How to compare commercial equipment quotes line by line
To compare commercial equipment quotes, line up dimensions, materials, inclusions, delivery, installation, warranty and exclusions. The lowest price is often the thinnest specification.
Two commercial equipment quotes for the same prep table can show the same total and describe two different products. The difference sits in the specification, not the photo. This guide shows you how to read quotes side by side, so you compare like with like and the lowest price turns out to be a real saving, not a thinner unit.
Why quotes that look alike are not alike
Stainless steel photographs well whoever built it. Four things hide in the spec sheet, and none of them show in a photo:
- Material. The grade and thickness of the stainless steel. Ask every supplier to state both in writing.
- Construction. Fully welded or bolted frame, the number of legs on a long unit, the gauge of the backsplash.
- What is included. Backsplash, drainboards, casters or feet, faucet holes, shelves. One quote's "included" is another quote's "extra".
- Finish. It affects how easily the surface cleans and how it looks after years of daily use.
Most of the gap between two quotes is a gap in specification. Find it before you look at the total.
Compare commercial equipment quotes line by line
Put every quote into the same grid, and fill in the total last. Record the same eleven items for each quote you receive.
| Line to compare | What to record |
|---|---|
| Overall dimensions | Width, depth and height, and whether the supplier means overall or working size |
| Working surface or compartment | The usable size, not the footprint |
| Material | Grade and gauge, stated in writing |
| Construction | Welded or bolted frame, number of legs |
| Included parts | Backsplash, drainboards, casters or feet, shelves |
| Faucet | Number of holes, and whether a faucet is supplied |
| Delivery | Where it stops (your dock, your door or the final position) and when |
| Installation | Who levels the unit, who connects it, who coordinates the trades |
| Warranty | What is covered (parts, labour, finish), for how long, and what voids it |
| Exclusions | Anything the quote says it does not cover |
| Total | Last, once every line above is filled in |
Two things happen when you build this grid. The real differences surface, and vague quotes expose themselves. A supplier who will not state the material specification in writing is telling you something.
The lines buyers forget to compare
Delivery. "Delivered" can mean your dock, your door or the final position. On heavy stainless steel equipment, the difference between the three is real money and real risk. Get the terms in writing, and use our delivery and installation checklist to see what to confirm.
Installation scope. Who levels the unit? Who connects it? Who coordinates the trades? "Installation available" and "installation included" are different sentences. If a quote says neither, assume the work is yours.
Warranty. Compare what is covered (parts, labour, finish), for how long, and what voids it. A long warranty with narrow coverage is worth less than a shorter one with broad coverage. Read the terms, not the headline.
Exclusions. Every quote has them, and honest quotes list them. Look for site preparation, removal of old equipment, after-hours delivery and changes to the services in your building.
Red flags in an equipment quote
- No written material specification
- Dimensions with no note on whether they are overall or working
- "Delivery" with no destination or conditions
- A price far below every other quote, with no explanation
- Pressure to decide before you have seen the specification in writing
One red flag is a question to ask. Two is a reason to drop the quote from the comparison.
Make quotes comparable before you ask
The easiest way to compare quotes is to send every supplier the same specification. Run it in three steps:
- Write one line per spec and send the same lines to every supplier, asking for a written reply.
- Fill in one grid per quote, and leave a blank wherever a quote is silent.
- Ask each supplier to fill their blanks before you compare any totals.
Our guide to prep tables and cabinets includes a worksheet in exactly that format.
If your room needs a size the catalogue does not offer, read standard vs custom stainless steel equipment first. For anything custom, ask for drawings along with the price.
Quick answers
How much price difference is normal between quotes?
Enough to reflect real differences in specification. When one quote sits far below the rest, the grid usually shows exactly where it is thinner.
Should I always take the middle quote?
No. Take the quote that wins the line-by-line comparison at a price you accept. The grid makes the decision, not the total.
What if a supplier will not put the material in writing?
Ask once more. If the answer is still no, take that quote out of the comparison. You cannot compare a specification you have not been given.
Next step
Send us your specification and we will quote to your lines, dimension by dimension, in writing. Request a quote.
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