Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezliving_Jim
Ann, I am not trying to indict sellers who do not post Asking Prices as con men. That is just not the case.
However, I believe that not requiring Asking Prices in ads is inflationary. To say that it is unfair to buyers isn't accurate but it does shift negotiating advantage to the seller and will result in more money being paid for equipment than would happen otherwise. I don't think you will argue that point.
Publicly posting the Asking Price moves the baseline offer from blue sky "What can I get?" from a specific prospect to the reality of "What is it worth?" based on the community's judgement of value. I don't think you will argue that point either.
The truism is that one can fool all of the people some of the time (if lightening strikes) and some of the people (read as "suckers") all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
I'm sympathetic to sellers trying to make an extra buck in a tough buyers market, but not enough to accept an artificial shift in a free and open market to their advantage. Give the suckers an even break.
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Oh Jim, you don't know me at all if you think I won't argue these points!!
Truly - you feel that by not listing prices, the interested buyer will have to make the phone call or send the email and then the process will stop? They will accept the information they are given as is and immediately send over their credit card number?? They won't look for other ads, do their own research, or make their own opinions based on the year, condition, original price, etc of the unit?? A LISTED price up front somehow changes all this for them and, by definition, lowers the price and gives them a better chance of not being a "sucker"?
If I list a Classic Ergoline 600 for 10K, is this the 'right' price? I recently leased one for someone for 14K. Another for 11K the same week. I bought one a few years ago myself for 7K. The first was from a dealer, all refurbished, warranty & installation included. The 2nd was a private seller as is. And the third was from a private seller who was a friend of mine and gave it to me for below market out of friendship and in exchange for the service and help my partner had provided to him and his salons over the years. Which one of those is the "fair price" Is one "inflated". If a buyer is willing to agree to the terms, does that make them a "sucker" because you (or the "community") wouldn't have agreed to the same ones???
Again - I am in the business of leasing tanning beds for folks. I see invoices for new equipment every day. I can guarantee you that there is no "one price" for much of anything out there! It is a negotiation, based on volume, relationships, sales skills (of both the buyer, and the seller!), etc.
This has nothing to do with anyone "making an extra buck" off the "suckers". It is a free will system -- if you don't want to list prices, don't. If you don't want to buy from someone that doesn't list prices, don't.
By the way - when callers to my salon want to know my prices over the phone, our strategy is NOT to just give them the quick answer, but to get them talking. Have they been here before? Do they know we have 5 levels of equipment as well as spray? We offer several different pricing options depending on their needs, not just a 1 month unlimited. Yada yada yada. Why? Because if we just say $44.95 and the next salon says "$43.95" then we may never get the opportunity to explain how, even for an extra $1, our salon will be a much better value for them. They may not KNOW we do teeth whitening which they were thinking about too. Etc etc
Same with buying a bed. Who owns it? Where is it now? If uninstalled, who did the uninstallation and are they qualified? What assurances it will "light up" upon delivery? Is delivery offered? What
financing options (if any) are offered? Fresh lamps or as is? WHen can it be available?
Lots of details. Which is why you pick up the phone and call. So if people HAVE a price listed, that will be one of the things you talk about. If they do NOT, then maybe that will be your first question. At any point you don't like the answers - the call is ended, as is the sale.
THAT is a free market system.