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Reply when a customer asks you to match a cheaper quote
A customer says someone else will do it for less and asks if you'll match it. Work out whether to hold, adjust the job or walk away, and reply without sounding defensive.
The prompt · ChatGPT
A customer wants me to match a cheaper quote. Help me reply. The job: [what it is] What I quoted and what's included: [price and details] What they've said about the other quote: [paste] My lowest sensible price, or none: [number or "I won't go lower"] How much I want this job: [e.g. quiet month, great customer, not bothered] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. A side-by-side of what my quote includes and what the other one might not (materials, guarantee, insurance, timescale). 2. Three replies: hold the price and explain the value; offer a reduced scope for less; politely walk away. 3. Which one fits what I've told you, and why. 4. Questions to ask so they compare like with like. Use only what I've given you, leave blanks for any price or fact I haven't given, and don't invent anything. UK English, confident, never knocking the other trader. Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. what it is: a short note you already have. price and details: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
The prompt · Copilot
A customer wants me to match a cheaper quote. Help me reply. The job: [what it is] What I quoted and what's included: [price and details] What they've said about the other quote: [paste] My lowest sensible price, or none: [number or "I won't go lower"] How much I want this job: [e.g. quiet month, great customer, not bothered] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. A side-by-side of what my quote includes and what the other one might not (materials, guarantee, insurance, timescale). 2. Three replies: hold the price and explain the value; offer a reduced scope for less; politely walk away. 3. Which one fits what I've told you, and why. 4. Questions to ask so they compare like with like. Use only what I've given you, leave blanks for any price or fact I haven't given, and don't invent anything. UK English, confident, never knocking the other trader. Stay in this Copilot chat. Leave plugins off, and do not open a file from OneDrive.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. what it is: a short note you already have. price and details: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
You paste their message and what you quoted.
The assistant asks what the other quote includes, if you know, and your lowest sensible price.
You get a comparison of what's included, three reply options and the one to choose.
What happens
Use Copilot to reply when a customer asks you to match a cheaper quote
A customer says someone else will do it for less and asks if you'll match it. Work out whether to hold, adjust the job or walk away, and reply without sounding defensive.
Tools
Paste the prompt, fill the blanks, copy the draft.
- Microsoft Copilot — required. Drafts from the text you paste. Nothing is sent.
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