Prices or no prices?

[Raging Bull]

Hi,

I'm in the process of adding over 150 new products to my website and I'm undecided as to whether or not to list them with or without prices. Half of my competitors advertise without half advertise with. What are people's opinions on this?

I like the idea of potential customers getting in touch to discuss options etc.

I sell gym equipment, mainly strength and conditioning.

Many thanks

 

[antropy]

Are you creating a lot more work for yourself if each person has to phone up and discuss before making a purchase rather than just clicking buy?

 

[Raging Bull]

Undoubtedly, yes. Was really curious as to whether or not it would put people off. Would it put you off?

 

[DJR51]

If it's a unique product, then you probably don't need prices, as the uniqueness will grab peoples interest enough to contact you for more information.

But if the product is available elsewhere, surely the main differentiating factor that customers will be looking for is the price point - so I would think in that situation putting the price on is virtually essential. I personally find it frustrating if a website doesn't give me an indication of price.

 

[antropy]

Would it put you off?

Yes, definitely. I would find a website that did display the price rather than call up.

 

[charlesdupont]

I agree,

I'm not sure what the benefit is of listing products without prices.

On the one hand, price discrimination is hard to pull off, and you're leaving yourself exposed to a bad customer experience if she finds out about a better offer she could have gotten from yourself.

On the other hand, you're costing yourself sales for every customer that doesn't want to pick up the phone, or wants to buy at a time when you're not available / busy.

Having a personal interaction with the customer can be a great differentiator, but I'd highlight that directly - e.g. 'call for personal advice from one our professional trainers'.

Hope this helps.

 

[japancool]

Hi,

I'm in the process of adding over 150 new products to my website and I'm undecided as to whether or not to list them with or without prices. Half of my competitors advertise without half advertise with. What are people's opinions on this?

I like the idea of potential customers getting in touch to discuss options etc.

I sell gym equipment, mainly strength and conditioning.

Many thanks

If I found a website without prices, I would move on. Not listing your prices reduces your credibility, IMHO. Unless you've got a really, really good reason why a potential customer would buy from you rather than from someone else, they're not going to take the time to ask.


A customer may want to avoid the potential embarrassment of asking you for a price and finding out that he/she can't afford it.

Think of it like this. If you walked into a shop, and there were no prices on display, what would you do?

 

[Mister B]

I agree entirely, if you have a set price list and are not in the world of luxury goods it would be madness not to display prices.

In the world of the internet the lack of easily accessible information will just lead to the consumer bouncing off onto their next destination. For sure it will let your competition know what your prices are but there are other ways of them finding that out anyway.

MIster B

 

[Raging Bull]

Without doubt, now, I'll be pricing everything. As much as anything it provides a benchmark for the user as/when I want to put on a special offer. Although I hadn't thought about the customer maybe not wanting to have any actual interaction with me, good point.

I'm assuming half my competitors don't add prices so they can under cut without ever letting anyone know their lowest price. Often for the same or very similar products.

 

[Raging Bull]

Hi Mister B

Yeah, as I just mentioned some products are the same on all sites and the trade prices we all pay are the same, although bigger companies will have more weight with regards percentages, so it's quite easy to get a rough idea of the margins each company is making on a given product.

It does intrest me though.

 

[joshgeake]

Don't list without prices. Remember how annoying it is when you can't find the price for something in Tesco/Asda/etc? Or how annoying it is when buying a house/car and the price says POA?

Don't give your customer more work than is really necessary. After all, they could just get a (probably better) price from Amazon.

 

[justintime]

Whilst the OP has a website aimed at consumers would the same apply to a business to business website? I run a bookkeeping business and having just revamped my website this is the question I have been mulling over.

 

[japancool]

Whilst the OP has a website aimed at consumers would the same apply to a business to business website? I run a bookkeeping business and having just revamped my website this is the question I have been mulling over.

To some extent, but less so, IMHO. Depends on which end of the market you're going for. At the smaller end, people like seeing prices. After all, just like with consumers, it saves time and embarrassment. I don't really want to enquire about your services if I simply can't afford them as a small business owner.

But at the other end, I don't expect a one-size-fits-all price anyway. I expect a tailored and customised service, and a tailored and customised price. Whatever you listed on your site, I'd expect you to come down on that anyway.

 

[RepricerExpress]

Hi, the advice on here is sound, in that if you're selling 'solutions' then leaving prices off will allow for a discussion to take place between you and the potential customer, however, when all is said and done, the truth is we don't know unless we try it.

I would recommend testing the idea. List your products without prices for 1 or 2 weeks, then list them with prices the following 1 or 2 weeks. Quite simply, which ever strategy brings in the most profit, repeat business or what ever metrics you use to gauge success, then go with that.

If you're not split testing your ideas online you're wasting a unique opportunity. Best of luck!

 

[8420PR]

Even for services (bookkeeping etc), not showing the prices gives me the impression that it will be expensive. Even just giving an estimate can be very helpful, and avoid your customers going straight to the next google search result.

 

[andrewakinyede]

Definitely list prices. Makes less work for you and keeps everything automated.

 

[Raging Bull]

For what it's worth I'm going to be listing all prices as I like to be up front with what I've got and in theory it should massivly cut down time spent dealing with customers enquiring about the prices of my products (over 200 very soon).

I must say though that if I'm on the hunt for something and come across a site that doesn't list prices I'd be more than happy to get in touch as I'd automatically assume that I'd get a % off, provided I could find prices elsewhere.

I know that the vast majority probably don't think like this though and are more likely to be put off as they feel they'll be hassled for months afterward.

 

[Ash-CBO]

Theres an obvious attraction to encouraging customer interaction to discuss prices in this instance but is this increasing your work load and encouraging enquiries from what may turn out to be very non genuine customers?

 

[hewi]

People want to have all the information with one click nowadays,
so i personally think listing the prices is the best idea. If i want to know where to get anything and how much it would cost, i expect the prices to be there. It makes it easier for the customer.