What a wholesale seed enquiry commits to and where the shop still decides

Sending a wholesale seed enquiry is not the same as placing an order. It starts a review process in which the wholesaler checks the requested varieties, quantities and destination before returning a quotation. This overview maps that enquiry-first model onto a shop's buying habits, showing which stages the retailer controls, which the wholesaler handles, and why the returned quotation is the point where the shop decides whether to proceed or step back. It is written for seed retailers, garden shops and resellers buying seeds for resale.

The enquiry starts a review, not a purchase

When you send an enquiry through the catalogue, you are asking for a quotation, not committing to buy. No payment is taken through the website, and an automated acknowledgement only confirms that the enquiry has been received for review. Adding items to the basket or submitting the form does not conclude a purchase contract. The retailer therefore remains free at this stage: the selection is a proposal that the wholesaler will examine before any commercial terms are set.

What the retailer controls before sending

The shop decides which varieties to include, in what quantities, and for which destination. Quantities can be edited or items removed in the basket before the enquiry is sent. The retailer also chooses what business contact details to provide and any packaging or documentation requirements to mention. The selection is stored in the browser until it is removed, browser data is cleared, or the enquiry is successfully submitted; contact details are not saved in the basket. These choices shape the enquiry but do not bind the shop to a purchase.

What the wholesaler reviews after receiving it

Once the enquiry arrives, the wholesaler reviews the requested items, quantities and destination before quoting. Availability, pack sizes, listed prices and quantity tiers may need confirmation, and shipping charges and applicable taxes are settled separately. The wholesaler may also need to clarify documentation for the proposed shipment. This review is where catalogue information is checked against what can actually be supplied; a catalogue listing does not by itself confirm current stock or batch-specific test results.

Where the quotation becomes the decision point

The quotation is the point at which the shop holds the decision. It sets out availability, pack sizes, prices, applicable taxes, shipping charges, payment terms and delivery arrangements. Only after receiving it does the retailer choose whether to proceed. Until then, the enquiry remains non-binding. If the quotation does not fit the shop's plans, the retailer can step back without having placed an order. Supply terms are agreed separately in the quotation and subsequent agreement.

Correcting or changing an enquiry already sent

If a mistake is noticed after sending, the retailer can email the wholesaler with the enquiry reference to correct it. If the form could not send, the selection remains in the basket; the displayed message should be followed, and if delivery could not be confirmed, the wholesaler should be contacted with the enquiry reference before sending again. These steps keep the review accurate without turning the enquiry into a binding order.

Why this model suits a shop's buying routine

A shop buying for resale often needs to compare range, pack sizes and landed cost before committing. The enquiry-first model lets the retailer assemble a selection from the catalogue, send it for review, and then assess the quotation against shelf space and budget. Because no payment is taken and no contract is formed at the enquiry stage, the shop can plan a seasonal range without carrying the risk of an unintended order. The decision stays with the retailer at the point where the terms are known.

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