In foreign trade, 'Old Customer' (also 'Repeat Customer') refers to a customer who has completed at least one successful transaction with the company and is likely to continue placing orders. In contrast to a 'New Customer', an old customer typically has an established trust base, lower communication costs, a shorter sales cycle, and higher order stability. Use cases include: offering more favorable prices or payment terms when quoting, prioritizing production and shipment, and being more flexible when handling complaints. Cautions: do not neglect contract terms and risk control just because of a familiar relationship; still monitor their business condition and payment capacity. Also distinguish 'old customer' from 'key account'—an old customer may not have large order volume but tends to be highly loyal. Unlike a 'prospect', an old customer has already made actual transactions. Maintaining old customers is often done through regular follow-ups, holiday greetings, new product recommendations, and exclusive discounts to increase repurchase rate and customer lifetime value.
📝 Examples
1. Manager Zhang, this batch of goods is for our old customer ABC Company. Please prioritize production and follow the same payment method as last time. (Note: Old customers enjoy priority production and flexible payment.)
2. For old customers, we can offer an additional 3% discount on the quotation to encourage them to increase order volume. (Note: Using price incentives to maintain old customer relationships.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner