Why do online companies do this?

ipri

I'm trying to find a cast iron gas fire...when I find websites that stock it...they don't display the price!...I have to phone or email. Why do they do this?

keystone

1. Because they can?

2 Because they really would like to talk to you?

Cheers

27col

ipri wrote: »

I'm trying to find a cast iron gas fire...when I find websites that stock it...they don't display the price!...I have to phone or email. Why do they do this?

Exactly what I was going to say. Because they can.

PasturesNew

Put the make etc here .... and you will get a bunch of people seeking prices for you because everybody's so keen to help.

It is bl00dy annoying, I usually either don't buy the item, or buy it from somebody displaying a price.

Macca83_2

Less site maintenance?

The ability to offer whatever price they want? Mr Joe Bloggs who orders a one off gets price x. 'Grates and things' who order regularly gets price y?

Who knows? They probably have to contact their suppliers to get a price haha

Nilrem

Macca83 wrote: »

Who knows? They probably have to contact their suppliers to get a price haha

That one could well be the truth.

I suspect there aren't many cast iron gas fires sold every year by most companies that do sell them, thus the price could vary every time they order one in from the supplier due to things like the exchange rate changing.

They're the sort of thing I can see a retailer not really wanting to hold as stock items due to the size, weight, infrequency of sale, and ease with which cast iron can be damaged in transit/handling.

Macca83_2

I do know from occasionally helping out at my dads work, that prices for these items were never displayed in the shop but either looked up or the company contacted. Pain in the backside.

paddyrg

They may not hold inventory, it may be that they just get the item delivered and installed by the manufacturer directly, so have to get the 'current' price which will be within a few quid for each agent.

Leif

Possibly they want to get you on the phone so they can apply charm. Look into my eyes, my eyes ... (Okay, not really appropriate over the phone.) Alternatively, some manufacturers do not allow discounting in adverts, so sellers have to offer the discount over the phone.

rustyboy21

Some fireplace and fire manufacturers have showroom only product ranges.

The retailer can show it online, but the sale has to be in the showroom and the sale has to be in the stores catchment area.

Sometimes though, some of these websites show products that they cannot get, as the manufacturer won't del with them. They have them on their site, just to upset the apple cart, as it creates aggro, for the manufacturer as the authorised dealers get onto them, to complain that a non internet product is shown online.

I check online prices all the time for fires and fireplaces I sell. It is shocking how many websites, still have on them products priced up and saying available, when they were discontinued over 2 years ago. How many people buy from them and then have a nightmare getting their money back. There are 4 websites I know of selling fires, where the owner is selling from their spare bedrooms and getting a plumbers merchant to deliver. Where is the customer care there?

If you post what you are after,I might be able to guide you in the best direction. General rule of thumb is if the website is shown as an authorised stockist on the manufacturers website, then buy it, if not down waste your time and find a local dealer who can get it for you. 99% of fire/fireplace manufacturers have a stockist listing on their websites. We are one section of the retail sector, who are trying to get on top of the internet killing our showrooms off, the manufacturers are now getting on board with exclusive ranges, purely for showrooms.

Norman_Castle

If they pay someone to manage their website they will have to pay for every price change. Generally if I can get prices from other companies I don't contact them to ask for a price. A free phone number or easy web inquiry (too many questions and I'm gone) makes it more likely for me to enquire.