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This technique goes back long before the Internet. I recall working in a computer store where it was a standard practice to give someone a quote with an expiry
by raganwald 13y ago
This technique goes back long before the Internet. I recall working in a computer store where it was a standard practice to give someone a quote with an expiry date, and if they missed the time limit extra money would be tacked on with some made-up BS excuse (We sold out of Foobars and the new shipment came in at a higher price).
It was the exact same reasoning: The customer walked away, shopped around, and came back because we have everyone else beat. So now we need to raise our price as much as possible without making it worth their while to go back to someone else.
And in fact, they probably are in our place because someone else raised their price on them, or disclosed hidden gotchas, so we have leverage.
- JulianMorrison 13y agoPull that trick on me and I'd go a mile out of my way not to give you business any more. And I wouldn't be alone. Punishment of cheaters and exploiters is a human social instinct.
- dllthomas 13y agoIs there cheating going on here?
- raganwald 13y agoYour outrage is noted. I feel exactly the same way about the way highly admired companies around here behave, only they have nicer names for exploitation like "price discrimination" and "market segmentation" and "monetizing customers."
- fennecfoxen 13y agoThe universities have that one won hands-down: they call it "financial aid."
- PhasmaFelis 13y agoSo it's okay to lie to your customers and be an asshole as long as other people are doing it too.
- raganwald 13y agoNo, that's not what I said. What I said was, I understand his outrage, and here's an example of where I feel it too. Empathy.