🤯 Stop Guessing Prices! The Honest Review of the WooCommerce Request Quote fPlugin
Hey there, fellow WooCommerce shop owner!
Ever feel like your online store is missing that human touch? You’ve got those amazing, custom products, or you deal in wholesale bulk orders, but that rigid “Add to Cart” button just doesn’t cut it. It’s like trying to have a serious business negotiation using only emojis. 🙅♀️
Your potential customers need to talk price, ask about variations, or get a quote for a huge batch of goods, but WooCommerce is silent. That’s where a WooCommerce Request Quote plugin steps in to save the day (and your sales).
We’re diving deep into one of the top contenders—often referred to by the generic feature name, so let’s check out the WebToffee or Addify versions (as they are top rated) which deliver the core functionality, and see how it stacks up against the mega-popular WooCommerce Request Quote.
Let’s get real about features, figure out if it’s worth the cash, and who actually needs this digital handshake on their site!
🌟 The Star Player: Request a Quote for WooCommerce - Key Features
This plugin transforms your static, price-fixed e-commerce shop into a dynamic, negotiation-friendly catalog. It’s essentially a lead-generation machine disguised as a button.
Here’s the rundown of the must-have features that will make you ditch the “Add to Cart” button for good on certain products:
- Flexible Price Control (The Negotiation Starter)
- Hide Prices & “Add to Cart”:This is the core function. You can replace the price and “Add to Cart” button with a sleek “Add to Quote” button. It instantly shifts the customer’s mindset from ‘buy now’ to ‘let’s talk business.’ This is a huge deal for B2B or custom goods!
- Selective Quotation Rules:Don’t want to hide prices for all products? No problem! You can set rules based on:
- Specific Products/Categories:Only enable quoting for your customizable furniture or wholesale items.
- User Roles:This is gold for B2B. Show prices and “Add to Cart” to retail customers, but force your wholesale/dealer users to submit a woocommerce request quote.
- Seamless Customer Experience (The “Quote Cart”)
- The Mini-Quote Basket:Just like the mini-cart for standard purchases, customers can add multiple products to their “Quote List.” They can review, adjust quantities, and see their selections right there. It makes building a complex request simple.
- Customizable Quote Form:Forget boring contact forms. You can add, remove, and customize fields (text, file upload, dropdowns) on the quote submission form to gather exactly the information you need for an accurate quote. Need a client’s company name? Done. Need them to upload a design file? Easy peasy.
- Admin Powerhouse (The Quote Manager)
- Centralized Quote Management:All submitted requests land in one place in your WordPress dashboard. You can easily view the products, the customer’s requested price (if allowed), and all their details.
- Convert Quote to Order:This is the best part! Once you and the customer agree on a price, you can edit the quote in the backend, and with a single click, convert it into a standard WooCommerce order. The customer gets an email with a secure payment link for the agreed-upon price. No manual order creation required!
Email Notifications & Expiry: Automatic emails notify both you and the customer at every step (request submitted, quote sent, quote accepted/declined). Some plugins even let you set an expiry date on the quote, creating a sense of urgency.
💰 Who is this Plugin For? (Audience Decided!)
This plugin isn’t for everyone. If you sell simple, fixed-price items like T-shirts or coffee mugs, stick to the standard cart.
But, if you fit into any of these categories, this plugin is your new best friend:
- B2B and Wholesale Stores:This is the primary audience. Wholesale pricing is complex. You need to verify user roles and offer tiered pricing based on volume. Hiding prices and using a woocommerce request for quote system is non-negotiable for serious B2B sales.
- Custom Products and Services:Selling custom jewelry, bespoke furniture, web design services, or consulting? The price depends on the client’s needs. This allows you to gather the specs first before giving an accurate price.
- High-Value or Industrial Products:When a customer is spending thousands on machinery or specialized equipment, they need negotiation and detailed information. Replacing a scary price tag with an invitation to talk is a huge conversion boost.
- Catalog Mode:Want to use your site purely as a product showcase without selling online? This plugin lets you effectively turn off e-commerce functionality and use your product pages as lead capture forms.
🆚 A Quick Look at the Competition: YITH vs. The Rest
When you search for “woocommerce request quote,” you’ll mainly see three big players: the functionally named ones (like the ones from WebToffee or Addify) and WooCommerce Request Quote.
Feature | YITH WooCommerce Request a Quote | |
Core Philosophy | Simplicity, excellent form integration (especially with other YITH plugins). | Robust, rule-based management, strong focus on B2B/Wholesale. |
Form Customization | Excellent. Often integrates with popular form builders like Contact Form 7 or Gravity Forms. | Very strong, often with a dedicated custom field builder in the plugin. |
Quote Management | Very strong: Admin management, convert to order, set expiration. | Generally the same high standard: Centralized control, convert to order, easy status tracking. |
User Role Restriction | Yes, allows showing/hiding buttons based on user role. | Often more granular rules, allowing different quote modes for different users. |
PDF Quote Feature | Often available as a separate add-on or a feature in the premium version. | Usually included or available as a simple add-on for a complete solution. |
Price (Single Site, Annual) | Approx. $69.99/year | Approx. $69/year |
The Takeaway: Both are excellent. WooCommerce Request Quote is a powerhouse if you already use their ecosystem. The other top-tier plugins often focus heavily on the rules—making it easier to set up complex B2B scenarios where, for instance, only “Wholesale Buyer” users see the quote button, but everyone else sees the price.
When you search for “woocommerce request quote,” you’ll mainly see three big players: the functionally named ones (like the ones from WebToffee or Addify) and WooCommerce Request Quote.
Feature | WooCommerce Request Quote | |
Core Philosophy | Simplicity, excellent form integration (especially with other YITH plugins). | Robust, rule-based management, strong focus on B2B/Wholesale. |
Form Customization | Excellent. Often integrates with popular form builders like Contact Form 7 or Gravity Forms. | Very strong, often with a dedicated custom field builder in the plugin. |
Quote Management | Very strong: Admin management, convert to order, set expiration. | Generally the same high standard: Centralized control, convert to order, easy status tracking. |
User Role Restriction | Yes, allows showing/hiding buttons based on user role. | Often more granular rules, allowing different quote modes for different users. |
PDF Quote Feature | Often available as a separate add-on or a feature in the premium version. | Usually included or available as a simple add-on for a complete solution. |
Price (Single Site, Annual) | Approx. $69.99/year | Approx. $69/year |
The Takeaway: Both are excellent. Woocommerce Request Quote is a powerhouse if you already use their ecosystem. The other top-tier plugins often focus heavily on the rules—making it easier to set up complex B2B scenarios where, for instance, only “Wholesale Buyer” users see the quote button, but everyone else sees the price.
👍 Pros and 👎 Cons of Using a Quote Plugin
No software is perfect, not even one that can make you more money! Here’s the real talk on the ups and downs:
👍 The Pros (Why You Need This)
- Massive Lead Generation:You capture a customer’s contact info even if they aren’t ready to buy now. This is a priceless sales opportunity.
- Personalized Sales:It turns a transaction into a conversation. Custom quotes are proven to increase conversion rates for complex products because the customer feels valued.
- Price Protection from Competitors:By hiding your best wholesale prices, you prevent competitors from seeing your cost structure, protecting your market advantage.
- B2B/Wholesale Ready:It’s the most professional way to handle volume and tiered pricing that changes based on order size.
- Better Inventory Management:You can check stock and delivery times before sending a commitment, preventing canceled orders down the line.
👎 The Cons (The Reality Check)
- Slower Sales Cycle:A quote system adds a manual step. You have to review the request and respond. This is not for impulse buys.
- Requires Timely Attention:If you take too long to respond to a quote, the lead will go cold. You must have a process in place for fast replies.
- Initial Setup Complexity:Setting up the rules (which products, which users, custom form fields) takes more time than just installing a simple “Add to Cart” button.
- Cost:While an annual cost of around $69 is low for a business tool, it’s still a recurring expense you need to factor in.
🛠️ How to Get Your First Quote Request (The "How To" Section)
Ready to start generating leads? It’s surprisingly straightforward. This is a general guide for most high-quality woocommerce request quote plugins:
Step 1: Installation & Activation
- Purchase and download the plugin ZIP file from the vendor’s site.
- In your WordPress Admin, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Upload the ZIP file, install, and activate the plugin.
Step 2: General Setup
- Navigate to the new Woocommerce Request Quote menu item in your WordPress dashboard (usually under WooCommerce or a dedicated main menu item).
- In the General Settings, set the Quote Page. The plugin usually creates this page for you automatically; it’s where the customer views their “Quote List.”
Step 3: Define Your Quote Rules
This is the most important part!
- Go to the Quote Rulesor Visibility
- Click Add New Rule.
- Define Who:Select the User Roles (e.g., Wholesale, Guest Users, All Users) for whom this rule applies.
- Define What:Select the specific Products, Categories, or Tags that will have the quote button.
- Choose Action:Tick the boxes to:
- Hide Price
- Hide “Add to Cart” Button
- Replace with “Add to Quote” Button(Customize the text here!)
- Save the rule!
Step 4: Customize Your Form
- Go to the Quote Formor Form Fields
- Use the drag-and-drop builder to ensure the form asks for all necessary information (Name, Email, Phone, Company, Project Details, etc.).
That’s it! Test it by logging out (to view as a guest) or logging in as a restricted user to see the “Add to Quote” button in action.
🎯 Final Recommendation & Verdict
A WooCommerce Request Quote plugin is not a luxury; it’s an essential tool for any store that deals with custom pricing, high-value goods, or B2B/wholesale orders.
Whether you choose a feature-rich, rule-based option or the popular WooCommerce Request Quote, the return on investment (ROI) is undeniable. It stops visitors from bouncing when they don’t see a price that fits their bulk order and turns them into qualified leads that you can follow up with personally.
The Verdict? If your business model involves negotiation, customization, or a simple check of customer status before displaying price, you need this plugin. View it as a powerful sales team member who works 24/7 on your website, filtering out casual browsers and connecting you directly with serious buyers. The small annual fee will be recouped with your first big, successfully converted quote.
❓ FAQs (Because You’ve Got Questions!)
Q1: Can I use “Add to Cart” and “Request a Quote” on the same product?
A: Yes, in most cases! Many top plugins allow you to display both buttons. This is great for products with a standard price but where customers might also want a bulk discount. You give them a choice: buy now or negotiate a better deal.
Q2: Is the plugin compatible with product variations (e.g., size, color)?
A: Absolutely. Customers can select their specific product variations (like a specific color or size) before adding the item to their quote list, ensuring you receive a clear, detailed request.
Q3: How do I handle the payment once a quote is accepted?
A: This is handled automatically by the plugin. Once you update the quote status to “Accepted” (or similar) in the admin panel, the plugin sends a payment link to the customer’s email. Clicking the link takes them to a special WooCommerce checkout page where the agreed-upon price is automatically applied, and they complete the purchase.
Q4: Does the quote system slow down my website?
A: Quality plugins are coded to be fast and lightweight. Since the quoting process is an alternative to the heavy WooCommerce checkout, it typically has no noticeable negative impact on site performance.
Q5: Can I create a quote for a customer manually from the backend?
A: Yes, nearly all premium versions include the option for the store admin to manually create a new quote request from the WordPress dashboard for customers who contacted you outside of the website (e.g., by phone or email).