English translation: basically the same (but it depends upon context)
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English to English translations [PRO] Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general) / EDI, billing
English term or phrase:vendor (vs supplier)
I am seeing "vendor" used more and more in cases where I would normally have used "supplier", and wonder if this is specific to US usage or is more widespread. I have always associated "vendor" with ice-cream or peanuts but maybe it's a cultural thing? All comments welcome.
Explanation: vendor and supplier basically the same thing, but it depends upon context. One has to have a feel for the language, and perhaps only a native speaker would in this case.
But there can be differences, where one would be inappropriate to use. For instance, one would not say "drug vendor" to refer to a drug pusher, but might say "drug supplier." However I doubt that is what you are askin here.
And we wouldn't say "supplying machine" as we would say "vending machine."
And as a very, supplier is most often more appropriate. For instance, "we vend to..." would not be said, though "we supply to..." would be.
But to respond more directly to your question: vendor is more formal, and supplier more informal. One would not say "who is your vendor?" but could say "who is your supplier?" of such and such product. And a List of Approved Vendors is better than a list of Approved Suppliers.
In short: sometimes neither is appropriate, as in "Vendor to the Queen," nor "Supplier to the Queen."
it's not just me that has doubts about this term. In the end I'll just keep using "supplier" unless the client asks for something else, as they are quite responsive. Thanks to all for chipping in ;)
I always thought of suppliers as the people who manufacture or sell parts for the manufacture or sale of another product, such as car parts, and of vendors as the sellers of a finished product. Maybe that distinction is no longer made.
Here's a UK page on supplier and vendor auditing, which suggests that both terms are used, though it doesn't go into the distinction. (Mind you, they talk about "reputational damage", so I'm doubtful whether they're to be trusted.) http://www.cp-training-consortium.co.uk/practical-supplier-a...
....in translation to refer to translators. "Please log into our vendors site" and such things. I agree that I find it highly conspicuous when used in this manner. I don't see myself as a "vendor" at all.
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Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): -2
Vendor:someone who sells something, but not in a store
Explanation: ven·dor / `vendər / noun [count]
someone who sells something, but not in a store:
The square was full of food vendors and musicians.
a flower vendor on the church steps
a. FORMAL a company or person that sells a particular product or service:
the software vendor
b. BRITISH LEGAL the person who is selling a building or a piece of land: SELLER
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-12-01 16:54:29 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
This is the definition presented in MacMillan English Dictionary -American
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-12-01 16:56:23 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
MacMillan English Dictionary -American
supplier
sup·pli·er / sə`plaɪr / noun [count] **
a company, organization, or country that supplies or sells a product or service:
electricity/gas/heating suppliers
supplier of: Colombia is our main supplier of coffee beans.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-12-01 16:57:22 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
supplier /səˈplaɪ.əʳ/ US /-ɚ/
noun [C]
a company, person, etc. that provides things that people want or need, especially over a long period of time:
They used to be a leading supplier of military equipment.
He said that he had got the drugs from his usual supplier (= person who sells drugs illegally).
oraki Local time: 00:23 Native speaker of: Farsi (Persian)
7 days confidence:
basically the same (but it depends upon context)
Explanation: vendor and supplier basically the same thing, but it depends upon context. One has to have a feel for the language, and perhaps only a native speaker would in this case.
But there can be differences, where one would be inappropriate to use. For instance, one would not say "drug vendor" to refer to a drug pusher, but might say "drug supplier." However I doubt that is what you are askin here.
And we wouldn't say "supplying machine" as we would say "vending machine."
And as a very, supplier is most often more appropriate. For instance, "we vend to..." would not be said, though "we supply to..." would be.
But to respond more directly to your question: vendor is more formal, and supplier more informal. One would not say "who is your vendor?" but could say "who is your supplier?" of such and such product. And a List of Approved Vendors is better than a list of Approved Suppliers.
In short: sometimes neither is appropriate, as in "Vendor to the Queen," nor "Supplier to the Queen."
Charlesp Local time: 21:53 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 23
Charles Davis Spain Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Note to reference poster
Asker: Cheers for the links. In the end it looks like my question is moot as there doesn't seem to be a clear dividing line. I thought it might be more common in US usage as it conjures images of candy floss stalls or organ grinders for me...
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peer agreement (net): -2
