Prices or not on your website?

[Cambridge PC Support]

so for those that don't, do you put any reference to prices on your website?

eg

"For our competitive prices please call us on ......"

I just spotted on my FAQ page:

How much will it cost me?

We don't charge a call-out fee, and we charge by the hour. Please contact us to find out our current competitive rates.

 

[joydivision]

I don't bother putting the prices on my website. I am not the most expensive or the cheapest but those that want viruses removed for £25 can just let the Pizza techs sort them out.

Generally speaking customers who are concerned mainly about price are often trouble.

I've let two jobs go this week for that exact reason.

 

[dmurphy315]

debated on this myself, wondering if listing prices is a good idea or not. guess it can work both ways, but i'd rather get the call and do some "sales work" for a few minutes.


www.PCTechAugusta.com

 

[minc3d]

^^^ Dmurphy great point ... I'd rather be written off due to price on a positive note after speaking to someone on the phone, and leave a good impression for future possible needs from that person.

At the very very least, I could lead that person onto a company which could service them, leaving another form of good impression. Nothing wrong with passing a customer to someone who can handle them and who you trust will not take them for a ride.

 

[16k_zx81]

Interesting thread.

Speaking personally, I am more inclined to deal with a company whos prices I can see when I am shopping for a service if those prices are reasonable. If the prices are displayed and obviously above market value, then I will go elsewhere.

If I can find a good price while looking thats the first company I will contact if others do not have their price listed.

 

[Martyn]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've think i'm going to go with not displaying my prices. In these early days of evaluating advertising I need to know how my advertising is going and by speaking to people, even if I lose by price, I can track my advertising. Of course with no prices displayed they may not call

 

[cdbrehm]

For myself, I currently do display my prices, for several reasons:

1. My own personal experience. If I'm looking for a carpenter to work on my house, it frankly irritates me that he doesn't post his rates on his website. What is he trying to hide? I wonder. Or I guess I resent the fact that now I have to spend time, and endure the awkwardness, and possibly a sales pitch, to call and find out what could easily have been posted on his site. As a result, with other contractors for whom I am the customer, I rarely ever even call these people.

2. Not posting your rates makes you fair game to every bargain hunter in your radius. You might as well post an ad on Craig's List.

3. To me, a lot about getting new customers is the confidence game. Why call you rather than one of your immediate competitors? All else being equal, I am much more inclined to trust the company that discloses their rates freely than the ones that do not. For new customers, one of their major fears is hidden fees.

Not disclosing your rates can definitely get you more calls. At least with a junk call, you're more likely to convert this customer to an actual job, than if you'd never received the call in the first place. This is a real dilemma. I don't honestly know what the right answer is. I can both sides.

2.

 

[RegEdit]

When companies don't post prices it's usually because they're hiding HIGH prices, and they instead hope to "happy talk" you on the phone.

 

[PDXMicro]

For myself, I currently do display my prices, for several reasons:

1. My own personal experience. If I'm looking for a carpenter to work on my house, it frankly irritates me that he doesn't post his rates on his website. What is he trying to hide? I wonder. Or I guess I resent the fact that now I have to spend time, and endure the awkwardness, and possibly a sales pitch, to call and find out what could easily have been posted on his site. As a result, with other contractors for whom I am the customer, I rarely ever even call these people.

2. Not posting your rates makes you fair game to every bargain hunter in your radius. You might as well post an ad on Craig's List.

3. To me, a lot about getting new customers is the confidence game. Why call you rather than one of your immediate competitors? All else being equal, I am much more inclined to trust the company that discloses their rates freely than the ones that do not. For new customers, one of their major fears is hidden fees.

Not disclosing your rates can definitely get you more calls. At least with a junk call, you're more likely to convert this customer to an actual job, than if you'd never received the call in the first place. This is a real dilemma. I don't honestly know what the right answer is. I can both sides.

2.

I completely agree! When I look around for a service, I get really upset when the prices aren't listed. I would never want my customers to go through that headache. I don't decide based on price, but I'm not going to pay an exorbitant rate either. If they believe my prices are too high, that is for them to decide, just as it is mine. Most of the time, people who decide on price alone are extremely picky and, in most cases, the type of customer my business needs to run away from. If you think about it another level deeper, you could be opening yourself up to a higher risk with those customers. Cheap customers are more likely to sue if something went wrong (physically to them or their property).

I had this debate for a long time, but after thinking about how much time it would save me from haggling with a customer, prices were immediately posted. It doesn't take much to update your prices if need be.