📝 Lesson Practice
🗣️ English Goal
compare two supplier offers clearly and explain reasons for choosing one
💼 Workplace Goal
understand how to review and compare supplier prices and conditions to make a good purchasing decision
💭 Warm-Up Question
How do you check prices when you want to buy from different suppliers? Explain why it is important to compare them.
📖 Short Reading
The purchasing team needed to buy 500 units of office chairs. Two suppliers sent their price offers. Supplier A offered the chairs at $45 each with a delivery time of 10 days. Supplier B gave a price of $43 each but delivery would take 15 days. The team also noticed that Supplier A included free packaging, while Supplier B charged $2 per unit for packaging. Because of this, both suppliers would have the same total cost for 500 chairs. The purchasing manager explained that delivery time is important to finish the office setup on time. The team decided to ask Supplier B if they could offer faster delivery or lower packaging costs. If not, they would choose Supplier A because the total cost is the same and the delivery time is shorter. The purchasing team is waiting for Supplier B's answer before making the final decision.
🔎 Check Your Understanding
1.
What did Supplier A include for free?
2.
Why is delivery time important for the purchasing team?
3.
What will the team do if Supplier B cannot change their offer?
4.
What is the team waiting for before making the final decision?
📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| supplier | a company or person who sells goods | We received two price offers from different suppliers. |
| price offer | a supplier's suggestion of how much to charge | The first price offer was $45 per chair. |
| delivery time | how many days it takes to deliver goods | Supplier A promised delivery in 10 days. |
| packaging | material used to pack products for delivery | Supplier B charged extra for packaging. |
| total cost | the full amount of money needed to buy and receive goods | We compared the total cost including packaging fees. |
| purchase order | a document to officially buy goods | After choosing the supplier, we sent the purchase order. |
| final decision | the last choice after thinking about options | The team made the final decision after checking conditions. |
| compare | to look at two or more things to find differences or similarities | We compare prices and delivery times before buying. |
| ask for | to request information or help | We will ask for faster delivery from Supplier B. |
| offer | to suggest a price or service | Supplier A offered free packaging. |
💬 Useful Language
requesting clarification:
Could you please explain your delivery times?
confirming information:
Can you confirm the total cost including packaging?
comparing options:
Supplier A's price is higher, but delivery is faster.
explaining a reason:
We need faster delivery to meet our project deadline.
making a suggestion:
Could you offer a lower price if we order more units?
giving a status update:
We are waiting for your response before making a decision.
💬 Dialogue
🙂 Alex: Sam, I received two price offers for the office chairs.
😀 Sam: What are the prices and delivery times from each supplier?
🙂 Alex: Supplier A offers $45 per chair with delivery in 10 days.
😀 Sam: And Supplier B?
🙂 Alex: Supplier B's price is $43 each, but delivery will take 15 days.
😀 Sam: Did you check if there are extra costs like packaging?
🙂 Alex: Yes, Supplier A includes free packaging. Supplier B charges $2 per chair.
😀 Sam: So Supplier B might be more expensive overall. What should we do next?
🙂 Alex: I will ask Supplier B if they can lower packaging costs or speed up delivery.
😀 Sam: Good idea. We can decide after they answer.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1.
We need to ____ the total cost including all fees before we decide. (compare / receive / order)
2.
Could you please ____ the delivery date for the 500 units? (explain / confirm / suggest)
3.
Supplier B has a lower unit price, ____ Supplier A has faster delivery. (so / and / but)
4.
We should ____ Supplier B if they can reduce the packaging cost. (ask / wait / cancel)
5.
The purchase order will be ____ after we choose the supplier. (sent / send / sending)
6.
Delivery time is important ____ we need the items by next week. (although / but / because)
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1.
Supplier
2.
Delivery time
3.
Packaging fee
4.
Purchase order
5.
Final decision
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1.
If Supplier B charges extra for packaging, what should you do?
2.
What is a good reason to ask suppliers for faster delivery?
3.
What is the best next step if a supplier’s price is lower but delivery is slower?
4.
Why do you compare supplier prices and conditions?
5.
What should you do after choosing the best supplier?
🧩 Mini Practice
Practice answering aloud.
Say: We need to compare supplier prices before we buy.
Say: Can you confirm the total cost including delivery fees?
Say: Supplier A offers a lower price but slower delivery.
Say: Please explain why delivery time is important for this order.
Ask: How would you ask a supplier to lower their price for a large order?
Say: Could you offer a better price if we order more units? We want to buy 1,000 chairs.
Ask: What is your recommendation if one supplier has a lower price but slower delivery?
Say: I would suggest asking the supplier if they can speed up delivery. If not, we should choose the faster delivery even if the price is higher.
💼 Workplace Action
Find two fictional supplier price offers for a product you want to buy. Compare the prices, delivery times, and any extra costs. Write a short note explaining which supplier you would choose and why.
📝 Reflection
When comparing supplier prices, what is more important to you: the lowest price, the fastest delivery, or total costs? Why would you choose one over the others?
🧭 Lesson Summary
This lesson helps you compare two supplier offers clearly. You can explain reasons for choosing one supplier. Now you understand how to review prices, delivery, and costs to make a good purchase.
🔎 Answer Key
Check Your Understanding
- Packaging
- Because the office setup must finish on time
- They will choose Supplier A
- Supplier B's answer about faster delivery or lower costs
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
- compare
- confirm
- but
- ask
- sent
- because
Exercise 2 – Matching
- Supplier – A company that sells goods
- Delivery time – How many days to deliver goods
- Packaging fee – Money charged to pack products
- Purchase order – An official document to buy goods
- Final decision – The last choice after comparing options
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
- Include packaging costs when comparing total prices
- Because you have a project deadline
- Ask if the delivery can be faster
- To find the best total cost and service
- Send the purchase order