How to Setup a Request for Quote (RFQ) & Hide Price Workflow on Shopify
Selling high-ticket machinery, custom-manufactured goods, or wholesale lines on Shopify requires flexible pricing rather than fixed retail “Add to Cart” buttons. When prices depend on order volume, raw material fluctuations, or custom specifications, forcing a static retail price alienates commercial buyers and erodes profit margins.
A Request for Quote (RFQ) workflow replaces or supplements standard checkout buttons with a customizable inquiry form, allowing merchants to negotiate deal terms, generate instant PDF quotations, and convert approved quotes directly into Shopify draft orders.
When Should a Shopify Store Use an RFQ Workflow?
An RFQ (Request for Quote) workflow is essential for businesses where product prices cannot be standardized into a single retail transaction due to customization, volume thresholds, or competitive sensitivity.
Merchants in the following commercial sectors benefit most from quote-based selling:
- Custom Manufacturing & Made-to-Order: Products requiring bespoke dimensions, custom branding, or engineering tolerances.
- Wholesale & Bulk Distributors: Catalogs where unit pricing drops significantly based on container or pallet quantities.
- High-Ticket Industrial Equipment: Heavy machinery, medical devices, or lab equipment valued over $5,000 where procurement processes mandate formal enterprise purchase orders.
- Commodity & Raw Material Suppliers: Goods subject to weekly price fluctuations based on underlying market commodity indices.
| Sales Model | Standard Add to Cart | Request for Quote (RFQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Transparency | Public fixed price | Hidden, login-only, or “Starting at” estimate |
| Payment Timing | Immediate credit card charge | Net terms, wire transfer, or deferred invoice |
| Order Customization | Limited to standard Shopify variants | Unlimited custom specifications & file attachments |
| Sales Engagement | Self-serve transactional | Direct consultative relationship with sales reps |
| Average Order Value (AOV) | $50 – $500 | $2,000 – $50,000+ |
Why Hide Prices from Guest Visitors?
Hiding product prices from unauthenticated or retail visitors is a core requirement of wholesale and manufacturer trade compliance.
1. MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) Compliance
Manufacturers often sign strict MAP agreements with retail distributor networks preventing them from publicly advertising wholesale discounts online. Hiding prices behind a login or quote button protects dealer relationships while allowing direct sales negotiations.
2. Protecting Wholesale Margins from Competitors
Publishing open wholesale rate sheets allows competitors to undercut your margins on identical products. Restricting price visibility to vetted, registered B2B accounts preserves your pricing power.
3. Lead Generation for High-Touch Sales Teams
Requiring buyers to request a price quote captures qualified business contact information (company name, tax ID, projected order volume, email, phone number) before pricing is revealed, filling your CRM pipeline with high-intent enterprise leads.
The Complete End-to-End RFQ Architecture
An automated quote workflow connects the storefront buyer journey directly to the Shopify Admin back-office using Draft Orders and automated customer notifications.
[Buyer visits Product Page]
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┌──────┴──────┐
▼ ▼
[Price Hidden] ["Request a Quote" Button Clicked]
│
▼
[Custom RFQ Form Modal: Quantities, Specs, File Upload]
│
▼
[Shopify App Generates Quote ID & Notifies Merchant + Buyer]
│
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[Merchant Reviews Quote in Shopify Admin & Applies Custom Discount]
│
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[App Generates Branded PDF Quote with 1-Click Checkout Link]
│
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[Buyer Approves Quote ──► Instant Conversion to Shopify Order]Step 1: Storefront RFQ Modal & Price Masking
The app detects whether the visitor is an authorized wholesale customer or an anonymous guest. For gated products, the price is replaced with a customizable badge (“Login to View Price” or “Call for Pricing”) and the “Add to Cart” button transforms into “Request a Quote”.
Step 2: Custom Data Collection
The quote form captures critical B2B parameters:
- Requested quantity per variant
- Target delivery timeframe
- Custom artwork or CAD file attachments
- Special freight / packaging requirements
Step 3: Admin Review & Draft Order Creation
When a quote request arrives, the merchant can review line items inside the Shopify Admin, apply custom line-item discounts or shipping rates, and generate a standardized PDF proposal with payment terms (Net 30, Net 60, or Due on Receipt).
Step 4: One-Click Checkout Conversion
The quote email sent to the buyer contains a secure, personalized link. When clicked, the buyer is taken directly to an authenticated Shopify checkout pre-populated with the exact negotiated prices and billing terms.
Setting Up Request a Quote on Shopify in 4 Steps
Using Wezy Request a Quote & Hide Price, you can launch a complete quote negotiation system in minutes.
1. Install Wezy Request a Quote
Add the app from the Shopify App Store. The app integrates natively with Shopify Online Store 2.0 theme app embeds.
2. Configure Price Visibility Rules
Under the Visibility Rules tab, specify which products and audiences should trigger RFQ mode:
- Global: Hide prices across your entire store for non-logged-in visitors.
- Specific Collections / Tags: Hide prices only on industrial, custom, or wholesale collections.
- Customer Tag Targeting: Display normal prices to retail customers while showing quote options to accounts tagged
b2b-tier1.
3. Customize the Quote Submission Form
Use the built-in form designer to add custom fields matching your operational workflow:
- Company Name & Tax Registration ID
- Required Delivery Date picker
- File Upload field (for logos, vector artwork, or architectural specs)
- Multi-variant bulk quantity selector
4. Enable Automated PDF Generation & Email Notifications
Configure your brand logo, corporate header, payment terms, and legal disclaimer text. When a customer submits a request, Wezy instantly sends an automatic confirmation email with an attached professional PDF quotation.
Best Practices to Maximize Quote-to-Order Conversion
To achieve high quote closing rates:
- Respond Within 2 Hours: B2B buyers frequently request quotes from 2 to 3 suppliers simultaneously. Responding with a finalized quote within the first 120 minutes increases conversion rates by over 300%.
- Include Clear Expiration Dates: Set quotes to expire after 14 or 30 days to protect your business against raw material price increases and create natural purchasing urgency.
- Automate Follow-Up Reminders: Enable automated follow-up emails sent on day 3 and day 7 if the buyer has not approved the draft quote.
- Offer Seamless Digital Checkout: Avoid requiring physical checks or manual phone authorizations. Giving buyers a direct digital payment link accelerates deal velocity.
Transform your Shopify store into a powerful B2B quotation engine by installing Wezy Request a Quote & Hide Price today.