Question

Imagine that you are a merchant writing back to a salesman who has been trying to persuade you to buy a new machine. Explain in your letter what you have heard and why you do not wish to invest in the new technology.

Answer 1

Dear Mr. Rai,

Thank you for your recent visit and demonstration of your company's new automated sorting machine. I appreciate you taking the time to show me how this technology could potentially speed up our processing line.

However, after carefully reviewing our current operations and meeting several colleagues in the merchant guild, I have chosen not to invest in this new machinery at the moment.

I want to be frank with you about the specific reports I have received regarding these units:

• High breakdown rates: Two merchants in the neighbouring district installed this exact model last year, and both have reported frequent mechanical difficulties.
• Costly replacement parts: When the machine breaks down, the custom gears must be imported from overseas, resulting in weeks of costly downtime.
• Steep learning curve: My current laborers are highly skilled at manual sorting, but mastering this machine interface would necessitate significant, unpaid training hours.

Our current manual system is reliable, fully funded, and keeps our local community employed. Introducing an unproven, expensive gadget creates a financial risk that my company cannot afford right now. I would rather wait for other companies to work out the challenges in this new technology before putting my own capital at risk.

Thank you once again for your time and professionalism. I'll keep your catalogue on file should our production needs change in the future.

Sincerely,
Arthur Pendelton
Lead Merchant,
Pendelton Goods Ltd.