# decline

URL: /business/nouns/quote/decline · Id: `verb:Quote.decline` · Call: `await $.Quote.decline({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Decline records the buyer’s refusal of a sent Quote, with the reason in their words.

Decline records the buyer’s refusal of a sent [Quote](/business/nouns/quote), with the reason in their words.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `quote` | [Quote](/business/nouns/quote) | Yes | The sent Quote. |
| `reason` | `text` | No | Why the buyer declined, kept verbatim. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `quote` | [Quote](/business/nouns/quote) | Yes | The declined Quote. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Quote.declined`](/business/events/Quote.declined).
- Performed by the [Sales Engineer](/agents/sales/sales-engineer).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Records the reason as Evidence on the Deal; the Deal stays open for a superseding Quote.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Quote.decline](/business/nouns/quote/decline) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Decline the latest quote.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/tutorloop.com/quotes/quote_1/decline \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/tutorloop.com",
  "quote": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/tutorloop.com/quotes/quote_1",
    "$type": "Quote",
    "total": {
      "amount": 60,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "validUntil": "2026-10-22",
    "status": "declined",
    "lines": {}
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/tutorloop.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Quote.decline",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/tutorloop.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const quote = await $.Quote.decline({ quote: 'quote_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Quote.decline --json '{"quote":"quote_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Quote.decline({ quote: 'quote_1' })"
  }
}
```