Last month,our client requested quotation for the glass cover panel,with below information:

• Detailed dimensions
• Material:Soda Lime etching AG，CNC chemical hardness
• Four colors printing(black、gray、yellow、white)

Without drawing,I needed to do a preliminary valuation.When I got these info,I understood wrongly as two times for black frames,gray and yellow logo each and one white positioning line.It is relatively common printing design in the glass cover panels. After quotation, we got good news that order will be placed. And samples would be sent to us for color reference.

Upon receipt of the samples, I realized that I had quoted wrongly.I thought it was a 4-color 5-layer printing,but in fact it was a 4-color 10-layer printing indeed,which are black logo,one yellow line,two gray layers,4 layers for white middle area, one layer for gray cover bottom, and one positioning line.

It has a white border requirement thus material has to be changed to clear glass +AG, this lead to a cost increase, which is far higher than what was quoted previously.

During the samples production, I explained to the client on this situation and got his understanding as well. But this erroneous quote also shows an imminent need to review and analyse the issues.

A wrong quotation usually results in two situations:

Factory absorb the cost impact without passing on any additional liability to the client, this is not an ideal solution.

Requote and pass on the cost impact to our client. However this will affect client’s margin, and they may lose the trust of their end customer. Not an ideal solution as well.

To avoid such quotation mistakes,we need to pay more attention as belows:

• Precise cost evaluation – Each quotation should calculate the cost carefully to ensure accuracy.
• Clear technical requirements – Process or standards that cannot be achieved must be declare upfront to the client and indicated in our quotation.
• Initial price evaluation & communication – In this case, initial price valuation without drawings. So we still need to highlight again in email that the quotation is just based on the discussed printing requirement, eventhough printing processes (such as black frame, gray and yellow LOGO, white positioning line) are written in the quotation sheet. We should emphasize to clients to check carefully and confirm. Thus any further changes subsequently, a quote update is necessary and will not end up with an erroneous quote situation coming from us.

These are basic principle of quotation,we must remember that even if vast working experience.Our goal is to avoid unnecessary trouble and loss to customers and our company.We should obey strictly these principles to ensure the accuracy of quotation and client satisfaction.