Overview
Use a Quote Estimate when a customer asks for a price before their first visit.
The goal is simple:
Agree on the price, then book a drop-off time.
How it works
The customer submits a quote request.
You send them an estimate by SMS.
The customer approves the price.
The customer chooses a drop-off time.
The quote becomes a booking.
Important: Approval is not a booking
When a customer approves an estimate, they are only agreeing to the price. A booking is not generated until:
The customer selects a drop-off time and completes Schedule → Confirm, OR
A staff member manually selects Convert and schedules it for them.
An "Approved" status without a scheduled date is normal and simply means the price is agreed upon, but the vehicle drop-off is pending.
For workshop staff
When to send a quote estimate
Use this flow when:
You have a quote request in Inbox
You want to send a clear written price before they book
The end goal is a scheduled booking, not mid-job approval
You do not have to send an estimate on every quote. Phone agreement + Convert is enough when the customer is ready.
How to send estimation
Open Inbox and the conversation with the quote.
On the Quote request card, tap Send Estimate.
Enter the amount (and optional max), services, and a short note.
Send. The customer gets an SMS/email with the estimate link. The quote moves to a responded state.
You can also send from quote detail, Leads, or the mobile quote reply screen.
If the customer approved but has no booking date
This is the common “approved but not scheduled” case.
In Inbox you may see an Estimate Approved card.
The quote is not converted yet — there is still no booking.
Schedule for them: use Convert on the Quote request card (scroll up in the thread if needed), or open the quote detail → Schedule / Convert, or use Convert to Booking on the Estimate Approved card.
Set drop-off (and pickup if needed) → Convert Quote. The quote becomes a booking.
Tip: On the dashboard, Convert is on the quote card (or quote detail), not only on the estimate card. On mobile, an approved quote estimate may also offer Convert to Booking on the estimate card.
Converting the quote to a booking
Open Convert (or Schedule) on the quote.
Set or confirm the drop-off date and time — Convert Quote.
Confirm conversion.
A booking is created. Inbox shows the quote as converted / linked to the booking.
Staff may convert an estimate even if the customer has not formally approved it in the system, such as when approval was given over the phone. This is ultimately a workshop-level decision.
What the customer sees & does
Links they may receive
They may get more than one link from your messages. Each page stands on its own:
Quote status link:
See quote progress
Approve & Book when an estimate is waiting
Estimate link:
Review price
Approve estimate & book
Book link:
Go straight to scheduling (can book even without tapping Approve first)
They do not need to jump between pages to finish — use whichever link they opened.
Approving and booking
Open the estimate or quote status link.
Review the price and services.
Tap Approve estimate & book.
Continue to Schedule booking.
Pick a drop-off time — Confirm.
Select a pick-up time — Confirm.
Confirm the booking — Book Now.
If they leave before picking a date
Their estimate stays approved.
No drop-off is booked.
They can reopen the estimate link and use Continue to booking, or open the book / status link again.
Or the workshop can Convert and schedule for them.
Common questions
The customer approved — why is there no scheduled date?
Approve ≠ booked. They agreed to the price but did not finish picking a drop-off (or closed the page). Ask them to continue from their link, or Convert the quote yourself.
Can the shop book without the customer approving?
Yes. Staff can Convert a quote while the estimate is only sent, or even if the customer declined — when the shop decides that is appropriate (for example phone agreement).
Is this the same as a standalone estimate?
No. Standalone is mid-job approval on work already in the shop and does not create a new booking. Quote estimates are for winning the job and scheduling the first visit. See Standalone estimates.
Where do I find Convert in Inbox?
On the original Quote request card (Convert), or via quote detail → Schedule. Do not assume Convert only appears on the Estimate Approved card (dashboard may show View Details there only).
What if the estimate expires?
The customer may be asked to request a new quote. You can send a new estimate from the shop after you agree revised pricing.