The "Moving Target" Price Model

A while back, I wrote about the hidden price model. That had to do with businesses hiding prices, forcing you to call in and speak with a salesman before getting a glimpse at how much the product or service costs.

Another pricing strategy I have realized, is the "moving target" pricing model. The way that this strategy works, is that prices are posted somewhere, like a brochure or website. You go in with that brochure and speak with a salesman.  He glances at your brochure and starts crossing off the prices, telling you that they have changed. You then get home with the salesman's new prices, you look on their website, and there is a third set of prices for the same thing. You sit there scratching your head wondering which price is "right."

I truly believe many companies don't do this on purpose. They just have a piss-poor time organizing their prices and cannot keep them sync'd up across promotional mediums. Other companies I believe do this on purpose. What really bothers me, is they act like it's no big deal. For a customer to have his mind set on a price, make the trek into see the salesman, and then to have him just scratch those prices away and post new ones, is a slap in the face - it feels like a bait and switch routine. It makes the customer wonder; is he just making these new prices up? Is he making the prices up based on an assessment of who I am?  Does he think I have more money and therefore want to jack the price up?

Hidden prices are my #1 pet peeve. The moving target pricing is close behind at #2 and a huge red-flag to me. Establish your prices and post them correctly everywhere - is it that hard to do?!