Insect netting RFQ checklist: what to send before asking for price
Most bad insect-netting quotes start with a missing pest. The buyer asks for “insect netting”, the supplier quotes something plausible, and nobody notices that the product may not stop the insect that matters.
In short
A quote-ready insect-netting RFQ should include target pest, crop, use case, aperture in millimeters if known, material, UV treatment, dimensions, quantity, destination and delivery terms. If you do not know the aperture, say so. That is better than guessing.
The checklist
Use this as the minimum RFQ:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Target pest | Thrips, aphids, whiteflies, leafminers |
| Crop | Tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, seedlings |
| Installation | Greenhouse vents, row cover, tunnel, field |
| Aperture | 0.19 mm for thrips starting point, or “advise me” |
| Material | UV-treated HDPE |
| Dimensions | 4 m x 100 m rolls, or area size |
| Quantity | Approx. 2,000 m2 |
| Destination | United States, Netherlands, Germany, etc. |
| Delivery terms | Not sure, FOB, CIF or DDP |
If you can fill only half of this table, send it anyway. Open questions are part of a real sourcing process.
What not to send
Avoid:
- “best price insect net”;
- “50 mesh, maybe”;
- “same as attached photo”;
- “high quality only”;
- “for garden use”.
Those phrases can start a conversation, but they cannot produce a documented quote.
The one line that helps most
Write:
Target pest is [pest]. If the aperture is not right, the quote is not useful.
That sentence forces the discussion onto the real specification.
Tools to prepare the RFQ
- Use the Mesh Size Visualizer to translate pest into aperture.
- Use the Netting Coverage Calculator to estimate area.
- Use the RFQ Spec Builder to package the request.
- See insect netting specifications for catalog fields.
Sources
- Bethke and Paine, 1991, screen hole-size research for greenhouse pests: https://doi.org/10.18474/0749-8004-26.1.169
- University of Tennessee Extension, “Insect and Mite Pest Management in Greenhouses”, PB1594: https://utia.tennessee.edu/publications/wp-content/uploads/sites/269/2023/10/PB1594.pdf
Frequently asked questions
What should an insect-netting RFQ include?
Target pest, crop, use case, aperture in millimeters if known, material, UV treatment, dimensions, quantity, destination and delivery terms. Most bad insect-netting quotes start with a missing pest.
What if I do not know the required aperture?
Say so, or write "advise me". That is better than guessing. Open questions are a normal part of a real sourcing process.
Should I send an incomplete RFQ?
Yes. If you can fill only half the checklist, send it anyway. A partial but honest request beats a complete-looking one built on invented values.
Which phrases should I avoid in an insect-netting RFQ?
"Best price insect net", "50 mesh, maybe", "same as attached photo", "high quality only" and "for garden use". They can start a conversation, but they cannot produce a documented quote.