Is it me, or are your RFQs always missing information?

[RJT]

Here is what is on my desk at the moment. 4 different customers, all with active RFQs that I want to quote. Been waiting from several days to a few hours for replies.
#1 RFQ Send print with 6 different configurations, doesn't specify which ones they want quoted
#2 RFQ sent for part number rev 1. Part number Rev 1 not available on their website (where I have to go to get prints)
#3 RFQ waiting on surface finish spec for "polished surface", no idea what the part does
#4 RFQ material Inconel no grade given

All rush jobs that I can't quote without more information. But the customer isn't in any rush to get me what I need to quote, phone calls and emails not returned promptly. OK, rant off. Blood pressure returning to normal. But the thing is, this is pretty normal. I waste a lot of time having to go back and figure out where I left off in the quoting process once I get and answer.

 

[implmex]

Hi RJT:
It's no different up here in Canada: I spend lots of quality time sorting out designs or gathering missing information if I have to quote.

Sometimes I can fake it...your Inconel parts for example.
Will the cost be much different depending on the grade?
If so quote it separately for each grade...yeah it's a PITA, but often you can copy/paste most things or just duplicate the quote file and rename it, then modify it for the new material.
Submit each variation and ask which they want.
Or quote the most expensive grade and append an email with the statement that other grades will be cheaper by the approximate percentage you estimate they will be cheaper by.
That buys you time to get responses on those other RFQ's that are missing information.
You can do the same for the polished parts...quote them with different finishes and get them out the door.

If your business is anything like mine you won't win all you quote anyway...no point busting your head over a quote you might never execute on.

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

 

[bigjon61]

100% blame it on the user friendly CAD systems these days. It is easy to draw the parts on the computer, and all of the rest of the drawing requirements (material, tolerances, datums etc.) get overlooked. Jobs that you paid a skilled draftsman to do are now being done by everybody who knows how to open Solidworks with little to no regard to the finer details and I admit I am as guilty as the next guy.

 

[eKretz]

This is usually a case of an inexperienced purchasing agent. Once I've been working with a new purchasing agent a little I can "train" them to give the proper info, but they often still miss things that are relevant to getting a good estimate. Experienced purchasing agents generally are pretty good about that.

 

[Larry Dickman]

gets worse every day. HT specs, plating specs, material specs, tolerances, (Just make it to a light press fit) etc, etc.
Usually, if I see specs quotes verbatim from the McMaster catalog, it's a no bid.

 

[Laurentian]

Had an issue with this in June and quoted a slightly high price for all the trouble caused from chasing drawings we never got. Had to dig back 20 years and go to storage unit to dig up some hard copies. Customer was unable to find some of the prints and the whole mess made me look stupid with the purchasing dept. ( we got the job in the end thankfully ) So now I'll either take the time to make a good precise quote which can take up to 2 weeks or just fudge them quickly to keep the paperwork flowing and end up being high thus scaring them away.. Super hard to strike the right balance with the touchy ones.

And this talk of inflation and having had to bump up my guys a few dollars for retention we had to raise our rates. Many don't bat en eye, it's the low margin customers that have a problem with it even if they're huge. Purchasing agents spreading their wings looking for a good deal.

 

[DouglasJRizzo]

Here is what is on my desk at the moment. 4 different customers, all with active RFQs that I want to quote. Been waiting from several days to a few hours for replies.
#1 RFQ Send print with 6 different configurations, doesn't specify which ones they want quoted
#2 RFQ sent for part number rev 1. Part number Rev 1 not available on their website (where I have to go to get prints)
#3 RFQ waiting on surface finish spec for "polished surface", no idea what the part does
#4 RFQ material Inconel no grade given

All rush jobs that I can't quote without more information. But the customer isn't in any rush to get me what I need to quote, phone calls and emails not returned promptly. OK, rant off. Blood pressure returning to normal. But the thing is, this is pretty normal. I waste a lot of time having to go back and figure out where I left off in the quoting process once I get and answer.

All of the above and then some.
#5 RFQ - No quantity specified.
#6 RFQ - "steel" for material. Well....ok then..
#7 RFQ - print so riddled with math errors that render it useless. A 2." bore in a part with a 1.75" OD. Yeah...

 

[eKretz]

Yeah I've seen all those and more. It's nothing unusual, especially when dealing with newer customers. The proliferation of CAD hasn't helped I'm afraid. Math skills in the trades aren't doing great these days.

 

[BT Fabrication]

yep, i get people every day. can you weld this? ok what is it, oh its aluminum. sends picture, nope its galvanized steel. or opposite.
or others are like i need this made from metal. ok size, dimensions etc on the tubing for the rack, size of rack. (D+ hopefully lol)

 

[Ox]

All of the above and then some.
#5 RFQ - No quantity specified.
#6 RFQ - "steel" for material. Well....ok then..
#7 RFQ - print so riddled with math errors that render it useless. A 2." bore in a part with a 1.75" OD. Yeah...

I have gotten at least one print that said "metal".

One job that we are running currently says "Steel", and they want material certs....


Working on a quote today that spec's 18-8.


---------------------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

 

[Larry Dickman]

One job that we are running currently says "Steel", and they want material certs....
--------------------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

maybe they want you to rip it off from someone else

 

[vmipacman]

For the ones with simple things missing, like type of inconel, I would just spec the one I want to use and note that on the quote as the material type.

Chances are they need a little guiding in the first place and are open to suggestions, otherwise they would have made a point to add that info.

Same with polishing. Just make it look kinda shiny. Call it out anyway you want on the quote.

 

[wesg]

Working on a quote today that spec's 18-8.

Tin?

 

[Ox]

IDK what you mean?


----------------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

 

[treetopguy2028]

Here is what is on my desk at the moment. 4 different customers, all with active RFQs that I want to quote. Been waiting from several days to a few hours for replies.
#1 RFQ Send print with 6 different configurations, doesn't specify which ones they want quoted
#2 RFQ sent for part number rev 1. Part number Rev 1 not available on their website (where I have to go to get prints)
#3 RFQ waiting on surface finish spec for "polished surface", no idea what the part does
#4 RFQ material Inconel no grade given

All rush jobs that I can't quote without more information. But the customer isn't in any rush to get me what I need to quote, phone calls and emails not returned promptly. OK, rant off. Blood pressure returning to normal. But the thing is, this is pretty normal. I waste a lot of time having to go back and figure out where I left off in the quoting process once I get and answer.

It's not just you...it's the way the world turns. I began my career in tree work at age 51 about 30 years ago, training four years under a certified Florida forester then two years apprenticeship while on the road with an RV. I should have paid better or closer attention to describing the work, for many property owners do not know what it takes to create an RFQ. They seldom know or think about the details of the project they plan to contract. I have many friends trying to make as building contractors and they also have this problem. Not every adult goes through education and/or training to do purchasing, contracting, describing work, etc. I have served 865 clients to remove 4,690 trees yet only 23 have fallen the wrong direction. I charge for doing estimates because m,y professional knowledge and work skills go to work the moment I arrive at the customer's place. If they want a free estimate I drop them like a hot potato.
My sister developed a craft business with handmade greeting cards. After four years of success she quit for two reasons. One, many customers would not plan ahead for Christmas card orders thinking she had stock made and ready to fill orders. Second, she farmed out some part work to an artist 300 miles away so she could not check the artist's work output for quality. The artist did not follow directions or my sister failed to spec the size she wanted so the low quality and poorly sized work got paid for yet had to be trashed.

 

[wesg]

I just did the math. Didnt think it was gonna fly. Maybe next time.

 

[Halcyon]

Worked in graphics for a bit.

"Why isn't my design moving??? I sent you an animated gif"

 

[vmipacman]

I think nothing is worse than when the RFQ asks you to quote best price and lead time. WTF? Tell me when you need the parts, don’t make me guess. As if lead time doesn’t affect cost…

 

[jatt]

Stop it you lot, giving me flashbacks!
Hung up on this clown today cause after asking 4 times to either see the item in person, or at least some good photos, I still couldnt get this basic concept through. Listen but dont hear. U know the story - one doesnt have all day.

My favourite is when they try and hit me up 4 a price, without so much as approximate dimensions.

Around here a CAD file is a luxury. At best its a hand drawn job. Thats fine if they actually measure it properly!

Many that contact me simply dont know the right info to provide. They are generally the retail cust - thats fine if I can glean some decent info from them. "Go and get me some basic dimensions and a few fotos and we can take it from there." If you cant figure it out, then I gotta see it for myself.

Happy quoting.

 

[ttrager]

The experience where I'm at is hit and miss. Sometimes we get decent blueprints and specs with our quote requests, sometimes we get stuff that's missing information, missing critical feature call outs, sometimes after we get the job there's 1 to 4 CHANGES the customer calls us for after the job is started.

What's interesting to our Customer Service Rep is the worst offenders are some big name big companies. Companies you'd think would staff people that knew how to, for instance, revision a print properly.

Anyway, my experience has been that you have to expect the worst and become practiced with compensating and asking for clarifications or corrections. My end of it is a little easier, because I perform the re-print and job packet checks just before it goes to the floor. The Ops Mgr and Customer Service Rep have to deal with the brunt of it upstream of me..