Sites without pricing...

[yennyfire]

Why do some jewelry sites not list prices with their pieces (i.e. LM and Singlestone, for example). I have seen a couple of pieces on the Singlestone site that I am interested in, but I have no clue as to whether or not they are in my price range. I hate to waste their time if I'm no where in the ballpark. What's the rationale for this?? You'd think that posting prices would result in only serious buyers asking for additional information....

What do you think?

 

[Resonance.Of.Life]

I think it would be helpful to provide a range, but since most of these are custom pieces, it will vary depending on finger size, melee size, center stone size, ect. Ari has been very helpful in the past, so I wouldn't be concerned about asking for prices. His Halos were around the 4k price range just as a example. Although, I think it would help weed out the lookie-loos if they did post prices and help assist serious buyers if they did post prices.

eta: they might not post prices so that competitors do not see it as well?

 

[yennyfire]

I get that for custom pieces, but for antique/estate pieces (especiallly earrings/bracelets/necklaces that don't need sizing), a price would be helpful...it's more a matter of not wanting to bug them if I see that a particular piece is $4k and my budget is $2k....

 

[Resonance.Of.Life]

Oh... I thought you were talking about just getting a setting done for a particular stone. I get what you are talking about now. LM has another website in which he sells completed pieces that does have the price posted. Sorry for the confusion ^_^

 

[texaskj]

Yenny, you're not alone. Any time a retailer does this it drives me bananas. Are they trying to sell stuff or not?

 

[kenny]

Vendors with secret pricing do not get my business.

I give my money to their competitors.

 

[Missy]

I agree, it is so annoying. It is like a ploy or something. I feel it is manipulative behavior not to list prices.

 

[shihtzulover]

I agree that it's totally frustrating! I also am much more likely to be interested in something if I am able to see the price when I view it, so it seems like they might loose a lot of business this way.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Can I just say this drives me crazy. Sometimes I'm looking at something and maybe I want it and maybe I'm just being a looky-loo, but if there isn't a price I'm going to pass. I don't want to be hounded if I inquire, so I don't. I feel like I'll be put on a list and e-mailed or called or contacted till the end of time. It's not worth it.

 

[stci]

Some sellers are paranoid and are afraid of competitor. No price, no big photos like one of the first seller mentioned in the OP post. No business with me either.

 

[LALove]

I HATE this! I've emailed so many vendors for pricing just to find out the price was not even close to what I anticipated- it irks me because it's a waste of my time. Now I'll only use vendors who list prices.

 

[House Cat]

There is also a part of me that feels suspicious that a different price might be given to a different customer...

 

[kenny]

There is also a part of me that feels suspicious that a different price might be given to a different customer...

Exactly!!!
With many high-ticket items like pianos and fine rugs they size up the customer before presenting a price.
If they suspect you are more wealthy, or of an ethnic group that bargains hard, the price will be higher.

No thank you.

 

[JewelFreak]

It bothers me especially on sites selling stones. Settings to some extent, but I can see that as metal or diamond prices change, their costs follow, so they may need more flexibility. But with a stone, it's there, it's cut, it's a one-off, future price irrelevant. I'd like to know how much it is without having to pester them or myself. Vendors price so differently, you can't make a guess based on something similar on another site that does list prices. It's a case of better customer service.

--- Laurie

 

[kelpie]

I guess maybe they don't want their competitors to know? I was intimated by Single Stone's lack of pricing for a long time and assumed it was way out of my range...it was way less than I expected. I also think they keep their pricing a bit flexible depending on the customers they are trying to reach. For example, when they knew I was from Pricescope and had already given them recut business and referrals they knocked a significant amount off the setting list price without my asking.

 

[iLander]

I find a lack of pricing to be intensely irritating.

I might look at the site once or twice, but I never go back, and I certainly never inquire.

It just says "If you have to ask . . . ". Well, 99.99% of your customers "have to ask".

Get real. It's the internet, the seller has an entire globe of competitors out there, I'll just move on.

Also, it implies that the seller thinks their stuff is just so DARN SPECIAL that it compares to no one else. Please. See line above.

And if I do inquire, what's going to happen? Is there some magical phone info that will sway me? Some line, that when uttered, will make me swoon and purchase right away? Fine. Then WRITE it on the web and give me the price.

It shows a lack of respect for the buyer's time and energy.

 

[mrscushion]

Can I just say this drives me crazy. Sometimes I'm looking at something and maybe I want it and maybe I'm just being a looky-loo, but if there isn't a price I'm going to pass. I don't want to be hounded if I inquire, so I don't. I feel like I'll be put on a list and e-mailed or called or contacted till the end of time. It's not worth it.

This.

 

[Gypsy]

Some manufacturers don't allow posting their pricing online. So if an authorized dealer wants to post a piece, there has to be a "please call for pricing". It's not meant to be shady, but rather it's part of their arrangement with their vendor and is a contractual restriction. If they want to carry the line, they have to agree to the terms and conditions.

Also, with the fluctuations in diamonds and gold and everything, sometimes it's just easier for people who don't get a significant portion of their business from their website to not invest the time to update things regularly as the price of materials fluctuate. It's just not efficient for their business model. For many of the stores listed here, their sales are mostly from their store front and their website is meant more as a virtual display window (you don't normally post prices in desplay windows, they are for browsing) than a transaction vehicle.

Doesn't bother me. But then again, I have no issue just shooting off an email or picking up the phone and saying-- "qoute me". I also have no issue telling a vendor that I don't want to be put on a mailing list.

 

[yennyfire]

Gypsy, I totally get your point about some jewelers not allowing vendors to post their pricing, but I'm talking about places like LM, Singlestone and MS Rau, where either the pieces are antique and fairly one of a kind, which would give them the reasonable ability to include pricing info, or like LM, the pieces are custom and a range of prices could be included (i.e. 1-2 carat keystone setting is $x, 2-3 carat, $x and so on....)....it would just seem to make sense to me. It drives me bananas!!