I buy a lot of things for work and if I can find a company that has the price listed I go with them over the one that makes me contact sales for a quote almost every time

[–] [email protected] 52 points 7 months ago (5 children)

Well this one could be cheaper, but how could I even know, the price isn't listed.

[–] [email protected] 131 points 7 months ago (2 children)

It's not cheaper, it costs me time.

[–] [email protected] 51 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Absolutely! And having to tolerate annoying and intrusive sales people

[–] [email protected] 16 points 7 months ago

Avoiding those are priceless

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

This could be a great use for a voice AI chat bot connected to your phone line. Prompt it with something like,

"You're on a phone call to [Widgets Inc] to get a price quote for a [box of premium widgets]. You'll probably be put on hold to speak with the next available sales representative. Just wait until you get a person on the line. Then, ask for the price and immediately start negotiating for a better price. Use whatever strategy you want but never agree to whatever price they offer. Keep coming up with more ridiculous reasons that they should give you an even better price."

Then dial the phone, turn it over to the chat bot, and wander off to go do more important things.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

I feel like the new samsung already has this feature

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

I like the cut of your jib

[–] [email protected] 15 points 7 months ago

Especially considering that most of the time you'll sit on hold which can be awhile

If the company says "call" I ain't even going to bother because my 30 minutes is more valuable to me than whatever price they could say 99.9% of the time

[–] [email protected] 56 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

It’s more about not rewarding their disrespect and greed. Instead rewarding the company being open and upfront and not wasting my time

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

Exactly

Reward the company that respects me enough to not waste my time

[–] [email protected] 47 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If it were cheaper, the price would be listed

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

Sometimes you can blame the partnership agreement for that. Some manufacturers will have a MAP (minimum advertised price) and the distributor would be in violation of their contract if they showed it publicly.

Though that just shifts to being a manufacturer problem with the same result. Just saying it may not be the distributor being weird about pricing.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If you have to ask for a price, it ain't cheap.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago

If I have to ask for a price, I ain't bothering

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Are there any notable examples where it is? I'm not aware of any.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Timber merchants in the UK. The ones that don't list prices are cheaper. Largely because they base their prices on the current price of wood. Those that advertised prices need a higher margin to tolerate fluctuations in the price of wood.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Huh. Interesting! Thanks for the example!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

With office furniture it's a little more common.

They like that sweet and stupid startup money.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Just had one with atlantis. Straight up asked for the pricing of 17sqm delivered to metro melbourne.

'Oooh it depends on faaaactors. Tell ya what, how 'bout i get one of our sales guys to call you and work out the best product solution"

"Nope, 17sqm product xx, plus delivery to metro melbourne. That's it'

'Yes but factors'

Fucking bye Felicia