To want prices up front ?

[LurkingHusband]

Just been nosing a local leisure centre website, and it's very coy about prices. So coy that you have to "register" so a "representative can call you".

Is it just me that gets narked about this ? I am specifically talking about businesses that sell to the public. (I appreciate B2B sales are different).

Looking to do some DIY work, and noticed quite a few suppliers also don't like displaying prices (NOTE. I'm not an idiot, and realise that delivery could be a factor. But even a £price+delivery beats "call for prices").

Another industry sector which is very coy about pricing is disability adaptations. Every month MrsLHs Motability magazine is stuffed with adverts for products where you have to "call in".

I dislike being called. It tends to interrupt me, and leads to people almost invariably trying to upsell.

If we had Ugandan style inflation, I could understand the ephemeral nature of pricing. But unless you are selling crude oil, or precious metals, I don't see that your product has to be priced to the minute.

Anyway, rant over - let's see if the free market sorts this out .

I hate this. I ignore all businesses that do this. And ditto for people selling things on local facebook sites.

I hate it. That's why I don't use them.

Tried to buy a shed last year - the people I wanted to get it from would not give me a price. they called, I called, they called again and again and again and each time - they wanted me to call into the showroom for a price.

150 miles from where I wanted the shed.

So I bought elsewhere.

It mega puts me off. I once emailed a day nursery about pricing and they wanted my number rather than just stating the costs

Personally I'm less fussed about private sales ... and as I said I'm aware there are specific instances where it's impossible to offer a price (usually if labour is involved), or there are very complex configuration options. However even in the latter case, you can say "prices from" or give some common examples.

It's not just websites. Last year, MrsLH and I were in a local disability aids showroom. There was a portable plastic ramp on display, which is supplied by a nationwide company. I enquired with the owner about the price

"Give me your details, and the company will pay you a visit" he said.
"Oh, no need for that I said" (because where's that persons wages going to get paid from ?????), "I just need a price"
"Oh no" says the owner "they need to come round to measure up "
"Ah", I said, "in that case they're in luck. I learned how to measure at school. I can measure it, and they can give me a price."

At this point the gentleman became quite irritated

"Well, they also have to fit it" he countered
"Oh" I said, lifting the plastic up and moving it around "how does it get fitted ? Should this one be fitted ?"
"No, that's how it comes" he says, now very unhappy, "but they have to make sure it's suitable."
"Strange" I counter "I'd rather make sure I thought it was suitable."

Mysteriously, despite leaving our details that time, we've not heard back.

(MrsLH scolded me on the way out for being a clever dick - rather spoiled by the fact she had to leave at the point about measuring, as she was struggling to not laugh.)

DeliciousMonster

There are plenty of shed sites that do display prices, so you have a choice (in fact we have bought a garden BBQ shelter online ). But it's frustrating when it's a sole supplier, or (as with a local leisure centre) something you can't get elsewhere.

I don't patronise such places with my business.

There are plenty of shed sites that do display prices, so you have a choice

No - this was a specific shed for people with disabilities.

A B&Q shed isn't going to cut it.

YANBU! Drives me nuts! I found this when shopping around for a new front door. Had a parade load of salesmen through my house giving me a load of waffle for ages before they would give me a price. Had to get quite rude with some of them to actually give me a price or piss off. None would give me a price up front or even a ball park. Ended up using a tradesman, getting him to buy a door wholesale and fit it. He came out and gave me a flat fee which is the only reason I used him!