How B2B Buyers Shop Online: Why Your Store Needs a Quote-Based Checkout

Today’s B2B buyers don’t just want speed; they desire personalization, negotiation and flexible pricing. They anticipate pricing based on order volume, tenure relationship, and custom policies. Static prices and non-flexible checkout flows don’t work anymore, especially not when you are dealing with wholesale, manufacturing or custom products.

As opposed to driving purchasers into rigid checkout carts, B2B-optimised sellers are leaning towards request for quote flows that more closely match the way people buy in real life.

For merchants on PrestaShop, making the best use of PrestaShop B2B capabilities such as customer groups, wholesale pricing rules and quote-based checkout is a must in order to continue to be relevant. 

In this interesting blog post, we’ll look at the way B2B buyers shop online today and why providing a quote-based checkout can make all the difference for your sales rate, average order value and your long-term relationships with customers.

The Change in B2B Procurement: What was the Shift?

Today’s B2B buyers aren’t sitting around waiting for sales calls or printed catalogs. They will do homework on the suppliers they find online, compare product features and compile a short list of vendors before even reaching out to anyone. 

In this type of B2B purchasing behavior, many executives now prefer self-service purchasing facilities that enable them to move at their own pace.

Speed and accuracy are as important as transparency. Buyers demand copious product information, lightning-fast responses and frictionless communication. If a site is hard to manoeuvre, prospects will soon leave for your competition.

B2B buyers like flexibility, unlike their B2C shopping counterparts. They might need to seek approval from internal teams, negotiate pricing or change their quantities before completing a purchase. Digital-first doesn’t mean “one-click checkout,” it means intelligent, guided B2B decision-making process enabled by appropriate capabilities.

This is an area where typical e-commerce configurations fail, and request for quote systems fill the void.

Flexibility in The Store Experience for Complex Buying Cycles

A straightforward “Add to Cart” button isn't the correct behavioral pattern for how modern B2B buyers are actually shopping.

In the absence of flexibility, buyers must either manually reach out to sellers or give up on the purchase. Thus, Quote-based checkouts in a store are a better fit for how most real B2B works, and let buyers collect internal approvals while keeping the transaction structured and trackable.

Fixed Pricing = Lost Wholesale Sales

One thing that can limit B2B conversions is fixed retail pricing. Wholesale purchasers anticipate prices that increase with quantity, regularity or the value they bring to the partnership. If a store presents only static prices, it communicates inflexibility.

Leveraging PrestaShop's wholesale pricing rules is useful, yet they are usually not sufficient. Wholesale deals are often worked out on a case-by-case basis, particularly for high-volume or custom orders. 

For that, they need to be able to request custom pricing; if not, buyers might assume negotiation isn’t possible, and go elsewhere.

This custom pricing system (Cluster 3) lets buyers know they can get better pricing, and it’s worth asking for.

No Negotiating Room Stalls Sales

Buyers want a “deal” of some type; they expect discounting, special terms or unique packaging. Without an RFQ option, buyers have to resort to emails or phone calls, further slowing down the process.

That said, without a built-in PrestaShop quotation system, many buyers fall off before ever picking up the phone, especially if competitors offer a more straightforward negotiation process.

Big & Repeat Orders Call for Quote Options

Bulk and repeating orders usually differ in quantity, shipping terms or contract pricing. Try managing that without a quote system, and you are doing manual labor, playing price games; it just costs everyone extra.

For sellers, that translates to wasted time and lost opportunities. Thus it’s important to go with the quote flexibility as it solves both problems.

What Is A Quote-Based Checkout (RFQ System)?

A quote-based checkout, such as through an RFQ system, removes or supplements conventional checkout by permitting past customers to fetch prices on a product rather than buy the same instantly. Buyers provide the products’ details, quantities and any other requests, and the seller will answer with a special offer.

Pricing is determined after review and negotiations, not up front like typical check-out.

The Big Reason Quote-Based Checkout is Good for B2B

Buyers opt to request a quote as that’s how they are accustomed to buying offline. It fosters negotiation, internal approval and volume-based pricing, manageable throughout a structured digital procurement workflow.

Having a “quote-based checkout” affords buyers peace of mind that they are receiving equitable and bespoke pricing, while sellers have the ability to control their margins and terms.

What You Stand to Gain by Offering Quote-Based Checkout to B2B Buyers

Better Conversion for High-Volume Buyers

Professional investors take a pause and think of underlying issues before jumping in at retail. Quote-cart checkout removes that barrier, leading to bigger inquiries and having more of a real conversation.

Personalized & Negotiable Pricing

With PrestaShop Wholesale pricing and RFQ flows, sellers can provide their customers with customized offers such as custom price lists that will reinforce trust and long-term relationships.

Faster B2B Sales Cycle

In precisely the same way that order takers are banishing centrally managed quotes, automated alerts and formal approvals narrow decision time for buyers (and speed sales cycles).

Essential Prestashop B2B Features for Quote-Based Checkout

Hide Prices for Non-Logged Users

B2B pricing is often sensitive. Keeping pricing hidden from visitors protects margins and sends traffic toward account creation.

Cart-to-Quote Functionality

PrestaShop cart-to-quote system permits a buyer to add more than one product and submit only one RFQ (ideal for bulk purchases or project-based ordering). You can make use of the FME Quote Module for that purpose as well. 

Custom Pricing and Wholesale Rules

Dynamic pricing laws with PrestaShop buy rate take into consideration deal size, client type and bargaining results.

B2B Customer Group Management

Segmenting PrestaShop B2B customers allows customized pricing, discounts, and quote rules according to buyer type.

How the Quote-Based Checkout Works

Step 1: Customer Requests a Quote

Buyers initiate RFQs with defined product characteristics, quantities, and terms from product pages or shopping carts.

Step 2: Admin Reviews & Creates Custom Pricing

Admins receive requests, propose, and finalize terms through PrestaShop.

Step 3: Customer Approves & Completes Checkout

This system converts the quote into an order once approved for payment and transaction.

Why PrestaShop Store Owners Should Enable Quote-Based Checkout

Win More B2B Clients

Allowing RFQ ensures serious buyers only engage your store and identifies you as a B2B merchant.

Increase Average Order Value AOV

Negotiable pricing encourages bulk buying and cross-selling.

Strengthen Long-Term B2B Loyalty

Personalized PR and streamlined workflow support gamble dealing.

Conclusion

B2B buyer expectations are more than fixed price lists and pretentious cheques. A quote-based checkout adapts and recognizes rational price simulations and rewards structure while increasing authorized comparisons and AOP in the sacrifice of occupational and international performance.

Enabling quote-based checkouts is a better way to target neckties, manufacturers, or any other business that allows merchants to take ownership of their business by meeting or exceeding customer sales objectives.