Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Hi Mike,

      It is really a great idea to classify the customers,if they really are interested in your products,they will communicate with you,and answer what you want.

     And I have learn a lot from this,thank you for you answer.

Steven Jiang

Quoting from [mstringer]:

Quoting from [breucezhangyihua]:



Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Qualify them as to what type of customers are they.  Are they end users who need the product for their own use, are they channel customers who will resell the products, or are they wholesalers who will resell to channel customers and then sell to end users. 

Also ask key questions like what products are they most interested in?  What kind of quanitity do they need?  What is their business and what kind of volume did they do last year?  These questions will lead you in the right direction.  By just giving a price list to anyone, most likely your list will be in the wrong hands like a competitor or another person who can use that information against you and your organization.

Through qualifying the leads, you will better serve your customer and have more time to spend with the customers who will buy from you and not waste time sending endless samples and price sheets attempting to get the business.

Mike

Quoting from [Egernia]:

I think the answer depends upon what products you sell, how you sell them, and what most of your customers expect.

The standard situation from manufacturers is that prices are based upon quantity and costs at production time. This seems to be the situation that you are in. So you just need to explain this briefly but clearly to your customers. In most cases customers will understand this and the ones that do have a problem with it are most likely new to the business themselves.

If your product is one that attracts a lot of newcomers to foreign trade and you want to build business with those customers then why not just put together a standard price list based upon you MOQ. State the terms of the prices, state a validity time for the prices, and state clearly that you can offer better prices for higher quantiities.

At the end of the day I think buyers are much better off getting prices based upon their specific needs, but if your customers want prices first then why not give them what they want.

Some suppliers will say that those 'buyers' may be competitors checking your prices and they may be right but so what. They may not be and if they are potential customers you do not want to lose them.

Standard price list is a good  method.

I certainly understand the need to clarify what type of customer you are dealing with as that is the only way to be able to give them the appropriate service. But my concern with the idea of 'verifying the buyer' before offering them any information is that sometimes sales staff in factories can be lazy or perhaps just fall into the trap of sending standard replies requesting more information.

Examples:

1. The initial email from the buyer states clearly that they are a distributor of auto parts in South Africa - yet the sales person fails to read the email and just sends out a standard reply asking the buyer among other things what country they sell to and what products they sell!!

2. The initial email from the buyer is made from a website domain email address not a free server email address - yet the sales persons standard reply asks whether the buyer has a website!!!!

3. The initial email from the buyer clearly requests prices be based upon the factory standard MOQ for the chosen item - yet the sales person replies asking what quantities the buyer wants to buy in!!!

4. The initial email from the buyer clearly requests prices be based upon factory standard packaging - yet the sales person replies asking whether the customer has specific packaging requirements.

So I would recommend that if a seller does not feel that it is appropriate to reply to price requests by giving prices, that they at least take the time to make a professional reply to the buyer after first ensuring that they have absorbed all information already given by the buyer.

The worst mistake that you can make is to reply without answering the buyers questions, with the added mistake of asking questions yourself that have already been answered. That is a surefire way to send a clear message that you do not care about the customers needs!

Quoting from [Egernia]:

I think the answer depends upon what products you sell, how you sell them, and what most of your customers expect.

The standard situation from manufacturers is that prices are based upon quantity and costs at production time. This seems to be the situation that you are in. So you just need to explain this briefly but clearly to your customers. In most cases customers will understand this and the ones that do have a problem with it are most likely new to the business themselves.

If your product is one that attracts a lot of newcomers to foreign trade and you want to build business with those customers then why not just put together a standard price list based upon you MOQ. State the terms of the prices, state a validity time for the prices, and state clearly that you can offer better prices for higher quantiities.

At the end of the day I think buyers are much better off getting prices based upon their specific needs, but if your customers want prices first then why not give them what they want.

Some suppliers will say that those 'buyers' may be competitors checking your prices and they may be right but so what. They may not be and if they are potential customers you do not want to lose them.

Good suggestions for all suppliers!

Quoting from [brucezhangyihua]:



Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

You must have a minimum & maximum quotations, minimum as standard MOQ you require, and maximum as when the quantity requirement by your client reaches your standard maximum or volume. But to offer first your minimum quote is the best since you dont have such quantity requirement from your client, along side comment that THESE OFFER IS NEGOTIABLE BY VOLUME. Even though the market varies atleast if the buyer is for real he has a gauge on prevailing prices in the market.  

Quoting from [Steven Jiang]:

Hi Mike,

      It is really a great idea to classify the customers,if they really are interested in your products,they will communicate with you,and answer what you want.

     And I have learn a lot from this,thank you for you answer.

Steven Jiang

Quoting from [mstringer]:

Quoting from [breucezhangyihua]:




Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Qualify them as to what type of customers are they.  Are they end users who need the product for their own use, are they channel customers who will resell the products, or are they wholesalers who will resell to channel customers and then sell to end users. 

Also ask key questions like what products are they most interested in?  What kind of quanitity do they need?  What is their business and what kind of volume did they do last year?  These questions will lead you in the right direction.  By just giving a price list to anyone, most likely your list will be in the wrong hands like a competitor or another person who can use that information against you and your organization.

Through qualifying the leads, you will better serve your customer and have more time to spend with the customers who will buy from you and not waste time sending endless samples and price sheets attempting to get the business.

Mike

I agree in some points but in reality many don't give such attention in answering such querries by sellers. I agree also that we have to qualify. But most of the buyers are shortcutting the process after seeing our prices they just disappear. I'm sincere and honest in my job that's why sometimes it disappoint me when after giving such info they don't even acknowledge they received it.

Julius

 

Quoting from [mstringer]:

Quoting from [brucezhangyihua]:



Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Qualify them as to what type of customers are they.  Are they end users who need the product for their own use, are they channel customers who will resell the products, or are they wholesalers who will resell to channel customers and then sell to end users. 

Also ask key questions like what products are they most interested in?  What kind of quanitity do they need?  What is their business and what kind of volume did they do last year?  These questions will lead you in the right direction.  By just giving a price list to anyone, most likely your list will be in the wrong hands like a competitor or another person who can use that information against you and your organization.

Through qualifying the leads, you will better serve your customer and have more time to spend with the customers who will buy from you and not waste time sending endless samples and price sheets attempting to get the business.

Mike

Dear Mike!

I agree with your view point... But sometimes it happens that... we know the buyer is Geniune and is old in the field but is buying from some other supplier... In such case... if he demands for the price list... then what must we do???

And also in some cases... buyers asks for price list.. You know... the competition is hard, if we ask him so many questions or inquire him in the way you told, he may not reply back. Some clients need urgent attention to them. Usually they have answer that, quantities will be decieded after viewing the price list. So is there not chances to go the price list in the wrong hands??? i think it does...

I usually get confused of such type of situation... What do you think??

Thanks

Quoting from [mstringer]:

Quoting from [brucezhangyihua]:



Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Qualify them as to what type of customers are they.  Are they end users who need the product for their own use, are they channel customers who will resell the products, or are they wholesalers who will resell to channel customers and then sell to end users. 

Also ask key questions like what products are they most interested in?  What kind of quanitity do they need?  What is their business and what kind of volume did they do last year?  These questions will lead you in the right direction.  By just giving a price list to anyone, most likely your list will be in the wrong hands like a competitor or another person who can use that information against you and your organization.

Through qualifying the leads, you will better serve your customer and have more time to spend with the customers who will buy from you and not waste time sending endless samples and price sheets attempting to get the business.

Mike

good ,i can't agree with you anymore.

Quoting from [Egernia]:

I certainly understand the need to clarify what type of customer you are dealing with as that is the only way to be able to give them the appropriate service. But my concern with the idea of 'verifying the buyer' before offering them any information is that sometimes sales staff in factories can be lazy or perhaps just fall into the trap of sending standard replies requesting more information.

Examples:

1. The initial email from the buyer states clearly that they are a distributor of auto parts in South Africa - yet the sales person fails to read the email and just sends out a standard reply asking the buyer among other things what country they sell to and what products they sell!!

2. The initial email from the buyer is made from a website domain email address not a free server email address - yet the sales persons standard reply asks whether the buyer has a website!!!!

3. The initial email from the buyer clearly requests prices be based upon the factory standard MOQ for the chosen item - yet the sales person replies asking what quantities the buyer wants to buy in!!!

4. The initial email from the buyer clearly requests prices be based upon factory standard packaging - yet the sales person replies asking whether the customer has specific packaging requirements.

So I would recommend that if a seller does not feel that it is appropriate to reply to price requests by giving prices, that they at least take the time to make a professional reply to the buyer after first ensuring that they have absorbed all information already given by the buyer.

The worst mistake that you can make is to reply without answering the buyers questions, with the added mistake of asking questions yourself that have already been answered. That is a surefire way to send a clear message that you do not care about the customers needs!

Your answer is so good. i trust you are a good hand in the foreign trade business

Quoting from [mstringer]:

Quoting from [brucezhangyihua]:



Many customers asks for the price list but the prices variy according to the market ,not fixed ,and the price depends on the customer's quanttity ,requirements ,so the price is not fixed ,how should i do when a customer asks me for a complete price list  of my products ? 

Qualify them as to what type of customers are they.  Are they end users who need the product for their own use, are they channel customers who will resell the products, or are they wholesalers who will resell to channel customers and then sell to end users. 

Also ask key questions like what products are they most interested in?  What kind of quanitity do they need?  What is their business and what kind of volume did they do last year?  These questions will lead you in the right direction.  By just giving a price list to anyone, most likely your list will be in the wrong hands like a competitor or another person who can use that information against you and your organization.

Through qualifying the leads, you will better serve your customer and have more time to spend with the customers who will buy from you and not waste time sending endless samples and price sheets attempting to get the business.

Mike

  BEST ANSWER MIKE