Pricing warnings (the analyst)
Overview
Before a quote goes out, Setell checks the price against your own past jobs and gives you a heads-up if it looks low or high. It's a second set of eyes on the number — so you don't accidentally send something at half your usual rate, or scare a customer off with one that's way over. It runs on every plan.
How it works
When you go to send a quote, Setell compares the total to what you've charged for similar work — your history, what you've quoted this customer before, and similar jobs you've done. Then it gives one of three verdicts:
| Verdict | What it means | What Setell does |
|---|---|---|
| PASS | The price is in your usual range. | Sends, no fuss. |
| WARN | The price is a bit off — roughly 10–20% from your usual. | Surfaces a short note. In Watch it asks; in Trust it notes and proceeds; in Auto it proceeds quietly. |
| FLAG | The price is clearly off — more than 20% from your usual. | Always stops and asks, in every mode. |
A FLAG is the one that always pauses you. Setell never sends a quote it flagged as clearly off-price without your okay — no matter your autonomy mode.
What the warning looks like
- Setell tells you in plain words why it spoke up — for example, that the quote is well below what you usually charge for similar work.
- When it can, it suggests a number to counter at.
- You decide: send it as-is, change the price, or let Setell adjust. Nothing happens until you say so.
A typical flag
- You ask Setell to send a quote to Northwest Fabrication.
- Setell checks the price, sees it's well under your usual rate, and stops to tell you — with a suggested number.
- You raise the price (or confirm anyway), and Setell sends.
Why it gets smarter
The check leans on what Setell has learned from your jobs. New accounts start from broad industry numbers as a backstop; once you've sent a handful of quotes — and especially once your QuickBooks history is connected — the warnings get tuned to your shop and your customers. See docs/import/quickbooks-history.
Troubleshooting
- I never see a warning. That usually means your prices look consistent — most sends are a clean PASS. It can also mean Setell doesn't have enough of your history yet to compare against. Send a few more quotes, or connect QuickBooks to warm it up.
- It warned on a price I meant to set. Fair enough — sometimes a job really is cheaper or pricier. Confirm anyway and Setell sends. Over time it learns your real range.
- It keeps asking even after I confirmed. Each send gets its own fresh check. If you revise the quote, the price changed, so Setell looks again.
FAQ
- Does this cost extra? No — the pricing check runs on every plan.
- Can I turn it off? It's part of how Setell sends safely. What you can change is whether a mild warning pauses you — that's your autonomy mode. A strong flag always asks. See
docs/autonomy/overview. - Is this the same as the quote check when Setell drafts? They're cousins. Setell also sanity-checks a quote when it's drafted; this analyst is the price check right before it goes out the door.
- What if I have no history? Setell falls back to broad industry numbers so you still get a sane backstop, then sharpens as you send.
Related
docs/autonomy/overview · docs/autonomy/watch · docs/quotes/send · docs/import/quickbooks-history · docs/studio/customer-memory
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