Why dont Vendor's list prices?

[MO~IDOL]

What goes into pricing? I own a store and a lot does not go into pricing...

A good way to loose business, people will shop elsewhere. In todays world people do not have time to waste, competition is to much and the easier you can make it for a customer the better off you are to stay in business..

Couldn't agree more! I don't mind PMing but by the time I got a respond I would have got the fish already.

 

[marrone]

What goes into pricing? I own a store and a lot does not go into pricing...

A good way to loose business, people will shop elsewhere. In todays world people do not have time to waste, competition is to much and the easier you can make it for a customer the better off you are to stay in business...

I have seen stores come and go because they lacked pricing or something else on items and people just stop shopping with them, so they had to close down.

Part of what goes into pricing is the shipping cost. A Vendor will order a bunch of items and then spread the cost of the shipping into each coral/fish. If items die or isn't shipped the cost of his items will have to change. This is why most vendors list things first but don't put up prices until they get the items.

 

[Bikinisalt]

Part of what goes into pricing is the shipping cost. A Vendor will order a bunch of items and then spread the cost of the shipping into each coral/fish. If items die or isn't shipped the cost of his items will have to change. This is why most vendors list things first but don't put up prices until they get the items.

What does that have to do with initial pricing? You get your fish, whatever lives you divide the costs. That's not hard...

 

[JHOV2324]

:scratch:

 

[House of Laughter]

Also, collection location and timing to market goes into pricing -

Depending on where the item is collected/farmed can shape pricing as well as regulatory changes the charges - are higher for certain locations and regulatory bodies.

House

Part of what goes into pricing is the shipping cost. A Vendor will order a bunch of items and then spread the cost of the shipping into each coral/fish. If items die or isn't shipped the cost of his items will have to change. This is why most vendors list things first but don't put up prices until they get the items.

 

[Bikinisalt]

Imagine This:

I am not a fan of Fishtown. We are all familiar with Fishtown Usa and the way they work. Imagine if they did not have prices on the tanks for the fish and you had to stand on line to get a person to help you, just to ask for a price. Do you know how much business they would loose? People would just leave and go elsewhere. They would have been out a long time ago...

All I am saying is people like to see prices before they shop. I get people that walk in everyday in my store and just look around and do not like to ask, how much is this? for every item. A few days later they come back and buy the item. It is a PIA to ask or wait for someone to become available if they are with another customer...

 

[marrone]

What does that have to do with initial pricing? You get your fish, whatever lives you divide the costs. That's not hard...

Until all the fish/coral come in, and everything is sorted out, store can't give prices and it would be bad business on their part if they did.

If a store gave out an initial price, and then in turn they were charged more, the shipping was higher or things were left out, the store would be forced to charge more than what they original listed. This would upset people and put the store in a situation where they either had to give the lower cost to the customer, and lose money, or take a chance and have the customer being mad at them and losing their business.

 

[marrone]

Imagine This:

I am not a fan of Fishtown. We are all familiar with Fishtown Usa and the way they work. Imagine if they did not have prices on the tanks for the fish and you had to stand on line to get a person to help you, just to ask for a price. Do you know how much business they would loose? People would just leave and go elsewhere. They would have been out a long time ago...

There are a number of places that have this practice, and I don't do business with them. A lot of other people don't also but some people do. It's up to the business to determine if they want to operator that way. Some places feel that's how they want to do business and don't have a problem with it. If you as a customer has a problem with it then you should make a comment to the store and they may change how they conduct business in the future. Remember stores are trying to get our business and most will take our recommendations.

 

[Deanos]

Selling fragile livestock from half way across the globe is alot different than selling a skimmer, a pair of pants or a box of pencils.

 

[jejton]

Nikki- You're right. If I call a store and ask a price on the phone, sometimes they wont give it to me because a.) bait and switch and/or b.) they dont want to give competitors their prices. This is an outdated mode of business and very few legitamite business do this. If they advertise their wares in a newspaper, circular, etc. there will be prices. Advertising on this forum is more like that. The vendors are advertising and trying to get sales.

HoF- Thanks for the info about the vendor rules. Sometimes, though, it is prudent to go above and beyond the minimum requirements. I would not be surprised that if all else is equal, the vendor's who list prices would get more business. As for changing costs, well everyone has changing costs so the argument still doesnt hold water. If the vendor has a website with prices, then providing a link to that website would be a valid solution. If they offer cheaper prices to all MR members, then state that in the thread so we know when we browse the website.

Pscyho - I dont see why a separate WTB section in the vendor forum would make a difference. Vendor's can see those same request in the member section and often do reply to them.

Sean - Why should a vendor not be required to list prices? Everyone has the same issue about pricing - online vendors, brick and mortar - so why should this be any different?

Marrone- You are right that its a vendor's decision to list or not list prices. I was simply asking why they dont. Now that I know, I am making suggestions - and I see I am not the only one who feels that way. The reason I am pursuing this discussion, now that I know the answer to my first question - is that chief started a thread asking why people dont give more support to MR vendors and sponsors ( who do list prices ). I think this is one factor. From a cursary reading, few vendors update prices once the items are received. Many of them are posting when they already have the items in stock.

 

[Bikinisalt]

All the vendors and stores have to remember that fish and corals are not a necessity in someones everyday life. It is not like selling pants, milk, bread, etc. People need these items, we DON"T NEED FISH, we can do without them but we can't do without milk and bread, so making it easier for a customer is important ,you can't afford to loose customers, so every penny counts, just my opinion...

 

[marrone]

Jejton-You have a valid point and I hope all the vendors here will look at this post and start to put prices in their posts.

I think if MR asks it's members to support the vendors and sponsors on the board, as it seems like some people aren't always, reasons for people not supporting them should be brought up. Not having prices or getting back to people on a timely basis
are very good reasons to take your business either where.


I think the next step is for Vendors & Sponsors to address these complaints and try to serve MR better.

 

[Bikinisalt]

Jejton-You have a valid point and I hope all the vendors here will look at this post and start to put prices in their posts.

I think if MR asks it's members to support the vendors and sponsors on the board, as it seems like some people aren't always, reasons for people not supporting them should be brought up. Not having prices or getting back to people on a timely basis
are very good reasons to take your business either where.


I think the next step is for Vendors & Sponsors to address these complaints and try to serve MR better.

I am very happy to be reading this...

 

[inkblue]

That old saying comes to mind...

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

 

[roncgizmo]

I'm with most of you on this...If you bought something to sell you know what you need to charge...Fish, skimmers, tanks, coral, it's not like the price of a stock or gold that can change one moment to the next it's all the same..you but it foe x and sell it at z

If I don't see a price (even at a store) I don't ask and I don't buy.

 

[House of Laughter]

Jejton,

Building customer loyalty, brand and brand loyalty is a conscious choice for businesses. I am not so sure they are always out to deceive by bait and switch but prefer their customers engage in person to relationship build.

Unfirtunately, that doesn't translate well on the internet where customer expectation is information at their fingertips. Many a discussion has been had around this topic on how brick and mortar need to "get with the program" of internet presence and that the key to success is managing both - a brick and mortar presence as well as virtual presence.

Land's End comes to mind as a champion in this arena.

House

 

[marrone]

I think everyone here needs to realize also that not every vendor or sponsor can spend all their time on the board, answering questions or updating their forum. Yes it does benefit them to try and keep their forum up to date and answer all PM right away but most have to run their stores and conduct business, not to mention some have other jobs.

Now yes it is their responsibility to do this and MR shouldn't ask its members to support places that can't meet our, the customer, needs. But just think here at MR we are given a rare situation were we, the customer, can talk direct to a vendor, through their forums and PM, and request fish and corals. This is something that you can't do most places. We can also tell the vendor or sponsor that we're not happy with how they conduct their business too.

Finally when a Vendor/Sponsor purchases a forum or a banner ad they are given a great opportunity at a vast amount of clients to peddle their business to. If they choice to ignore what people want, prices, livestock and response to inquiries, they're only hurting themselves.

 

[jejton]

HoF- I've worked in various aspects of retail business for about 8 or 9 years and I can tell you that deceptive practices, such as bait and switch, are extremely common. Businesses that practice them tend not to last for more than a few years but in the process a lot of people are taken for a ride. You're right about building customer loyalty, etc. but not all businesses work on that model. Not all businesses realize that a long term customer, based on sucess with the product, is the proper way to run a business. Hence you have many LFS that will sell Burmese pythons to 16 year old kids and banded bamboo sharks to a guy who has a tank for two months, etc. This is nothing new and there have been many many posts on this.

There is real no valid reason, that I am aware of or that has been presented in this thread, for not posting prices on a sales thread. Every defence has been adequately knocked down. I would like to know how many of you would frequent a brick and mortar store where prices are not listed? There is a reason why consumer protection laws require that supermarkets, for instance, have to not only have prices on every item, but also have per unit cost on each shelf.

Now it is true that according to MR rules, a vendor does not HAVE to post prices. I do think it would be prudent to do so though. Its just good business practice.

 

[Sean]

I still agree with the way it's set up now

A store or vendor shouldn't be obligated to advertise price. NaCl-H20 for example wants you to go to his website for pricing and buying. Whats wrong with that? What if a vendor wants someone to ask to have some sort of communication with MR members. Different vendors different business plans. If you don't like the way the business is being run don't shop there.
I've been in the Fish business for 18 years and THE PRICE OF FISH CHANGE FROM WEEK TO WEEK. Except this and move on with your life.

 

[Tim]

I can give a valid reason for not listing prices as I was a vendor at one time giving out great deal`s on tanks and was shut down by my wholesaler. How was I shut down you ask? I have not found out who[weather it was someone here or on the outside] but someone tipped them off and told them about my price`s and they took a look at my vendor site and told me that my price`s were too low and that they do not wholesale to people who are selling on the internet.They also said that there was no way that a local store could compete with me at this level.....