How to write an RFQ that actually gets quoted
The single biggest difference between a Request for Quote that gets five solid responses in a day and one that gets none isn't luck — it's specificity. Suppliers on Tradeora are choosing which open requests are worth their time to quote on, and a vague request is easy to skip past. Here's what actually moves the needle.
1. Say exactly what you need, not just the category
"Need electrical work done" gets ignored. "Need a certified electrician to install 8 additional plug points and 2 light fittings in a home office, Pretoria East" gets a real quote from someone who knows they can actually do it. The category field narrows who sees your request; the description is what convinces them to respond.
2. Give a real quantity or scope
"Some office chairs" versus "200 office chairs" are two completely different jobs to price. If you don't have an exact number yet, give a range — suppliers can work with "150 to 200 units," they can't work with nothing.
3. Set a realistic budget, if you have one in mind
Budget is optional on the request form, but filling it in filters out quotes wildly outside your range before you waste time on them — and signals to suppliers that you're a serious, ready-to-transact buyer rather than someone fishing for prices with no intention of buying.
4. Include your location and delivery timeline
Delivery province and city, plus a "needed by" date, let a supplier immediately tell whether they can service you at all — no back-and-forth needed just to find out they're on the other side of the country or fully booked until next month.
5. Pick "Other" instead of forcing a bad fit
If nothing in the category list matches, don't jam your request into the closest-sounding option — pick Other and describe it in the free-text field. A mismatched category means the wrong suppliers see it, or the right ones scroll past because the category label doesn't match what they do.
Once the quotes come in
Every quote shows price, delivery time and the supplier's rating side by side — the cheapest one isn't automatically the best one. A supplier with a strong rating and a slightly higher price is often the safer choice, especially for anything where quality or reliability actually matters. Our guide to vetting a supplier covers exactly what to check before you accept.