Final answer:
The appropriate action when a customer wants a quote before placing an order is to provide the quote. This enables them to make an informed purchasing decision and reflects good customer service practices in business transactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a customer indicates that they do not want to officially order until they have been quoted, the appropriate action to take would be to provide the quote. This will inform them of the expected costs associated with their potential order and enable them to make an informed decision. Jumping ahead to proceed with the order without their confirmation or declining the request outright could lead to a loss of business, and cancelling an order that hasn't been placed would be illogical.
When dealing with such requests, it's important to be responsive and provide clear communication regarding pricing, turnaround time, and other relevant details for the services or products in question. The quotation process is a critical step in the sales cycle that can often lead to formalizing a customer's intent to purchase once they have all the necessary information.