How to send your first RFQ on AdeptLink
Send an RFQ from /buyer/rfqs/new. Provide the product name, target quantity, target unit price, delivery destination, and required certifications. Inviting 5-8 verified suppliers yields the best balance: AdeptLink data shows the median first quote arrives in 6 hours and 89% of RFQs receive at least 3 quotes within 48 hours.
Key facts
- Median time to first quote in 2025: 6 hours after RFQ publication.
- 89% of RFQs receive 3 or more quotes within 48 hours when inviting 5-8 suppliers.
- RFQs that include a target price receive 2.4x more responses than RFQs without one.
What information should an RFQ include?
Eight fields drive supplier response rate: product name, detailed specs (size, material, certifications), target quantity (with MOQ flexibility), target unit price, Incoterm (FOB, CIF, DDP), destination port or address, required delivery date, and acceptable payment terms.
Attach reference images, drawings, or competitor SKUs whenever possible. RFQs with at least one image attachment receive 1.7x faster first responses (AdeptLink Buyer Insights, 2025).
How many suppliers should I invite?
Invite 5-8 suppliers per RFQ. Below 5, you risk receiving only 1-2 quotes; above 10, suppliers detect the broad blast and prioritize tighter RFQs first.
Use the marketplace filter for verified manufacturers in your category, then click the bulk Invite to RFQ button. AdeptLink automatically excludes suppliers who have not responded to your prior RFQs in the last 30 days.
How long should I keep the RFQ open?
Set a 7-day deadline for standard categories and 14 days for custom-manufactured goods. Shorter deadlines (under 48 hours) cut response rates in half because most suppliers in Asia and Europe operate on a daily quote cycle.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I edit an RFQ after publishing it?
- Yes, but only quantity, deadline, and notes can be edited. Changing core specs (product, material, certifications) cancels existing quotes because suppliers must re-price. To make a major change, close the RFQ and create a new one.
- Are RFQ quotes legally binding?
- Quotes are legally binding offers under AdeptLink's Terms of Service for the validity period stated by the supplier (default 14 days). Accepting a quote inside that window creates a contract; the supplier cannot retract pricing once accepted.
- How do I compare quotes side by side?
- Open the RFQ at /buyer/rfqs/[id]. The Quotes tab shows a comparison table with unit price, total, lead time, MOQ, and Incoterm in columns. Click any column header to sort.
Related guides in Buying & RFQs
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