Estimate
TL;DR
A formal price quote for a proposed repair, sent to the customer for approval before work begins.
An estimate is a customer-facing document that lists the parts, labor, taxes, and total for a proposed repair. It captures the customer's consent to proceed — and protects the shop from "I didn't agree to that price" disputes.
A good estimate includes: ticket reference, customer name, device, itemized line items, subtotal, tax, total, expiration date, approval mechanism (signature, click-to-approve, etc.), and the shop's terms.
Get Repair sends estimates as links that the customer can approve with a tap — no PDF download, no print-and-sign. The approval is logged with timestamp and IP.
Quick answers
What happens if the customer doesn't approve the estimate?
The ticket stays in 'Awaiting Approval' until either the customer approves, declines, or the estimate expires. Shops typically follow up at 24 and 72 hours; the system can automate those reminders.
Can estimates have a deposit requirement?
Yes — many shops require a deposit on parts-order repairs (e.g. screens that have to be specially ordered). The estimate approval flow can include a deposit-pay step via the POS payment processor.
Related
Repair Ticket
A digital work order that tracks one customer's device or batch of devices through diagnosis, repair, and pickup.
Customer Portal
A self-serve web area where customers track repair status, approve estimates, and view invoices without calling the shop.
Magic Link
A one-time URL emailed or texted to a user that logs them in without a password. Used heavily in customer portals.