You’ve probably experienced hardware superstore anxiety.
If you’re unsure about what you really need, it can be hard to get the help you want. Or, you could miss important details, and end up with the wrong part. Either way, you can end up wasting valuable time and feel very frustrated.
You may have the same anxiety when requesting a cutting quote. The good news is, with these tips you can speed up the RFQ process, ensure you get what you want, and get a more accurate cost estimate.
Tip #1: Don’t leave details blank on your RFQ forms.
Help your vendor by providing all requested information to give a complete picture of what you need.
Tip #2: Be specific but realistic when requesting tolerances.
Too tight a tolerance can add needless cost. Too loose can impact the finished results.
Tip #3: A picture is worth a thousand words.
Include a detailed drawing with dimensions and tolerances clearly labeled.
Filling out an RFQ is like doing an internet search: The more criteria you put in, the more refined and accurate your results — and quote — can be.
Final tip: Remember that a vendor is your partner in this process, not your adversary.
Their goal is to extract the details that will allow them to deliver exactly the part you want and need.
Learn more about part specifications by downloading our guide on “How to Fine Tune Your Quote Request to Your Maximum Advantage.”