Document 8.A: Requesting Routine Information from a Business

Our university is closing its dining hall for financial reasons, so we want to do something to help the students prepare their own food in their residence rooms if they so choose. Your colourful ad in University Management Magazine caught our eye. We need the following information before we make our decision:

 

• Would you be able to ship the microwaves by August 15? We realize this is short notice, but our board of trustees just made the decision to close the dining hall last week, and we’re scrambling around trying to figure out what to do.

• Do they have any kind of a warranty? Students can be pretty hard on things, as you know, so we will need a good warranty.

• How much does it cost? Do you give a discount for a big order?

• Do we have to provide a special electrical outlet?

• Will students know how to use them, or will we need to provide instructions?

As I said before, we’re on a tight time frame and need good information from you as soon as possible to help us make our decision about ordering. You never know what the board might come up with next. I’m looking at several other companies, also, so please let us know ASAP.

Read the following documents, then (1) analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each sentence and (2) revise each document so that it follows this chapter’s guidelines.