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Compare supplier quotes and pick the real cheapest

Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You run a coffee cart and need to pick a bean supplier, and your business partner Leo wants the answer by text. Send exactly 3 numbered lines, one per supplier, each with its real monthly cost for your 40 lb, then a last line starting "Pick:" with the cheapest real option. Under 80 words, plain text. Use only the numbers in the quotes, including the latest price update, each supplier's minimum order and your shelf space. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Just saying "compare these". The AI builds a table or a long breakdown with bold headings and buries the pick in a paragraph, which looks broken in a text. Try: Say the shape: "3 numbered lines, one per supplier, then a last line starting 'Pick:'. Plain text."
  • Missing the price update. Copperleaf's first quote looks cheapest, and the AI may use it instead of the Oct 30 update. Try: Add: "Use Copperleaf's Oct 30 price update, not the old price."
  • Ignoring the fine print. The AI multiplies 40 lb by Harbor's price and skips its 50 lb minimum and your shelf limit. Try: Add: "Apply each minimum order and my 45 lb shelf limit."
  • Letting rumors in. The AI treats Leo's "won some award" text as a fact and uses it as a reason. Try: Add: "Use only numbers from the quotes. Ignore Leo's rumors."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 80 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 15 words, no math steps."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Ends with a clear pick
  • Asks for one line per supplier
  • Uses the price update
  • Applies the minimum and shelf space
  • Asks for plain text

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