Will Doug give customers a price?

Only prices you give him. Most shops turn on team quotes, so Doug gives no price, collects the full request, and your estimator sends the quote.

Can Doug take requests from homeowners as well as companies?

Yes. He asks a first-time buyer for what your estimator needs, like measurements, photos of the space and whether they want install, so the request is ready to price.

Does Doug work with our current email?

Yes. Forward your quotes@ or sales@ mailbox to Doug's address. He replies from your own domain once you verify it, and you choose if he replies on his own or drafts each reply for your OK.

How much does Doug cost for a fab shop?

Starter is $49 a month for 2,000 credits on your website and by email. Growth is $149 for 10,000 credits and adds texts and calls, with 500 minutes. Extra credits are $10 per 1,000 and roll over.

AI receptionist for metal fabrication shops

Doug answers the quote requests and calls that come into your fabrication shop, by email and phone, at any hour. He answers from your own material (processes, materials, thickness limits, finishes, certifications), collects the drawing, material, gauge, quantity and due date, and hands your estimator a complete request. Free for 7 days. Email starts on Starter, $49 a month. Calls and texts start on Growth, $149 a month.

Updated October 29, 2026

Which requests should Doug handle?

Some messages need a person now: a contractor whose job site waits on a delivery, a weld failure on parts you shipped, a change to an order already on the floor. Doug hands those to your team at once, with the reason at the top.

The rest is steady work: 40 of these laser cut from 11 gauge, powder coating in house or not, railings built to this drawing, the lead time on a run of brackets. Many come from people who have never bought fabrication and don't know what to send. Doug asks them for it.

What customers ask a fab shop

Contractors, engineers and homeowners ask the same things every week.

Can you cut and bend this part? DXF attached.
What thickness can your laser cut in stainless?
Do you powder coat, or only ship raw?
Can you build and install railings or stairs?
Are your welders AWS certified?
How soon could you do 100 pieces?

How does Doug take a fabrication RFQ?

He answers from your capability sheet, equipment list and the Q&A pairs you write, so the laser bed size and the brake tonnage come from you. With team quotes on, he gives no price. He asks for the material and gauge, the quantity, the finish, whether it needs install, the due date and ship-to, and saves a quote request your estimator can price.

Drawings stay with the conversation. PDFs and photos show in your inbox. DXF, DWG and STEP files are named so your team opens the original email.

Calls from contractors and job sites

On Growth, Doug answers calls on his own local number, or on your number when you forward or move it to him. Contractors calling from a job site get answers on lead times and what you stock, and Doug transfers the call when they need your shop lead. Every call lands in your inbox with a transcript.

Showing up for 'metal fabrication near me'

Fabrication gets searched by process and place: 'laser cutting near me', 'custom metal fabrication Columbus', 'aluminum welding shop'. Builders and homeowners also ask ChatGPT who builds railings or gates in their town. Each week Doug checks those searches, writes the process pages you're missing, and keeps your Google profile and reviews current.

Is it worth it for a fab shop?

A quote request that sits for a week goes to the shop that replied first. Doug answers every one the same day, asks for the details your estimator needs, and keeps your phone answered while your team is welding.

Start with the free Google and AI check, then upload your capability sheet and send Doug a test request.

Questions

Will Doug give customers a price?: Only prices you give him. Most shops turn on team quotes, so Doug gives no price, collects the full request, and your estimator sends the quote.
Can Doug take requests from homeowners as well as companies?: Yes. He asks a first-time buyer for what your estimator needs, like measurements, photos of the space and whether they want install, so the request is ready to price.
Does Doug work with our current email?: Yes. Forward your quotes@ or sales@ mailbox to Doug's address. He replies from your own domain once you verify it, and you choose if he replies on his own or drafts each reply for your OK.
How much does Doug cost for a fab shop?: Starter is $49 a month for 2,000 credits on your website and by email. Growth is $149 for 10,000 credits and adds texts and calls, with 500 minutes. Extra credits are $10 per 1,000 and roll over.