The Brazilian buyer is also concerned with after-sales service provided by the exporter. The slower pace of business negotiation does not mean that Brazilians are less knowledgeable in terms of industrial technology or modern business practices. In fact, one should be as prepared technically when making a call on a Sao Paulo firm as on a Chicago firm. In addition, a U.S. business person is encouraged to learn as much about the Brazilian economic and commercial environment as possible before doing business. The best times for calls on a Brazilian executive are between 10 a.m. and noon, and 3 to 5 p.m., although this is less the case for Sao Paulo where appointments are common throughout most of the day.
Lunch is usually two hours.
It is customary in Brazil to drink coffee during a business appointment. While many Brazilians may speak English, they may wish to conduct business in Portuguese. The non-Portuguese speaking U.S. executive may need an interpreter on more than 50 percent of business calls. Correspondence and product literature should be in Portuguese, and English is preferred as a substitute over Spanish. Specifications and other technical data should be in the metric system.