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On one hand I definitely agree that transparent pricing gets more customers, if your product isn't made for an enterprise level there is no excuse not to make t

by GB_001 15y ago

On one hand I definitely agree that transparent pricing gets more customers, if your product isn't made for an enterprise level there is no excuse not to make the prices transparent. With that being said, many software and web applications that use the "contact us for a price method" that aren't just vultures looking for your info usually need more information in order to price you properly. For example, the size of the company, your budget, your specific needs etc. may be needed to ensure that the company gets a fair specific price that caters to their needs.

Xurinos 15y ago
I skip by any site that does not mention a price, but the one thing they could do to get my interest is to at least mention a price range and what goes into the calculation of the lower and upper prices. Ballpark figures are nice, and some small description of the rationale helps me to make a decision, even if it is to make a call to drill down further.
- pyrhho 15y ago
  Better yet, a calculator, like Heroku.
- dsr_ 15y ago
  I'd really appreciate that. It informs the customer and doesn't waste the salesperson's time. Even better, show me some preconfigured packages that you're willing to sell at a public price. If they look reasonable but I need more, I'll happily talk to a salescritter, now that I understand that I actually have a more complicated problem.
ovi256 15y ago
The "needed to ensure that the company gets a fair specific price that caters to their needs" is usually code for "please give us enough info so we can estimate how much we can price discriminate against you". It can only work against you (the buyer) versus a transparent pricing strategy. Otherwise, you know, they (the seller) would ask for all this multi-dimensional info on the pricing page, and give you an estimate there. Many service providers do this, even for complicated multi-dimensional problems, see AWS' price estimator for an example of transparent pricing with lots of inputs.
alexchamberlain 15y ago
Whilst I acknowledge that prices don't always reflect the cost of production and supply (think oil), budget is rarely needed to provide you with a price. Provide a price first and I'll tell you if I can afford it or whether you'll have to do better to get my business.
michh 15y ago
That's no excuse, it just means their pricing model is too complex. Why not offer default packages with a fixed price for small and medium sized businesses and encourage those that have specific needs/concerns to leave their details to discuss the possibilities and get a quote?
labaraka 15y ago
They could just as easily qualify me by making me select company size, specific features, etc.
ticks 15y ago
They may also be charging some clients far too much for certain products, so cannot risk being more transparent. That's why I'm put-off by services that don't quote prices, there's no way of knowing if you are one of the clients that are being ripped-off.
- davemel37 15y ago
  From a Pure Business Perspective: What you pay for a product or service should have nothing to do with their costs, or pricing to others but rather the value the product creates for you. From an emotional level: Your concerns have to do with defending your purchase to others and your fear of looking like the fool who "overpaid" for the same product someone else got for less... This fear should be satisfied with other messaging and tools than pricing transparency. Like, service promises, real testimonials, added value bonuses, and other tools to "feel like the cool kid" who go the best of them.
  - prodigal_erik 15y ago
    As a participant in the market, I have a responsibility to route society's resources to efficient producers. Even when getting ripped off doesn't materially harm me, it's wrong to shrug and let it happen.
    - davemel37 15y ago
      "a responsibility to route society's resources to efficient producers." I have no idea what that means. Assuming it is true, would you agree that your "perceived responsibility" in this case has more to do with your emotional needs than it does to your business needs. your belief is that there are finite resources within the context of wealth, and the transfer of money is a zero sum game, where someone wins and someones else loses. Your responsibility is to get the most value out of your resources, but you agree that your responsibility is to spend that money, and that money's function is to move around and create wealth. Your "responsibility" to route "society's" resources to efficient producers, has nothing to do with actually accomplishing that, but rather how you value things and how you feel. Besides, my point is... you are not getting "ripped off" if you perceive the value to be greater than what you pay. That money will move around, creating wealth along the way, and withholding that money for what you consider a more efficient usage of it is certainly your right, but far from making any difference in how efficiently society produces...

by GB_001 15y ago

Xurinos 15y ago

I skip by any site that does not mention a price, but the one thing they could do to get my interest is to at least mention a price range and what goes into the calculation of the lower and upper prices. Ballpark figures are nice, and some small description of the rationale helps me to make a decision, even if it is to make a call to drill down further.

pyrhho 15y ago
Better yet, a calculator, like Heroku.
dsr_ 15y ago
I'd really appreciate that. It informs the customer and doesn't waste the salesperson's time. Even better, show me some preconfigured packages that you're willing to sell at a public price. If they look reasonable but I need more, I'll happily talk to a salescritter, now that I understand that I actually have a more complicated problem.

ovi256 15y ago

The "needed to ensure that the company gets a fair specific price that caters to their needs" is usually code for "please give us enough info so we can estimate how much we can price discriminate against you". It can only work against you (the buyer) versus a transparent pricing strategy. Otherwise, you know, they (the seller) would ask for all this multi-dimensional info on the pricing page, and give you an estimate there. Many service providers do this, even for complicated multi-dimensional problems, see AWS' price estimator for an example of transparent pricing with lots of inputs.

alexchamberlain 15y ago

Whilst I acknowledge that prices don't always reflect the cost of production and supply (think oil), budget is rarely needed to provide you with a price. Provide a price first and I'll tell you if I can afford it or whether you'll have to do better to get my business.

michh 15y ago

That's no excuse, it just means their pricing model is too complex. Why not offer default packages with a fixed price for small and medium sized businesses and encourage those that have specific needs/concerns to leave their details to discuss the possibilities and get a quote?

labaraka 15y ago

They could just as easily qualify me by making me select company size, specific features, etc.

ticks 15y ago

They may also be charging some clients far too much for certain products, so cannot risk being more transparent. That's why I'm put-off by services that don't quote prices, there's no way of knowing if you are one of the clients that are being ripped-off.

davemel37 15y ago
From a Pure Business Perspective: What you pay for a product or service should have nothing to do with their costs, or pricing to others but rather the value the product creates for you. From an emotional level: Your concerns have to do with defending your purchase to others and your fear of looking like the fool who "overpaid" for the same product someone else got for less... This fear should be satisfied with other messaging and tools than pricing transparency. Like, service promises, real testimonials, added value bonuses, and other tools to "feel like the cool kid" who go the best of them.
- prodigal_erik 15y ago
  As a participant in the market, I have a responsibility to route society's resources to efficient producers. Even when getting ripped off doesn't materially harm me, it's wrong to shrug and let it happen.
  - davemel37 15y ago
    "a responsibility to route society's resources to efficient producers." I have no idea what that means. Assuming it is true, would you agree that your "perceived responsibility" in this case has more to do with your emotional needs than it does to your business needs. your belief is that there are finite resources within the context of wealth, and the transfer of money is a zero sum game, where someone wins and someones else loses. Your responsibility is to get the most value out of your resources, but you agree that your responsibility is to spend that money, and that money's function is to move around and create wealth. Your "responsibility" to route "society's" resources to efficient producers, has nothing to do with actually accomplishing that, but rather how you value things and how you feel. Besides, my point is... you are not getting "ripped off" if you perceive the value to be greater than what you pay. That money will move around, creating wealth along the way, and withholding that money for what you consider a more efficient usage of it is certainly your right, but far from making any difference in how efficiently society produces...