Sears Portrait Studio

I was at Sears the other day and saw the portrait studio, so I decided to see what they're all about. Apparently they do not have price-lists printed, I quote: "We do not have printed price lists, but packages start at $169".
Do they really think it's smart to have customers standing there and engaging in an extended dialogue only to find out what's in which package?

WalMart is the same.

The main reason they don't have prices listed anywhere is that they are constantly running specials. What might cost customer A $169 will cost customer B $49 because he has a coupon. They will get the customer in and get the photos taken before they really talk about price and "add-ons." That way, the customer has 2 options, (1) not to buy anything or (2) buy whatever is on the screen.

I did inquire with my local JcP to price their services and they're comparable to the others listed. It's good to bring your kid if you have one since it won't look as suspicious that you're checking out your competition.

Yes, they do think it's smart. That's why they do it.

They have figured out that it's better to specify prices after the client has made some minimum level of commitment to a purchase, and they're correct.

RDKirk wrote in post #11462929
Yes, they do think it's smart. That's why they do it.

They have figured out that it's better to specify prices after the client has made some minimum level of commitment to a purchase, and they're correct.

You forgot to add "IMO"
If you stop by to inquire about the price, there is no commitment

layzieyez wrote in post #11462764
I did inquire with my local JcP to price their services and they're comparable to the others listed. It's good to bring your kid if you have one since it won't look as suspicious that you're checking out your competition.

I see your point, but I don't consider high-school kids who don't know what they're doing and thus getting paid $8/hr, to be my competition. Yeah, the studio has more gear, but calling them competition ?.... Nuh

sniper_md wrote in post #11463699
I see your point, but I don't consider high-school kids who don't know what they're doing and thus getting paid $8/hr, to be my competition. Yeah, the studio has more gear, but calling them competition ?.... Nuh

They may be high school kids making $8 an hour, but there are plenty more people going to a Sears or JC Penny and not you. Therefore, yes, they are competition.

sniper_md wrote in post #11463683
You forgot to add "IMO"
If you stop by to inquire about the price, there is no commitment

Actually, there is. Merely going to the store with kids in two to ask about prices is commitment enough for a certain percentage of people who would not have purchased if the prices had not required that much action. A whole lot of people are going to buy just because they're already there.

That's why many of us do not post detailed prices on our websites--we've learned that spending a few minutes talking to clients results in more purchases. Sears has done the same thing in their way.

RDKirk wrote in post #11463742
That's why many of us do not post detailed prices on our websites--we've learned that spending a few minutes talking to clients results in more purchases. Sears has done the same thing in their way.

I might be mistaken but only one in five will call to inquire about the price so you're missing a lot of clients just by not listing the price
again, IMO

asysin2leads wrote in post #11463734
They may be high school kids making $8 an hour, but there are plenty more people going to a Sears or JC Penny and not you. Therefore, yes, they are competition.

This is not the client I cater to or would like to work with, so we do not compete for the same people with Sears' kids. Back to square one - not my competition...

sniper_md wrote in post #11463777
I might be mistaken but only one in five will call to inquire about the price so you're missing a lot of clients just by not listing the price
again, IMO

I am like that.

Like my daddy use to say
"If you got to ask, you cant afford"

sniper_md wrote in post #11463793
This is not the client I cater to or would like to work with, so we do not compete for the same people with Sears' kids. Back to square one - not my competition...

So if Sears, Walmart, etc. photo studios ceased to exist, you wouldn't be interested in ANY of their former customers?

Wow. Must be nice.

sniper_md wrote in post #11463777
I might be mistaken but only one in five will call to inquire about the price so you're missing a lot of clients just by not listing the price
again, IMO

I said "detailed price lists."

moose10101 wrote in post #11463854
So if Sears, Walmart, etc. photo studios ceased to exist, you wouldn't be interested in ANY of their former customers?

Wow. Must be nice.

Nuh