• TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Inspection
    • Heat Treating
    • Lubrication
    • Materials
    • The Gear Industry
    • Gears by Type
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe
  • VIDEO
    • Gear Technology TV
      • Ask the Expert Live
      • Revolutions
    • Industry Videos
  • BLOGS
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • ADVERTISING
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
    • Print Advertising
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: MPT Expo Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • Print: Specifications
      • MPT Expo Show Guide Advertising
    • Online Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-mail Advertising
      • E-mail: E-Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: AGMA Industry News
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: MPT Expo Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • MPT Expo Show Guide Advertising
  • CONTACT US
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Blogs » Gear Talk With Chuck » The Importance of Prompt No Quotes

Gear Talk With Chuck
Gear Talk With Chuck RSS FeedRSS

Manufacturing / The Gear Industry / Processes / Forging / Management / Purchasing
Charles schultz
Chuck Schultz is a licensed engineer, Gear Technology Technical Editor, and Chief Engineer for Beyta Gear Service. He has written the "Gear Talk with Chuck" blog for Gear Technology since 2014.

The Importance of Prompt No Quotes

November 19, 2015
Charles D. Schultz
Before going on an extended blog series on my “points system” for evaluating business opportunities, I want to talk about the importance of issuing prompt “no quotes.” Every company receives requests for quotes that are just not going to work for them. It might be for a product you don’t make or a part that won’t fit into your equipment. Whatever the reason for rejection, I strongly recommend issuing a formal “no quote” as soon as the decision is made, rather than just letting the reply date pass without notice. There are a number of good reasons for this, both short-term and long-term. In the short-term scenario purchasing people talk to many people in the course of their daily business. Sometimes they broaden their usual quote request base at the suggestion of another supplier, co-worker, or their boss. It is embarrassing to get a call from a mutual supplier or service provider asking why you were rude to their friend after they got them to include you on a bidder’s list. It takes only seconds in this e-mail age to do the polite thing and issue a no quote. Purchasing people are under great pressure to get projects moving, often because Sales and Engineering ate up all the lead time. Declining promptly gives them time to seek other bidders so they can comply with internal and external requirements for openness and fair dealing. Clear reasons why the project was declined will help them find more suitable vendors and to send your firm better opportunities. Relationships can last a long time in the gear trade. I spoke with a forging salesman a few days ago with whom I first did business in 1983. Not every project I sent his way over those years fit his firm’s equipment, but I knew he would either get me a price promptly or send me in the right direction to a competitor. That is what responsible professionals do. You might not win them all, but if you treat people right you will get a lot more opportunities.

Recent Comments

Thank you for this - Happy Saint Patrick's...

Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • Helios1
    Forest City Gear Taps Helios Gear for Custom Cutting Tools
January 18, 2023
RECOMMENDED
  • Precision Equals Performance at ZPE GripTec

    October 12, 2022
    gt0922_Page_28_Image_0003.jpg
  • State of the Powder Metal Industry

    October 12, 2022
    gt0922_Page_30_Image_0001.jpg
  • The Afterglow of Furnaces North America 2022

    October 12, 2022
    gt0922_Page_20_Image_0001.jpg
  • Reigniting the Educational Infrastructure

    December 5, 2022
    gt1122_Page_20_Image_0001.jpg
  • Profile: Continuing Education and Training with the AGMA

    December 5, 2022
    gt1122_Page_26_Image_0001.jpg
  • Reigniting the Educational Infrastructure

    December 5, 2022
    gt1122_Page_20_Image_0001.jpg
  • Profile: Continuing Education and Training with the AGMA

    December 5, 2022
    gt1122_Page_26_Image_0001.jpg
  • Precision Equals Performance at ZPE GripTec

    October 12, 2022
    gt0922_Page_28_Image_0003.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • AGMA
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2023 Gear Technology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact