Online
Marketplace

Auto
Parts & Accessories

Consumer
Electronics

Drones
& Robotics

Electronic
Components

Fashion
Accessories & Footwear

Fashion
Apparel & Fabrics

Gifts &
Premiums

Hardware

Home
Products

LED
& Solar Products

LEDs
& Optoelectronics

Machinery
& Parts

Mobile
Electronics

Security
Products

Smart
Living

Underwear
& Swimwear

Trade Shows

Global Sources Exhibitions

Electronics

Mobile Electronics

Gifts & Home

Fashion

Other Trade Shows

Magazines

Magazines

Sourcing Reports

Other
Services

Get
Quotations

Product
Alerts

Analyst's Choice

Sourcing News & Advice

Private Sourcing Events

Buyer Support

About Us

Reliable exporters: find them and meet them

Path: Sourcing News & Advice
>> Smart
Sourcing >> 8
ways to facilitate the quoting process

Sourcing News & Advice
Home

Industry
News

Surveys

Smart Sourcing

Ask
the Experts

Buyer's
Guide

8 ways to facilitate the quoting process

Posted: November 02, 2016

By Li Zhang

The
quoting process frequently becomes an extended ordeal because the RFQ lacks info
that otherwise would’ve greased the engine of smoothness. Here are 8 ways to
avoid time loss, misunderstandings and help your supplier be more efficient in
the quoting process.

Ways
to Help Kick the Quoting Process into High Gear!

1-
Time of Day

Send
the inquiry in China’s early morning so that the supplier will see it at the
start of their work day. Many buyers send an inquiry in their own morning and
they’re on next to opposite timezones of China. It seems like a entire day is
lost. The more traction you gain with your suppliers, you’ll be able to send an
inquiry in the evening, go to work the next morning and have it in your inbox.
Talk about a fast quoting process!

2-
Use a Template

When
dealing with vendors, you want to be routine and consistent. Spontaneity works
on dates and in poetry but not in China sourcing. Always send your RFQ’s to your
vendor in the same format. Sure the details will be different but use the same
layout, the same headings, the same expectations. That way, you’re vendor knows
what you expect, there’s less-back-and-forth and the quoting process is sped up.
That brings me to my next point…

3-
Be Thorough

Include
everything you need in your RFQ. Before you hit the send button, spend time
simply meditating over what you’re asking and think about your RFQ. Ask yourself
questions; should I include this? Do I need to tell them that? What would you
want to know if your client was sending you the inquiry. No points are scored
for how short, cryptic and misspelled you make your RFQ.

4-
Include Your Quantities

You
may assume that if you don’t include the quantities, then the supplier, being
the super sleuth that they are may just quote the minimum order quantity. Or
they may lay out a basket of quantity scales so you can have you pick like
you’re at the hog trough buffet. But that’d be a wrong assumption. If you send
an inquiry without the expected order quantities, you can expect to lose an
entire day with the supplier emailing you to ask you “what quantity should we
quote?”

Quantity
Request Information

5-
Have Artwork or Branding Requirements Ready

From
the get-go, provide as much idea as possible when it comes to branding
expectations. Send the artwork file as soon as possible. Detailedly describe the
artwork placement and measurement. This is not an area where you want to leave
it to supplier guesswork. Ask the supplier the supplier for any print area
measurements you need.

6-
Packing

The
supplier won’t delay the quote if you don’t provide packing. But if you have a
specialized packing request and don’t inform the supplier from the beginning,
you’re going to have to go back and adjust the quote. Adjusting the quote may
put you in a bind if you didn’t consider the change and you’ve already passed
the price to your end customer. Even worse, if you’ve already calculated any air-freight pricing, a change of packing may completely
change your price scale! Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into the quoting
process.

7-
Leave Out The Unimportant

There’s
a balance to strike in providing the necessary detail and becoming too wordy on
things that will bog down the supplier’s understanding. Provide the need-to-know
details that lead to a precise quote as well as pieces of information that’ll
give insight into expectations throughout the order process.

8-
Let The Vendor Know When You Need the Quote

A
novel idea, right? If it’s an asap request, then you need to let the vendor know
it’s urgent. But endeavor to provide the vendor with a timeframe. For example,
“I’ll need this quote by Friday morning, please confirm if you are able to
provide it by then”.

If
it’s not asap and you have a few days, let the vendor know so they are able to
put the proper time towards the pricing and not do a rush job.

Want
to learn more sourcing best practices?

Join the Global Sources Summit that combines conferences and
networking, co-located with our Hong Kong trade shows. The event will be held
April 17-19, 2017, and is geared toward online and Amazon
sellers.

Li
Zhang has worked in international manufacturing and exporting since 2003. She
has served global brands such as Bayer, Coca Cola and Warner Bros. Her
background is in design and engineering. Li is a native of Jiangsu Province and
currently finds herself back and forth between Suzhou, China and the USA.
Contact Li at This email address is being protected from
spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

, or find her penning manufacturing thoughts at her blog.

Read more Sourcing
News & Advice

Join the Smart China
Sourcing Facebook Group

Connect with other buyers

Ask questions

Get advice from experts

Join Group

Attend the Global Sources
Summit

For online and Amazon sellers

Interactive training led by sourcing experts

Source profitably, avoid pitfalls

October 17 - 19, 2016 in Hong Kong

Co-located with Mobile Electronics and
Gifts
& Home shows

Learn More

Feedback

Send us your comments and suggestions, or share your sourcing
experiences.

Find Suppliers Online

Browse Product Categories

New Products

Top
Products

Top China Suppliers

Source by Country

Top 20 Products by Industry

Wholesale Directory

Wholesale Products

Factory
Directory

Product
Catalog

Fabricantes y Maquinariabeta | Global Sources

Buyer Tools

Message Center

Global
Sources Apps

Sourcing News & Advice

Sourcing e-Magazines

Sourcing Reports

Global
Sources Direct

Get
Quotations

Supplier Tools

Reach Qualified Buyers

Sign up for a Free Trial

Become a Verified Supplier

多渠道曝光/推广

供应商成功故事

免费网上广告注册

高效参展

About Us

About Global Sources

Our
Services

Our
Quality Commitment

Buyer Testimonials

Investor Relations

Videos

Meet Suppliers Face-to-Face

Sourcing
Fairs

Private Sourcing Events

Buyer Support

What
Every Buyer Needs to Know

Ask the Sourcing Experts

Learn to
Source from China

Help

User
Guide

Help
& FAQ

Contact Global Sources

Site
Map

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn RSS

Global Sources Sourcing Sites: GlobalSources.com

Global Sources Other Country Sites: Hong Kong

Global Sources Management Site: 世界经理人

Copyright © Media Data Systems Pte Ltd (Singapore Co.
Reg. No. 199001601W). All rights reserved.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Security Measures IP Policy About The Translation