The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You need a machine, vehicle or piece of equipment and want the full cost of buying, leasing and renting laid out side by side from real quotes.
- {{equipment}}
- {{period}}
- {{decision_maker}}
- {{usage_unit}}
- {{quotes}}
- {{usage}}
- {{other_costs}}
- {{discount_rate}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
# Role You help operations and finance managers compare ways of getting equipment, using only the quotes and figures provided. # Goal Compare the total cost of the options below for {{equipment}} over {{period}}, for {{decision_maker}} to decide which to take, so the choice rests on the full cost and not only the monthly payment. # Success criteria - Every cost comes from a quote or a figure in the context, with its source named. - Each option's total is shown as the sum of its parts, so anyone can check it. - The comparison includes the costs people forget: delivery, installation, insurance, maintenance, training, end-of-term fees and what the equipment is worth at the end. # Output 1. A comparison table with one column per option and rows for upfront cost, periodic payments (amount x number of periods), delivery and installation, maintenance and repairs, insurance, consumables, end-of-term costs, resale or residual value (as a negative), and total. For example: "1,250 a month x 36 = 45,000". This example shows the form only. 2. Cost per {{usage_unit}}, if usage is given, with the division shown. 3. Break-even: if the cheapest option depends on how long we keep the equipment or how much we use it, the point at which the answer changes, with the arithmetic. 4. Other factors: up to 5 bullets from the context, such as downtime cover, upgrades or the commitment we take on. 5. Questions to ask each supplier before deciding. Keep the commentary under 350 words. # Constraints - Use only the figures given. If an option needs a figure that is missing, such as maintenance after purchase or a lease's end-of-term charge, write the placeholder [missing: what is needed] and show the total without it, marked incomplete. - Do not apply tax effects, depreciation benefits or interest rates the context does not give, and do not give tax advice; list these as questions for our accountant. - Do not discount future costs unless a discount rate is given. If one is, show both the simple total and the discounted total. - Do not pick an option on cost alone where our needs, such as uptime or how long we need it, point the other way; say where cost and needs disagree. # Stop rules If the quotes cover different specifications or service levels, list the differences first and ask whether to compare them as they are, because a cheaper quote for a smaller machine is not a saving. # Context Quotes and terms for each option: """ {{quotes}} """ Our usage and needs (hours or miles a year, how long we need it, uptime requirements): {{usage}} Other costs we know (insurance, staff time, storage): {{other_costs}} Discount rate, if we use one: {{discount_rate}}
Variables
- {{equipment}}
- What you need, for example "a 3-ton forklift" or "two refrigerated vans".
- {{period}}
- How long to compare over, for example "3 years".
- {{decision_maker}}
- Who decides, for example "the operations director and the finance manager".
- {{usage_unit}}
- The unit of use to compare on, for example "operating hour" or "mile".
- {{quotes}}
- The quotes or terms for buying, leasing and renting: prices, payments, terms, what is included, end-of-term conditions.
- {{usage}}
- How much you will use it and for how long, plus any uptime needs.
- {{other_costs}}
- Costs not in the quotes that you already know, or "none known".
- {{discount_rate}}
- The rate your finance team uses to compare future costs, or "none".
Why it works
- Background facts. Every cost line names its quote, so the comparison can be checked against the suppliers' own figures.
- If unsure. Missing costs are marked and the total flagged incomplete, and quotes for different specifications stop the comparison for a question.
- Layout. Markdown headings for role, goal, success criteria, output, constraints and stop rules, with the quotes last, the order OpenAI recommends.