I saw a new customer's inquiry on Friday night and gave them a quote (the customer was 5 hours later than us and had never worked together). I did not receive a response at that time, but today I followed up with the customer and said thank you for your quote. Unfortunately, we reached this deal with another supplier yesterday. Maybe we have the opportunity to collaborate next time. How can I express myself most appropriately in a situation like this?

       In response to this situation, we can respond to the customer as follows: expressing acceptance of this fact and removing the other party's defense+but wanting to know where we lost+ Is there still a chance for the roundabout detection to reverse.

Script reference:

     Ah, who's the lucky one to secure your order? Your efficiency in handling things is truly commendable. I'm genuinely happy for you on finding a collaborating supplier. However, it's a bit disheartening for me since I promptly provided a quote when I received your inquiry last Friday. May I inquire if your order has been finalized? Is there still a chance for us? I'd appreciate your insights into the main reasons we weren't selected.

      Although we didn't win the order, we genuinely value your feedback to enhance our operations and strive for improvement in any future opportunities. When do you plan to arrange payment with the other party? (This question is to confirm if the payment has been made, as there might be a chance to re-engage the customer if not.