的一份详细的当前市场情 况的报告和用户对我们的反馈。
-- 我们已经都准备了一份。我这次把它带来了。明天我们和生产商洽 谈时，我就将它提交上去。

-- 好，那就这些了。

-- 好。

Words and Expressions

sole [ sEul ] 独一的，专用的

warrant [ 5wCrEnt ] 使有（正当）理由，保证

annually [5AnjJElI] 年度，每年

canvass [ 5kAnvEs ] 兜售，销售

distributor [ dis5tribjutE ] 批发商

costing [ 5kCstiN ] 成本计算，成本会计

excess [ ik5ses, 5ekses ] 超过

remuneration [ ri7mju:nE5reiFEn ] 报酬，酬劳

exclusive [ iks5klu:siv ] 独家的

to the taste of 合……的口味

Notes

1. complicate my business 使我的生意难做

2. leading wholesaler and retailer 主要批发商和零售商

3. to have a mind 打算

4. warrant an agency agreement 有资格签订代理合约

5. to canvass the retailers direct 向零售商直接兜售生意

6. a sole agency agreement 独家代理合约

7. in round figures 大致的整数

8. as a preliminary step 作为第一步

9. leave us no alternative 使我方无考虑余地

10. annual marketing turnover 年销售额

11. to be covered 包括在内

12. to see eye to eye 看法一致

13. in excess of the quota 超过定额

A specimen Letter

Dear Sirs:

We thank you for your letter of July 10th.
After paying due consideration to your proposal and investigating your business standing, we have decided to appoint you as our sole agent for the sale of Gold Brand Bicycles in the district you defined.

We are enclosing a draft agreement. Please go over it and let us have your comments. We assure you of our full cooperation.

先生：

谢谢你们七月十日的来信。
在考虑了你信中的建议和对你们的商业信誉进行了调查之后，我们决定在你们划定的地区里由你们作为我们金牌自行车的独家代理。
现随信附上协议草案一份，请审阅并将意见告知我们。请相信我们会全力合作的。

Substitution Drills

1 A: You could be doing better if you developed some kind of sales network there.

B: We’re thinking of finding a way to
reach all our potential customers.
penetrate that new market
break into the European market

如果你在那里打开了一些销售网络，你可以做得更好的。
我们正设法接触我们所有的潜在顾客。
我们正设法进入新市场。
我们正设法打入欧洲市场。

2 A: How long have you been in this business?

B: For nearly ten years. We have very good connections with wholesalers, chain stores and distributors.

For almost twenty years. We’re well connected with f.mp3s in this field.

We’re going to celebrate the f.mp3’s thirtieth anniversary this November.

您从事这行业多久了？

将近10年了。我们和批发商、连锁店和分销商之间关系很好。

将近20年了。我们与这行业的公司关系良好。

我们将在今年11月庆祝公司成立30周年。

3 A: We bought a lot from you last year, amounting to as much as $500,000.

B:We’re quite satisfied with the way things are going now.

We’re quite pleased with what you’ve done to expand the market.

We appreciate the efforts you’ve made in helping our products.
我们去年从你那里买了很多，总计五十万美元。

我们对现在事情的发展局面很满意。

我们很满意你们为开拓市场所做的努力。

我们感激你为帮助我们产品作出的努力。

4 A: If you appoint us as your agent,

the turnover will be three times what it is today.

we can work up a big demand for your products at our end.

we can sort out the license and the regulations for you.
B:We’d like to know more about your proposal before giving an opinion.
We won’t consider the question of agency for the time being.
I’m sorry I don’t think it’s the right time for this matter.
如果你指定我们作为你们的代理，营业额将是现在的三倍。
如果你指定我们作为你们的代理，我们可以在我们这里为你们的产 品创造很大的需求。
如果你指定我们作为你们的代理，我们可以为你们挑选出许可证 和规章。
在提意见前，我们想更多了解你们的计划。
目前我们不会考虑代理事宜。
很抱歉，现在还不是谈这个的时候。

5 A: We wish to have an agent to push our products in Australia. Would you like to accept this appointment?
We’d like to appoint a general agent to handle our products in Britain. Are you interested in it?
We need an experienced representative for our products in France. Would you be interested?

B: We should be very pleased to represent you if the t.mp3s and conditions are right.

We would be interested in acting as your general agent there.

I’m willing to handle your exports as an agent.

我们希望在澳大利亚能有一个代理来推动我们的产品销售。您愿 意接受这个委派吗？

我们想指定一个总代理来处理我们在英国的产品销售。您对这个

感兴趣吗？

我们需要为我们在法国的产品销售选择一个有经验的代理商，您有

兴趣吗？

如果条款和条件合适的话，我们会乐意代理你们。

担任那里的总代理我们很有兴趣。

我愿意代理你们的出口商品。

6 A: What’s the annual order you can guarantee?
What are the annual sales you can make for this product?
What’s the annual turnover you can do?

B: To be on the safe side, not less than $200,000 for a start.
Around $500,000 to begin with. It’s not a small figure, I should say.
I’d rather start on a moderate scale, say, 10,000 tons.

你能保证每年订多少货？
你能为这种产品作出的年度销售是多少？
你能做到的年度销售额是多少？
保守地说，一开始不会少于二十万美元。
开始大约五十万美元。我应该说，这不是个小数目。
我想一开始规模适中，比如一万吨。

7 A: I needn’t mention that the price you give us must be competitive.
your t.mp3s for us must be favorable
the delivery date must be kept

B: Certainly. T.mp3s for our agents are usually very favorable.
不用说，你给我的价格必须有竞争力。
不用说，你给我们订的条款必须很优惠。
不用说，必须遵守运输日期。

当然，我们的代理条款通常很优惠。

8 A: And the commission you expect?
What commission would you expect?
What about the rate of commission you want to charge? B: 10% on total sales.
A minimum of 3% commission on the sale price.
A commission of 5% on sales and a monthly sum of  $5,000 for expenses.

你希望收取多少佣金？

整个销售的10%。

销售价格最少3%的佣金。

销售价格的5%为佣金，以及每月用于花销的总共五千美元。

9 A: May we have a subsidy for sales promotion?

an allowance for advertising?

a reasonable amount from you for publicity?
B: I’m afraid we can’t pay for your sales promotion.

That should be part of your overheads and be taken from your commission.

Yes, but merely at the initial stage to help you push the sale. 可以给我们促销活动一些补助金吗？

可否给我们一些津贴做广告？
你们可否提供一定数量的钱用来作宣传？
对不起，我们不能负担你们的促销费用。
那应该是你们的一部分管理费用，应从佣金中支取。
可以，但只是在初始阶段来帮助你们推销。

10 A: In the long run your market will never grow, not until you

have an agent.

B: I see your point. Thank you for your advice. We’ll consider your proposal.

We may take up the matter again when we come to know each other better.

We think it would be better to consider the matter after you have done more business with us.

长远看来，除非你有一个代理，你们的市场永远不会发展。

我明白你的意思。谢谢你的建议。我们会考虑你的建议的。

当我们彼此更了解的时候，我们可以重新考虑这件事。

我们认为最好是在您和我们有了更多的交易之后再考虑这件事。