Asking a factory to meet a date
Use the Requests tab to check a factory can meet a delivery date before you commit to the customer, and handle requests from factories to join.
Before you promise a customer a date, you can ask the factory whether it can be done. Order-date requests, under Messages → Requests, send the factory the products, quantities and date, and record their answer.
#Send a request
- Open Messages and go to Requests.
- Press New request.
- Choose the Factory. Only active factories can receive requests.
- Enter the Customer (the customer or school name), an Order description and the Date required.
- Press + Add product to add at least one product with quantities. Only that factory's products are offered.
- Press Send request.
Good to know
the date assumes the order and artwork are supplied the same day, and panel prints are approved within one day. Allow for that when you talk to the customer.
#Request statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sent | Waiting on the factory. |
| Approved | The factory can meet the date. |
| Declined | The factory can't. |
| Edited | The factory changed something. Their note is shown. |
| Cancelled | The request was withdrawn. |
Expand a request to see its products, the factory's note and a message box for replying. A red dot means the factory has replied since you last looked.
Unanswered date requests also show on To Get Done, so they can be chased.
#Requests to join
This section appears only when there are any. It lists factories without an account that have asked to join.
- Accept creates a factory record. Their login and connection are completed by your platform support team.
- Decline closes the request.
#Common questions
A factory is missing from the form. Only active factories can receive requests.
Is an approved date request an order? No. It records the factory's answer. You still raise the order and PO as usual.