A wholesale buyer, worked through
A modeled example — not customer results“Can you do 500 of the 40mm stainless flange couplings, and how fast?”
The agent checks the catalog: 320 in stock now, MOQ 100, and the listing carries a stated production lead time for larger runs. It answers with those numbers, and offers to raise an RFQ for a confirmed date on the full 500 — captured with quantity and deadline attached.
“What's the unit price at 1,000 versus 5,000?”
If tier pricing is published in the catalog, it quotes the tiers as listed. Here it isn't — so the agent says pricing at that volume is quoted per order, and turns the question into a quote request with both quantities on it. It never invents a price.
“I need the gasket in EPDM, rated to 120°C, tolerance ±0.05mm. Which SKUs qualify?”
It filters on the specification tables and returns only exact matches — two SKUs. A third comes close on temperature but misses the tolerance, and the agent says so rather than selling around it.
“Can you ship a pallet to Hamburg, and what would freight run?”
Shipping policy in the catalog confirms the destination is served. Freight cost isn't in the catalog, so the agent doesn't estimate one — it captures the RFQ with destination, pallet quantity and requested incoterms for your team to price.