Step 2 — RFP and quote (Days 4-10)

Purpose of this step

We respond to your RFP with a landed-cost quote (DDP), tier pricing, lead-time commitment, sustainability evidence packet, and reference clients. This is one of four steps in our 30-day onboarding flow — see the full overview.

Agenda / what we cover

• Item-level pricing at multiple volume tiers
• Decoration upcharges and minimums
• Logistics: ex-works vs DDP vs FOB; freight modes
• Currency: USD / EUR / local; payment cadence
• MOQ per item and per decoration method
• Sample fees (typically waived above first PO threshold)
• Optional: punch-out / catalog setup fee

Outcomes / what you receive

• Landed-cost (DDP) quote with line-item breakdown
• Tier-pricing matrix (volume bands)
• Lead-time commitment per item
• Sustainability evidence packet
• Reference clients available for diligence calls

Deliverable

A binding 60-day quote and term sheet. You hold this for internal approval; we hold capacity per agreement.

How long it takes

This step typically takes 3-10 calendar days, depending on your internal review cadence. We track elapsed time against the 30-day target and flag risk if any step exceeds plan by more than 50%.

Common questions in this step

• Can we customize the deliverable? Yes — adapt to your existing procurement templates if you already have them.
• What if we need more time? Fine. The 30-day plan is a goal, not a hard deadline. Most clients land in 35-45 days.
• Can we run this remotely? Yes — every step is fully remote-capable. On-site visits available for premium tiers.
• What if we don't proceed after this step? No obligation. There is no penalty for stopping at any step before the master agreement.

Next step

Once this step closes, we move to the next phase. Return to the full onboarding flow for the bigger picture, or email onboarding@merch.am with questions.