You spent time on the RFQ. You checked material availability, programmed toolpaths, factored in post-processing, and sent a detailed quote. Then… nothing. No reply, no questions, no order. Just silence.
It happens to every shop. But if it’s happening often, it’s not just “customers being busy.” Something in your quote or process is causing the ghosting. Let’s break down the most common reasons and what to do about them.
Your Quote Arrived Too Late
Speed matters. If a customer sent RFQs to five shops and you were the last to respond, they may have already moved forward with someone else. In digital manufacturing, the first competent quote often wins.
Benchmark: aim to quote simple parts in minutes, complex assemblies in under an hour. If your process takes 24 hours, you’re losing jobs before you know they exist.
The Quote Is Hard to Understand
Customers aren’t always engineers. If your quote reads like a BOM dump — line items for machine time, setup, programming, each insert, each finish — they may not grasp the total value or spot what they need to approve.
Fix it: lead with a clear summary. Total price, lead time, what’s included, what’s not. Put the detail below for those who want it. Make the decision easy.
You Didn’t Answer Their Real Question
Sometimes the RFQ asks for “price and lead time for 50 units” but the real need is “can you hit this date with this material?” If you quote 50 units at standard lead time but they needed expedited, your quote misses the mark.
Before quoting, clarify: what’s the must-have date? Are there material substitutions allowed? What’s the fallback if the first choice is out of stock? A quick clarifying email or call saves a wasted quote.
No Clear Next Step
Every quote should end with an obvious action: “Reply ‘approved’ to start,” “Click here to order,” or “Let me know if you need adjustments.” If the customer has to guess how to proceed, some won’t bother.
Follow-Up Is Missing or Too Late
One follow-up at 48 hours isn’t a strategy. Build a cadence: a quick check-in at 24 hours, a value-add at 72 hours (e.g., “We have material in stock and a machine opening Thursday — can ship Friday if you approve today”), and a close-the-loop note at one week.
Automate the reminders so they happen even when you’re on the shop floor.
Your Pricing Looks Uncompetitive Without Context
If you’re higher than the cheapest quote, explain why — tighter tolerances, better material certs, in-house inspection, faster turnaround. Don’t make them guess. A one-line note: “Price includes FAI report and material certs” can justify the delta.
How Solvi Helps
Solvi’s instant quoting engine lets you configure your processes, materials, and pricing rules once — then generate clear, professional quotes in minutes. Built-in follow-up reminders and a customer-facing portal mean nothing slips through the cracks. See how it works at https://www.solvi.io.
Stop the Silence
Ghosted quotes are usually fixable. Faster turnaround, clearer structure, smarter follow-up. Pick one to improve this week and watch the reply rate climb.
Solvi
Quote it in seconds with Solvi
Instant quoting on your own site, with pricing rules your team controls and a preview before anything goes live. Built inside a working 3D printing bureau.