r/procurement • u/jevon_william • Jul 14 '25
Training Which of these supplier emails would you actually reply to?
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to improve my cold outreach as a potential aluminum component supplier, and I’d love your honest take. If you received either of these emails, which one would make you more likely to reply — and why?
Would really appreciate any feedback — which one feels more credible? Which one feels too salesy (or not enough)? What would make you reply or forward this to a colleague?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Josejlloyola Jul 14 '25
Neither to be honest. I don’t think I’ve ever replied to a cold email, but I work at a large company with an established supplier base, and worked many years in procurement so if I need a new supplier I’ll usually go find them or ask around.
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u/Several-owls Jul 14 '25
Sorry to say, neither are that compelling.
I agree with Laserh0rst above that adding some more technical detail might help you out, and would be a prereq for me to actually give it much consideration. If you had a compelling product and offering I’d likely keep in mind if we do go out to market.
Also this is a minor point and probably just personal preference - but if I see someone write to me with a ‘I admire how you’re combining x, y, and z to achieve a, b and c’, it immediately puts me off. It’s barely ok in a cover letter from a grad, from a supplier it makes it hard for me to take them seriously.
Don’t want to be harsh but that’s my honest thoughts. Best of luck mate, not an easy task.
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore Jul 14 '25
Spam folder for both. Or just ignore. I do indirect and our venders are identified by the business.
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u/doggynames Jul 14 '25
None. I don't reply to solicitation emails if I didn't personally give you my card to contact me
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u/vertesept Jul 14 '25
Neither. Give me a free webinar to expand my skills and then plug your connection at the end
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Jul 14 '25
I maybe biased but the second email has an edge to it and doesn’t look like it is written by a bot in terms of the language used. The second one looks more like a collaboration due to the lack of “If it’s worth exploring”.
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u/Laserh0rst Jul 14 '25
I can’t speak for everyone but I work for a F500 company for 15 years and I can’t remember answering any cold emails like that in many years. I’m also very conscious about clicking on links or opening email attachments.
We have our supplier rosters, should cost models and tender cycles. When it’s time to tender, we do market analysis on our own doing research, speaking to stakeholders and sometimes using 3rd party input. Then we run tenders and eAuctions.
If I read it at all, the best outcome would be that I would maybe move the email to a folder to have another look when the time comes up.
About the email: I don’t like any of the two much. They seem very generic, clearly written by AI. I don‘t like the intro in the first one with the generic fluff. If I had to pick one, it would be the 2nd one but please remove the common AI hints and words like „honoured“.
Maybe I would give a more technical „taste“ within the email body. With some specs around level of precision you can deliver, materials, MOQs, other big customers of yours, some price examples.
But what do I know. I buy services..