Every buyer account works in one of two modes. As an Indirect buyer you send the enquiry and the BSO team does the rest: it sources and checks the suppliers, sends you one final quote with a note on why it was chosen, and handles questions, delivery and follow-up. As a Direct buyer your enquiry goes to verified suppliers, you compare their quotes and you deal with the supplier you choose, with BSO's checks in place.
You pick the mode at the last step of sign-up (Create your account) and you can change it at any time in My account. Both modes are free; see Compare plans for what the two buyer plans include.
Before you start
- A buyer account you are signed in to (Create your account).
See which mode you are in
A direct buyer sees a blue notice at the top of the dashboard: You are a Direct buyer. Want the BSO team to buy for you? It has a Switch to Indirect buyer button, a See the difference link that opens the Buying mode card, and a Hide for now cross.
An indirect buyer has no notice. Either way, the Buying mode card in My account shows the mode you are in.
Open the Buying mode card
Open My account and click Plan and billing in the list on the left. The first card is Buying mode: How your new enquiries are handled. Both are free.
It shows two cards. Indirect buyer, marked Recommended: The BSO team buys for you, with BSO sources and checks the suppliers for you, One final quote, with a note on why it was chosen, and BSO handles questions, delivery and follow-up. Direct buyer: Suppliers quote to you, with Compare quotes on price, lead time, rating and score, Accept one quote or split the order by item, and Deal with suppliers directly, with BSO's checks in place. The mode you are in is marked Current, with Your new enquiries use this mode.
What a direct buyer sees
On your enquiry page the Supplier quotes card lists every quote with the supplier shown as Supplier A, Supplier B and so on, each with its score, total, delivery time and the date it is valid until. With two or more quotes the BSO recommendation panel compares them and you can award the enquiry item by item. See Compare quotes.
You accept the quote yourself, choose the payment term and how the goods reach you (Accept a quote). The supplier's name and email are shown once you have accepted. A service charge is added to your total when you accept; the page tells you so before you confirm.
What an indirect buyer sees
On your enquiry page every quote is shown as BSO, and the total reads Price pending BSO review until BSO has priced it. There is no recommendation panel and no Award by item. The Logistics card says BSO arranges the delivery for this enquiry.
When BSO has chosen a supplier it sends one final quote: the enquiry shows Final quote sent, and the quote page carries a Why BSO selected this note. You accept it, choose the payment term and pay; BSO is your counterparty for the order, the delivery and any return. See Accept the final quote.
Switch mode
On the Buying mode card, click Switch to this on the other mode. The card confirms the change and the new mode is marked Current. A direct buyer can also click Switch to Indirect buyer on the dashboard notice.
Enquiries you have already sent keep their mode; only new enquiries follow the new choice. You can switch back at any time.
Good to know
- Returns work differently in the two modes. On a direct order the return is between you and the supplier: BSO steps in only when the supplier gives no answer within its window, or when you ask BSO to review a rejection. On an indirect order BSO is your counterparty and handles the whole return and the refund. See Request a return.
- Not sure which to choose? Indirect is the one BSO recommends when you want one price and one point of contact; Direct when you want to see every supplier's offer and pick yourself. Start with Submit an enquiry either way.
- Questions? Email support@bsoservices.ai, Monday to Friday 07:00 to 17:00 UK time.
Related guides
Still stuck? We are here.
Open BSO AI Chat inside the platform, or email the support team. Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 17:00 UK time.