Rant: On Bait And Switch Marketing Price

[Ken Leatherman]

Actually, I'm quite calm as I write about this.

Over the last 3 days I have watched a certain thread in the forums where a Warrior has one price but when you go to his payment processor he is charging a higher price than what he used in the Original Post.

Now it's not a lot of money in fact it's less than $1.00 for the higher price, for me it's not the money, but it's the principal of the matter. In fact I would have probably bought the report but he used what is referred to here in the states as "bait (low price) and switch (higher price when purchase made).

When someone does this in their marketing to me it makes them a rip off artist. It means they are cheating my fellow Warriors out of their hard earned money.

Now here is what is ironic there are other Warriors that posted in the thread that said it was O.K. for this person to market this way. That blew me away. There are also others that called this person out and this person has failed to respond to them or me about his price switch.

In essence this person who used the method and those condoning are saying it's O.K. to use bait and switch on their fellow Warriors. I think not.

Let's hear what you think.

Ken Leatherman
The Old Geezer

P.S. Edit Added: This is his response after my last post to him

Wow, I didn't think 67 cents would cause that much of a racket. Price re-adjusted in the sales copy as per your wishes.

BTW he did change the OP price to the $9.67 after 3 days of Warriors asking him about it.

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by Ken Leatherman

Actually, I'm quite calm as I write about this.

Over the last 3 days I have watched a certain thread in the forums where a Warrior has one price but when you go to his payment processor he is charging a higher price than what he used in the Original Post.

Now it's not a lot of money in fact it's less than $1.00 for the higher price, for me it's not the money, but it's the principal of the matter. In fact I would have probably bought the report but he used what is referred to here in the states as "bait (low price) and switch (higher price when purchase made).

When someone does this in their marketing to me it makes them a rip off artist. It means they are cheating my fellow Warriors out of their hard earned money.

Now here is what is ironic there are other Warriors that posted in the thread that said it was O.K. for this person to market this way. That blew me away. There are also others that called this person out and this person has failed to respond to them or me about his price switch.

In essence this person who used the method and those condoning are saying it's O.K. to use bait and switch on their fellow Warriors. I think not.

Let's hear what you think.

Ken Leatherman
The Old Geezer

Not OK!

Bait and switch has never been an acceptable marketing tactic in my books. It breeds distrust.

[KimW]

Ken,
I would have to see the thread to determine how I felt. For instance, is the person running a nickel,dime,etc,etc script? Is there fine print that says the price is going up?
Personally I think too many people are using too many gimmics to sell their products instead of the one thing they should be focusing on....quality.

[Rod Cortez]

That's just plain wrong.

Granted, there have been a few instances where it was an honest mistake, I contacted the person and they rectified it immediately; but when it's done intentionally it's unethical and wrong.

Along the same vien, I saw a marketing promotion last year where the owner of this membership website stated "You will never see this price again....ever." Then 6 months later he was offering it at that same lower price.

Let's face it, some marketers are scumbag liers who only care about making money and don't care about how they do it. Some people simply have no shame.

RoD

[BIG Mike]

I'm assuming Ken that all your meds are up to date and that old timers thing hasn't kicked in on you - it wasn't a mistake on his part?

If it's intentional, then no, it's not cool under any circumstances regardless of the amount. In fact, I *THINK* it's illegal in the US and I know for certain it's illegal here in Greece.

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by Rod Cortez

vien

I'll have some of that vien too.

[Ken Leatherman]

Definitely not a mistake on his part. He has just now changed the price in the OP to the price he shows in his payment processor. Here is what he said about it in another post.

Wow, I didn't think 67 cents would cause that much of a racket. Price re-adjusted in the sales copy as per your wishes.

It's pretty darn clear he meant to do it.

Kim no small print or penny, dime script. Person thought it was O.K. to do it.

You know whats really bad for this person is he received some good review about the report from people who went on and purchased. Now this person has labeled himself to others like me as being someone that can't be trusted.

Ken Leatherman
The Old Geezer

[KimW]

Then I'm in 100% agreement with you Ken.

[Sid Kaplan]

100% agree with you as well Ken. Trust is hard won and easily lost. I think when we under promise and over deliver we gain respect for what we are trying to deliver. This kind of thing makes doesn't encourage pulling the trigger.

By the way Ken I must have the same meds as you...LOL

Sid

[Chris Lockwood]

This is not bait and switch. That involves advertising a low-priced product (bait), then when people come into the store, you tell them that one is not available and try to sell them something more expensive (switch).

For example, they advertise a $199 laptop to get you in the store, but don't actually have any of those, and the cheapest one they sell is $499.

Notice the price difference is way more than $1?

From the info in this thread, I can't tell if the person did this on purpose or was just sloppy. Maybe he made the sales page at a different time than when he put the price in the other place, or changed his mind about the price. Maybe someone else made the sales page.

I don't see how anyone benefits from showing a different price on the sales letter- don't you see the actual price before paying? So how does he benefit from that- you would have paid $9, but not $9.67?

[BIG Mike]

Originally Posted by Sid Kaplan

100% agree with you as well Ken. Trust is hard won and easily lost. I think when we under promise and over deliver we gain respect for what we are trying to deliver. This kind of thing makes doesn't encourage pulling the trigger.

By the way Ken I must have the same meds as you...LOL

Sid

After all I helped you guys, when you gonna send some of them meds my way?

[dustinlemos]

Right. I've made this mistake myself a few times. I'd lower the price a couple bucks on the sales page but forget to update my PayPal button. Yeah I know it's careless, but unintentional nonetheless.

[Ken Leatherman]

Chris,

The poster was not sloppy. He wrote his offer for $9.00 and set up his Pay Pal button to be $9.67. And this poster admits to doing it. (see the above post) I know about the bait and switch you are referring to and your right about that.

Price switching is also a form of bait and switch in my opinion. It just ain't right. Especially when it's done to the Warriors here on this forum.

This person has hurt his/her credibility in my eyes and from what other Warriors said in his thread he is seen as dishonest and not trustworthy.

Basically the point being made here for other marketeers (especially the new guys) they may want to thank twice before trying to flim flam somebody over a few pennies by switching prices.

Ken Leatherman

[Chris Lockwood]

The quote above is more about 67 cents being a small amount. I don't see where he says he did it on purpose.

I still don't see why anyone would.

When things ring up wrong at a cash register, do you consider that to be intentional, too? Happens all the time. The item is supposed to be on sale, but the sale price wasn't programmed into the system, so you get charged regular price.

[Ken Leatherman]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

The quote above is more about 67 cents being a small amount. I don't see where he says he did it on purpose.

I still don't see why anyone would.

When things ring up wrong at a cash register, do you consider that to be intentional, too? Happens all the time. The item is supposed to be on sale, but the sale price wasn't programmed into the system, so you get charged regular price.

Chris,

I'm not permitted to post the link to this persons offer. If I could I would do so and then you could draw your own conclusion.

The person has now changed the original price he posted to finally reflect the same price he had on his pay pal button. Only after he was called out about it by others and myself.

The question I present to you is if this person wanted to cover his Pay Pal fees in the price or just a higher price, why did he not include them in his original asking price? I would have no objection to paying the price if he had done so. Instead he elected to hide it and hoped his fellow Warriors would not pick up on the price difference when they went to his PayPal account. Some folks did and some did not. I'm not the only one who called him out on it. His actions speak louder than his words.

Why not ask for the true price you want? Not try trickery to get what you really want. That is the poiint I'm trying to make here.

Ken Leatherman
The Old Geezer

[Frank Ayres]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

The quote above is more about 67 cents being a small amount. I don't see where he says he did it on purpose.

I still don't see why anyone would.

When things ring up wrong at a cash register, do you consider that to be intentional, too? Happens all the time. The item is supposed to be on sale, but the sale price wasn't programmed into the system, so you get charged regular price.

This is where the OP admits he did it deliberately

Thanks for the testimonial Bill!

emini_guy, I added a couple cents to make up for Paypal fees. Not sure why people complain over a few cents lol.

[Ken Leatherman]

Thanks SpuDS, I should have remembered that post. I appreciate you bringing it to our attention.

Ken

[Chris Lockwood]

OK, I see. The quote I saw was in another post.

Of course the price on the salesletter should be the actual price, which is why I don't see how anyone would benefit from doing this.

I have seen companies add on a surcharge to cover Paypal fees, which I think is bogus, since that should be factored in when they set their price.

Don't ever book a hotel room or airline ticket if this 67 cent thing bothers you so much.

[Johnny Slater]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

OK, I see. The quote I saw was in another post.

Of course the price on the salesletter should be the actual price, which is why I don't see how anyone would benefit from doing this.

I have seen companies add on a surcharge to cover Paypal fees, which I think is bogus, since that should be factored in when they set their price.

Don't ever book a hotel room or airline ticket if this 67 cent thing bothers you so much.

If you read through the PayPal TOS they strictly forbid you from passing the fees on to your customer. You can not surcharge your customers to make up for the paypal fees. You can factor them in and raise your price slightly but you can not add on an additional charge to cover the fees.

[Tsnyder]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

OK, I see. The quote I saw was in another post.

Of course the price on the salesletter should be the actual price, which is why I don't see how anyone would benefit from doing this.

I have seen companies add on a surcharge to cover Paypal fees, which I think is bogus, since that should be factored in when they set their price.

Don't ever book a hotel room or airline ticket if this 67 cent thing bothers you so much.

Chris...

I think you miss the point. I don't think 67 cents is the issue...

If it is I guess the question then becomes what are a person's
ethics and reputation really worth. If 67 cents is okay how about
6 dollars? Still okay? How about 20 dollars?

Personally, I think a penny, if done intentionally, is wrong.

Tsnyder

[Ken Leatherman]

Tom,

That is the whole point of my post. Some folks just don't seem to get the point.

Ken