Website dedicated to RFQs

[Cold Fusion]

Hello everyone,

I've come to realize that we need a better system for connecting machine shops to potential customers. There are already a few sites such as www.mfgquote.com but they charge over $2000 a year for a sellers account. This entry price is well beyond most small shop's budgets. What about setting up a similar site but offering it free to the public? It would take a while for word of mouth and small advertisements to get around, but within 6 months I think we could have a fairly active site that could help a lot of people.

What are your opinions on the idea?

[miljnor]

Its probably a good Idea for the low overhead out of your garage startups (ive been there ), because they just need the work and doing good work on time gets you referrals. So its a good Idea in that respect.

I found that open bidding on jobs isnt very productive for my shop. Not saying that it wouldn't be a good idea, just that when bidding on an public job forum you often only get the job based soley on price. The customer dosn't know you and you don't have quite as much ability to sell them.

but if your looking to help the start up shop, its a great idea, but you would have to find a host and someone willing to work the thing for no pay, until advertising could be secured for income.

[Ken_Shea]

I find that mfgQuote does get much positive press but they are a professional service, this ='s manpower which ='s money, they also have absolutely no control over the expectations, reasonable or otherwise of the person/s requesting a quote or the required profit structure of those giving quotes. We do live in a free enterprize system, that is the way it is !

The RFQ here is a good start but could be expanded upon. My only issues with it are not site related at all but these.
1) Slow to no response or dragging out what is actually needed because what is needed is not really known.

2) Availability of adequate drawings with full specs should be virtually immediate, and in formats other then .dwg if at all possible, if drawings are not available then exact specs should be available.

3) Not immediately closing the RFQ when filled.

4) Contact information should not have to be asked for, this should be automatic on both ends.

5) Easy contact availability, One gentleman expected me to make an appointment to call him, I did not get that job