Instagram Shopping Happens in DMs: How to Answer Every "Price Pls" Instantly

Instagram shopping now happens in DMs. A shopper spots a product in a reel, types "price pls," and buys from whichever brand answers first with a clear price and a link.

With Wati's Instagram automation, those questions get instant replies, so your boutique doesn't lose orders while you're packing parcels. It's the same conversation-first approach behind Wati for e-commerce.

Below, you'll learn what shoppers ask before they buy, how to set up keywords that catch every version of "price," and what a good automated reply looks like.

Is Instagram Shopping Still a Thing?

Yes, but it works differently now. Since September 2025, Shops on Facebook and Instagram use website checkout, so tapping a product tag takes shoppers to your own store to pay. Product tags still help people discover what you sell.

What changed is where the decision happens. Before paying on your site, most shoppers want a quick answer about price, size, or delivery, and they ask in DMs or comments.

What Do Shoppers Ask Before They Buy?

Most enquiries fall into five groups:

• Price: "price pls," "rate?", "how much for the blue one?"
• Size and fit: "is M available?", "will this fit a 32 waist?"
• Stock: "is this back?", "available in black?"
• Delivery and COD: "do you ship to Pune?", "COD hai?"
• Discounts: "any offer?", "code for first order?"

An Instagram boutique might get dozens of each every day. Because the questions repeat, they're ideal for automation. Policy questions, such as returns and COD rules, are better handled by an Instagram FAQ chatbot.

How Do You Build a Keyword Library for Price Enquiries?

You build a keyword library by listing every way shoppers ask each question, then choosing how strictly each word should match. Here's a starting point:

A few rules keep the library accurate:

• Use fuzzy matching for longer words people misspell, like “available” or “price.” Short words like “rate” and “cost” are safer with Contains, since fuzzy matching can confuse them with “date” or “post.”
• Exact Matches needs the whole message to be the keyword, so “pp” works but “pp pls” won’t. Add “pp?”, “pp pls,” and “pp plz” as separate keywords.
• Only use single letters with Exact Matches. With Contains, “S” or “M” would fire on almost every message. Post-level scoping applies to comment rules only, not DMs or story replies.
• Avoid “back” on its own, since it also matches “black.” Use “back in stock” and “restock” instead.
• Review missed DMs weekly and add new variants.

Our keyword-triggered automation guide walks through setting up the rules step by step.

What Should Each Automated Reply Include?

A keyword rule sends one fixed reply. It doesn’t know which reel, story, or product the shopper is asking about, so match the reply to where the question comes from.

• Comments on a product reel: create one comment rule per product reel, scoped to that post. Because the rule only runs on that reel, the reply can name the product and price.

• DMs and story replies: reply with your price list or collection link, or ask which product they mean. Astra AI Agent or your team can then share the exact price.

A good automated reply answers what it can and makes the next step obvious. Include:

1. The price, or your price list, stated clearly, with no "DM for price" loops.
2. Available sizes or colors, so the shopper doesn't need to ask again.
3. A product link, so they can check out on your site.
4. A delivery or COD line, since it's often the next question.
5. One clear next step, such as a “Shop now” URL button (saved as an Instagram button template) or “Reply SIZE for the size chart.”

Here’s an example for a comment rule scoped to one product reel:

"Hi! The Rose Anarkali is ₹2,499. Sizes S to XL are in stock. Order here: [link]. We deliver across India, and COD is available. Reply SIZE for the size chart."

Send a photo or short video when it helps the decision, such as a fabric close-up or a quick try-on clip. Rich replies answer follow-up questions before shoppers type them.

Let Astra AI Agent answer the questions keywords miss. Astra replies on Instagram using your website, product pages, and FAQs, and hands complex chats to your team. Explore Astra AI Agent

How Do You Catch Price Questions in Story Replies?

Product stories bring in many "how much?" questions, and they arrive as story replies rather than regular DMs. A story reply rule applies to all your stories, so reply with your new-arrivals link and ask which piece they like. Astra or your team can then give the exact price in the DM.

You can also send a reply when someone reacts to a product story with an emoji. A heart on a new arrival is often an easy moment to share the link.

What Happens When a Product is Out of Stock?

A sold-out product doesn't have to mean a lost shopper. Automation doesn’t check your inventory, so a rule replies the same way whether an item is in stock or not. When a product sells out, update that reel’s comment reply (and your Astra knowledge source) to:

1. Say so clearly, with a restock date if you know it.
2. Offer an alternative, such as the same style in another color.
3. Offer a restock alert and ask for the shopper's WhatsApp number.
4. Tag the request with the product, then send an approved WhatsApp template campaign to that tag when it’s back.

In Wati, AI Assist (Pro and Business plans) can collect the number inside the DM and save it to the shopper’s contact. Astra AI Agent can also save the number, and it’s available on every plan.

Our guide to capturing phone numbers from Instagram DMs explains the setup.

How Does Wati Answer Price Enquiries for Retail Brands?

Wati is an agentic customer engagement platform that turns conversations into revenue growth across marketing, sales, and support. Here's how one boutique's morning changes with it.

Your team spends the morning on orders, not on typing prices, and picks up the chats that need a person in the Team Inbox.

Answer Faster, Sell More

Every "price pls" is a shopper ready to buy. Answer it instantly, make the next step clear, and keep sold-out interest alive on WhatsApp.

Ready to answer every enquiry? Start your free Wati trial or book a demo.