How to Open a Stone Request (RFQ) as a Buyer on MarbleMap

Sourcing natural stone usually means scattered emails, phone calls and price lists that refuse to line up. MarbleMap turns that process around: the buyer publishes a structured request, known as an RFQ, and verified suppliers in that category respond through the same structure with comparable offers. The platform charges no commission and puts no middlemen between you, and publishing a request is completely free for buyers — and it always will be. In the video above, you can watch the whole flow through the eyes of a Rotterdam-based importer buying marble for a hotel project in Amsterdam. This post walks through the same steps and what to pay attention to at each one.

Two request types: fast or line by line

The demand wizard offers two routes. With a General request you describe your need in free text — the fastest option, where the supplier builds the offer with their own line items. It is ideal for single products or loosely defined needs. With an Itemised product list you list every product with its name, quantity and unit. Offers then arrive built on your items: suppliers cannot change them, they can only price them. That lets you compare offers line by line across suppliers, and even split the order between several of them. The hotel project in the video involves multiple items, so it follows the itemised route.

A clear title, a strong description, and AI on tap

A good request starts with a clear title — in the video, that is Carrara marble for Amsterdam hotel project. You then describe the project in a few sentences: where the stone will be used, what quality you expect, when you need it. If you want help, Improve with AI strengthens your text in a single click, and Undo brings the original back if you prefer it. Publishing requests stays free for every buyer; advanced features such as AI writing assistance belong to the paid plans.

Category, delivery and commercial terms

Choosing the right category connects your request with the right suppliers. The category tree lets you go as specific as Carrara under the Marble branch, and you can attach images and technical documents at the same step. Your delivery country is pre-filled from your profile, so you only need to enter the delivery point — the project address. Next you set the pricing currency and the closing date, which defaults to thirty days ahead and marks how long offers are collected, plus your target delivery date and payment terms such as Net 30. Setting the terms upfront is the key to receiving offers you can actually compare.

Product line items and export details

This is where an itemised request earns its keep. In the video, the buyer enters two-centimetre polished Bianco Carrara slabs at four hundred and fifty square metres, then adds a Calacatta Oro reception desk counter at twelve pieces. Every item can carry its own images, documents and export details, and suppliers will price each line separately. Advanced options round out the picture: your accepted currencies and countries arrive pre-filled from your profile, you can specify Incoterms such as FOB and CIF, and leave a short note for suppliers. A final review screen shows the title, category, delivery, items and terms on one page, with Edit links to revisit any section before you publish.

Sealed offers mean real best prices

Once your request is live, verified suppliers in your category see it and quote line by line. The crucial difference is that offers arrive sealed: suppliers cannot see each other's prices, so instead of tactical undercutting you get each supplier's genuine best price. To keep the marketplace clean, every published item is screened by AI — inappropriate content is removed automatically, and accounts that repeat it are suspended. The platform also speaks your language, operating in thirteen languages including English, Turkish, German, Arabic and Chinese.

Open your first request today

If you buy natural stone, you can create a free account at marblemap.co and publish your first request in minutes — no commission, no middlemen, free for buyers for good. If you supply stone, the same marketplace brings you verified demands in the categories you actually serve, ready to bid on with sealed offers. In the next video of this series, we show how a supplier submits an offer on this very request.