Instagram...why can't they just list the price?

[Octo2005]

Just thinking out loud and wondering if any PSer's have had similar feelings.

Not geared towards any vender in particular but, I follow several favored jewelers on IG and I was wondering why they never post any price info with the pictures. They always want you to DM them. It would seem more efficient and less time consuming for both parties, if the price of a finished item for sale were listed with the post.

I understand that approach in a BM, because the one-one sales pitch, but with a DM/email, it just seems to cause more work for them. I often scroll thru and window shop, if I see something that I like it would be so much easier to know upfront if it is "do-able" before making contact for more detailed info. I can't tell you how many times I have scrolled past something because I thought it would be to much or I didn't want to bother a vendor.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I find it very annoying. What is the big secret anyways? If you want to sell it include how much it is and some basic info, they act like they are guarding a family recipe lol!

 

[JPie]

I also find it annoying. Some will list the price, but most will make you DM them or go to their site.

 

[HappyNewLife]

I find that annoying too. And when a house is for sale and they have flyers out side without the house price listed - makes me nuts!!!

 

[Octo2005]

I also find it annoying. Some will list the price, but most will make you DM them or go to their site.

Going to the site wouldn't be that bad, a lot of the time the item is not listed on the site

 

[eh613c]

Yes, it’s is annoying...especially when you don’t have an IG account.

 

[OreoRosies86]

I really really hate when jewelers are like "DM for price!" especially when you're supposed to be able to just click on the pic and see the price pop up. Then you're in an awkward exchange about something you may or may not be interested in/able to afford.

 

[the_mother_thing]

Ditto others - very annoying. I don’t want to waste their time or mine by asking a simple question about such basic information and/or having to wait for them to respond. I can see DMing for details/specs about items though; fair enough. My only guess for that approach/rationale is that the vendor may offer one price to a ‘frequent flyer/buyer’ that they may not necessary offer to a random one-time customer.

Along those same lines, I’m not really a fan of those sellers who ‘do business’ primarily through IG. I had a vendor I was interested in working with on a custom design, and that vendor said they’d send me information via IG (which I don’t frequent above an occasional skim through some bling). No - if I’m going to enlist a vendor for a custom design, I want a clear ‘paper trail’ (preferably via email) of the details, renderings/CAD, terms, etc. on something other than an app.

 

[rainydaze]

Count me in with the annoyed crowd. I have wondered what was up, thinking maybe it's prohibited to list the price on IG? And it never fails, the things I am interested in are never on their site when I go there to try to get the info. NEVER. Grr.

 

[Gabbycat]

I agree that this is annoying, and I pretty much just keep scrolling past those and don't give them another thought for the same reasoning as @Elliot86 that I don't want to be embarrassed or waste my time by inquiring about something that may be out of my price range.

 

[Bonfire]

I find it extremely annoying and appreciate the vendors who just put it out there (price). I think @the_mother_thing maybe right about special pricing for certain followers. A two pay scale. I don’t think these vendors are doing themselves any favors with this approach as it just frustrates potential buyers and encourages “tire kickers.” Perhaps they think it creates an urgency to find out and grab it quick before it hits their website.

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

Or they show these beautiful pieces without a price but then also don’t include an item number/style name so if you wanna look on their site you have to scroll through multiple items to try to find it.

 

[Octo2005]

I really really hate when jewelers are like "DM for price!" especially when you're supposed to be able to just click on the pic and see the price pop up. Then you're in an awkward exchange about something you may or may not be interested in/able to afford.

Exactly!

 

[stracci2000]

I don't do Instagram.
The vendors on eBay, Rubylane, Etsy, 1stDibs, etc. put the prices right out there, no sales games.
I don't like pricing games, come-ons or bait-and-switch.

 

[Arcadian]

I'm instagram stupid...on purpose...lol do whats a DM?

 

[the_mother_thing]

I'm instagram stupid...on purpose...lol do whats a DM?

Don’t feel bad; I was in the same boat not long ago.

DM = Direct Message

 

[Rockdiamond]

Great thread- and I definitely agree.

I want a clear ‘paper trail’ (preferably via email) of the details, renderings/CAD, terms, etc. on something other than an app.

THIS!!!! OMG- it's gotten so difficult to make sure all relevant info is in one place. Texts, DM's, IM, WhattApp....
As a vendor, I always encourage ALL communications that involve a commitment ( price, purchase, policy q's, etc) to be through email.
This way, with one search, you can find all the relevant info. Personally, I believe this protects the consumer as well.
Oh well, welcome to 2018

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Like @eh613c mentioned this is especially frustrating if you do not have an IG account, I don't and since some of these vendors seem to only put certain things on IG, that leaves people like me out.

Also @the_mother_thing mentioned vendors who seem to do business primarily on IG, I think it's to avoid having to report those items for tax purposes, could be wrong but it doesn't make sense why someone would have an Etsy store AND a website and directly say it will only be offered on IG in the description

 

[the_mother_thing]

Also @the_mother_thing mentioned vendors who seem to do business primarily on IG, I think it's to avoid having to report those items for tax purposes, could be wrong but it doesn't make sense why someone would have an Etsy store AND a website and directly say it will only be offered on IG in the description

Yup! And I agree as to the potential rationale for that practice.

 

[derbygal]

I was just thinking the same thing the other day. I saw a rose cut moissy that was just stunning on IG. Someone asked about the price and the response was to DM or email them the exact setting, metals, stone shape and size, cut etc (every minute detail) of the ring in the IG photo and they will give you a quote. It totally turns me off. Like they are playing some sort of bait and switch. Just say in general how much this ring sells for!!!!!

 

[JPie]

Also @the_mother_thing mentioned vendors who seem to do business primarily on IG, I think it's to avoid having to report those items for tax purposes, could be wrong but it doesn't make sense why someone would have an Etsy store AND a website and directly say it will only be offered on IG in the description

I've seen Etsy sellers give first dibs on IG at a lower price to avoid the hassle and cost of listing on Etsy.

 

[ame]

Just thinking out loud and wondering if any PSer's have had similar feelings.

Not geared towards any vender in particular but, I follow several favored jewelers on IG and I was wondering why they never post any price info with the pictures. They always want you to DM them. It would seem more efficient and less time consuming for both parties, if the price of a finished item for sale were listed with the post.

I understand that approach in a BM, because the one-one sales pitch, but with a DM/email, it just seems to cause more work for them. I often scroll thru and window shop, if I see something that I like it would be so much easier to know upfront if it is "do-able" before making contact for more detailed info. I can't tell you how many times I have scrolled past something because I thought it would be to much or I didn't want to bother a vendor.

It could be exactly what I am looking for but if the exact item name, where to find it and the price isn't listed right there, I'll move on to someone who can provide that info without me having to contact someone.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I think it's to avoid having to report those items for tax purposes, could be wrong but it doesn't make sense why someone would have an Etsy store AND a website and directly say it will only be offered on IG in the description

I am also extremely skeptical- but I don't think taxes are why. I suspect that a lot of what some sellers list ( in diamonds and jewelry) is not something they actually possess. Then, the next day they say it's sold because they don't have it in front of them to snap a shot. Also why details like price carat weight etc are sketchy or nonexistent.
That's the thing- it's so easy to snap a phone picture, and post it as yours. Speaking as a manufacturer, that's a very kewl option. Ring comes out of the factory, do a 12 second iphone Video and post to IG. So much easier than taking a series of photos and actually listing the item on a website.
Of course, in our case, 99 times out of 100, the item will always follow to the website.
That's another consumer protection- a published web page is far easier to document than an IG post.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

@JPie, yes that's a possibility too because with the hassle of listing on Etsy you are also charged almost 10% in fees and they take 5% of the shipping cost as well.

Still I see it as a very easy way to sell items without reporting them, not saying all vendors do this but it is very attractive for some I'm sure.

 

[msop04]

Annoying... and makes me skeptical of them and also leads me to believe they have some other agenda (although I'm sure that's not the case with all of them). I feel like they just want to see if you're serious, and maybe if the price isn't what the seller had anticipated, then they hope to secure the sale of another item thru them...

"... well, that may be a little out of budget, but I have just the ring for you!"

 

[msop04]

It could be exactly what I am looking for but if the exact item name, where to find it and the price isn't listed right there, I'll move on to someone who can provide that info without me having to contact someone.

This exactly...

 

[Bonfire]

Posting on IG is a constant feed to the followers! And I mean constant! What better way to advertise? The problem for me is those that play the DM me for price BS. Don’t you think it would be much more prudent to just state the price? Do they answer every inquiry? What a pita.

ETA: @msop04 I think you nailed it with the “oh but I have this...”

 

[msop04]

...I asked for the price of a diamond from a vendor on IG (I'd never heard of them), and they asked that I DM them. They gave me the price, then I told them thanks, but not interested. This IG account then started DM-ing me like once or twice a week with other diamonds and prices (and those stones weren't even close to the specs I'd asked about originally). It was annoying, to say the least.

 

[msop04]

Posting on IG is a constant feed to the followers! And I mean constant! What better way to advertise? The problem for me is those that play the DM me for price BS. Don’t you think it would be much more prudent to just state the price? Do they answer every inquiry? What a pita.

ETA: @msop04 I think you nailed it with the “oh but I have this...”

I also think they wanna give the inquirer a higher price just to see if they'll bite... then have the ease of trying to haggle without all their followers seeing the exchange.

 

[Bonfire]

I also think they wanna give the inquirer a higher price just to see if they'll bite... then have the ease of trying to haggle without all their followers seeing the exchange.

Agree. I prefer the email route however, but this is probably very true.