"How Much?" When the Price Depends — How to Reply

When to send this

When price depends on quantity, size, or duration — quoting blind is just guessing. The risk here isn't that you can't answer; it's that you lose them while asking questions.

The reply (copy it)

Price question (needs a custom quote)
Hi! Pricing on this depends on [quantity / size / how many days], so I'd rather not throw a random number at you. Can you tell me [the key detail]? I'll work it out and get back to you within [timeframe].

The most common mistake

Asking five questions at once. A DM isn't a form. Five questions in a row feels like work, and they stop replying. Ask one — the one that matters most (usually quantity or date), then the next, or just give a range.

When the situation is different

If you genuinely need several details, lead with a rough range ("usually somewhere between X and Y"), then say what you need to make it exact. The range is what tells them whether answering is worth their time.

After you send it

Once you have the details, reply within the window you promised. Saying "I'll get back to you shortly" and answering tomorrow burns the trust you just built — and while they waited, they probably asked someone else.

Replies for other situations
This is one of 12 common customer message situations. The full set (with a picker) is here:
See all 12 customer message replies →

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