You know what you want to buy, or what you want to sell. We take the conversation with the other side — on the phone, in writing, at the factory door — in French, English or Russian, and you get the answers back in writing, in your language.
What we do
- Talk to the manufacturer. We contact the producer you have chosen, or the ones we find for you in the open catalogue, ask your questions in their language and report what they actually said: price basis, minimum order, lead time, packaging, payment terms.
- Run a quote round. One brief, several manufacturers. The answers come back translated and side by side, so you compare like with like. RFQ rounds with translation start at €90.
- Come to the meeting. At the factory, at a trade fair, at a supplier’s office in Alsace or Baden-Württemberg: we attend, interpret and take notes, so you decide afterwards without the pressure of the room.
- Follow up until it is answered. Samples, corrections, revised offers, delivery dates. A supplier’s silence is also information; we chase it and tell you where things stand.
- Negotiate for a company here. The same job in the other direction: a French or German company that needs someone to hold a customer or partner conversation in another language, notably in Russian. See Russian-language support for CIS markets.
How it works
- You send the brief: what you need, quantity, target price if you have one, deadline.
- We reply with what we would do and what it costs.
- We do the talking and pass on, in writing, what was said.
- You decide. We are not a party to the contract between you and the manufacturer.
What it costs
€60 per hour or €420 per day, online or on site. RFQ rounds with translation from €90. If you want the whole deal handled — supplier selection, negotiation, contract, production monitoring, inspection, documents and dispatch — the fee is a 3–10% commission depending on contract value, minimum €1,500. Details on the Pricing page.
What we don’t do
We do not sell, and we are not a party to your contract with the manufacturer. We give no legal or tax advice; if a clause needs a lawyer, we say so and bring in a partner avocat. And we cannot promise a lower price. What we can promise is that the right questions get asked, in the right language, and that the answers are written down.
Who it’s for
- Foreign buyers dealing with manufacturers in Alsace and Baden-Württemberg who do not speak the language, or do not want to spend a week on email.
- French and German companies that need someone to take a customer or supplier conversation in English or Russian.
- Manufacturers who receive enquiries from abroad and cannot answer in the sender’s language.
Questions
Which languages do you work in?
English, French and Russian.
Do you visit the factory?
Yes. A visit with a photo report is a separate service, €390–590 per visit; see the independent supplier audit.
How do I start?
Send a request through the contact page.
We are an administrative and operational service (MELEKHOFF & FILS, Alsace, France). We coordinate, represent and assist — regulated services are provided by independent licensed professionals.