"Honestly though, I think your idea about suppliers giving customers a heads-up isn't half bad."
Fair point, but realistically suppliers can't always predict market swings. Maybe a compromise—shorter quote validity periods clearly communicated upfront—would help manage expectations without blindsiding anyone... just my two cents.
Shorter validity periods make sense, but would customers really be okay with that? I mean, as a customer, if I got a quote that's only good for a few days, I'd probably feel pressured to rush decisions. Maybe instead of shorter quotes, suppliers could just add a clear disclaimer about potential fluctuations? Seems like that'd offer transparency without making customers feel like they're on the clock... Just thinking out loud here.
I get your point, but honestly, as someone who's always watching their wallet, I'd rather have a shorter quote that's accurate than a longer one that's vague. I once got a roofing quote that was good for 30 days, and by the time I called back on day 28, they told me material costs had jumped and the price wasn't valid anymore. Felt like a bait-and-switch, even though it probably wasn't intentional.
Maybe instead of super short quotes or just disclaimers, suppliers could offer a middle ground—like a guaranteed price window (say, 7-10 days), and after that, clearly state the price might shift based on market conditions. That way, customers get some breathing room without feeling blindsided later. Just my two cents...or maybe one cent, considering inflation these days.
"Maybe instead of super short quotes or just disclaimers, suppliers could offer a middle ground—like a guaranteed price window (say, 7-10 days)"
I see where you're coming from, but honestly, even a 7-10 day window can be tricky with how volatile material prices have been lately. I had a similar issue when we redid our roof last summer—prices jumped literally overnight due to supply chain hiccups. Maybe instead of fixed windows, suppliers could offer real-time updates or alerts if costs start shifting significantly? Might save everyone some headaches...
Real-time alerts sound good in theory, but in practice, wouldn't they just create more uncertainty? Had a supplier do something similar last year, and honestly, it felt like constant panic mode every time my phone buzzed... Is there a way to balance timely updates without causing extra stress?
