Why do some business get so upset when you ask a quote in public ?

[observer90210]

On social media forums, many businesses advertise their services but do not clearly give the price.

 

They end up in getting offended or upset when you ask them to quote a price in public.

 

They prefer having customers to come to their shop or office and then fix the price.

 

This obivously would mean they are trying to get a look at you and see how much they can get out of you.

 

Public trust would be far better if prices were clearly given on their posts in social media and not creating such a climate where the customer feels that the price will be given only once they get a good look at you and your looks in their premises or in private conversation,  in order to adapt the rate. That's the impression it gives anyhow, even if it's not the case ?

[OneMoreFarang]

Maybe that is the reason, but maybe not.

 

I watch regularly a YouTube channel from Cutting Edge Engineering in Australia. The guy does fantastic work. In one of their Q&A he talks about prices and why he doesn't talk about them. According to him if he does that then the competition will use that information to be just a little cheaper.

I guess he also wants that possible new customers get a better idea about what he is doing, maybe quality standards, warranty, etc.

 

There are lots of possible reasons to publish or not publish prices. 

 

[aldriglikvid]

10 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

On social media forums, many businesses advertise their services but do not clearly give the price.

 

They end up in getting offended or upset when you ask them to quote a price in public.

 

They prefer having customers to come to their shop or office and then fix the price.

 

This obivously would mean they are trying to get a look at you and see how much they can get out of you.

 

Public trust would be far better if prices were clearly given on their posts in social media and not creating such a climate where the customer feels that the price will be given only once they get a good look at you and your looks in their premises or in private conversation,  in order to adapt the rate. That's the impression it gives anyhow, even if it's not the case ?

Well, you already have the answer. These products & services you're referring to are either SMB's or pure mom-and-pop-stores and thus not trying to compete on price outright as, let's say, Walmart. If they wanted to compete on price, as you want it, they would've put the price in public. If you want straight price comparison perhaps you should approach larger businesses such as BigC or other firms. If you then ask them about price in public, and not in private as they want to, it's somewhat of an anti-social move - thus the irritating and defensive response. It's not illegal nor forbidden, but you're simply not jiving socially to what's expected here. 

[mfd101]

Send in a member of your Thai family to do the price negotiation.

 

I am forbidden by my b/f to buy anything that's negotiable. So we browse 'independently' then, after conferring, he reenters the shop & does the deal.

[NoDisplayName]

Depends on what services. 

 

Want to rebuild a wall?  How can they give you a reliable quote if they don't know if the old wall needs to be dismantled and carted off, whether the foundations have to be repoured, whether tree roots that destroyed your old wall need to be removed, whether the poor fill dirt the original contractor used is sinking.

 

Same with painting or plumbing or electrical.

[Middle Aged Grouch]

I make it a point to always try and ask a Thai to go and ask for the price when it's not displayed. Many malls in Thailand pay the same trick with no prices displayed on items in display. Same for Facebook posts of custom made items. They never answer when you ask them the price for the specific object shown exactly as on the photo. LandOfScams.

[SingAPorn]

What I love is when people running service businesses try to manipulate, make one feel guilty and start claiming that the price back in the UK, US or Europe is higher, or that you are a Cheap Charlie and other rubbish. Never feel bad and plainly be shameless and find the best deal. Only a fool would pay similar prices in Thailand as compared with those back home.

[JeffersLos]

2 hours ago, observer90210 said:

They prefer having customers to come to their shop or office and then fix the price.

 

This obivously would mean they are trying to get a look at you and see how much they can get out of you.

Why are you asking a question if you believe you know the obvious answer? 

[observer90210]

4 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

Why are you asking a question if you believe you know the obvious answer? 

Well, why are you answering in that case, through your very constructive "comment" ?

[novacova]

I have never patronized a business that sell common products without posting the price of the products, unless it’s highly specialized proprietary equipment

[bunnydrops]

negotiation, that is the name of the game at most businesses other than the big box stores. If you have to ask the price get a Thai to ask, they are used to it. My Thai wife is not so good at it, her sister is a master. Getting a price in public? Not done, different price for different people depending on how well you negotiate, if they need the work that day, or if they really don't want to do it for you in particular.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

Send in a member of your Thai family to do the price negotiation.

 

I am forbidden by my b/f to buy anything that's negotiable. So we browse 'independently' then, after conferring, he reenters the shop & does the deal.

You are forbidden, how old are you?

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

 LandOfScams.

Insecure visitors who need to hold mommy's hand (or the local replacement) to do daily things as they can't do them alone.

[SingAPorn]

23 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Insecure visitors who need to hold mommy's hand (or the local replacement) to do daily things as they can't do them alone.

Arrogant or rude people with inflated egos,  who think they can repair anything and end up in having to call a qualified tech and pay triple, to mend their mess.......are far worse, IMHO.

[SingAPorn]

32 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

negotiation, that is the name of the game at most businesses other than the big box stores. If you have to ask the price get a Thai to ask, they are used to it. My Thai wife is not so good at it, her sister is a master. Getting a price in public? Not done, different price for different people depending on how well you negotiate, if they need the work that day, or if they really don't want to do it for you in particular.

You have a point but if they want to prosper with farang money, it's totally the wrong way. People come to Thailand to relax and enjoy at crashed prices. Not to waste energy or to get annoyed with hateful negotiations and people trying to cheat them.

[FritsSikkink]

25 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

Arrogant or rude people with inflated egos,  who think they can repair anything and end up in having to call a qualified tech and pay triple, to mend their mess.......are far worse, IMHO.

They are both losers. Just sort your own things out.

Edited October 2, 2023 by FritsSikkink

[SingAPorn]

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

They are both losers. Just sort your own things out.

What do you say to the elderly or the handicaped ? Sort your own things out ?

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

I am forbidden by my b/f to buy anything that's negotiable. So we browse 'independently' then, after conferring, he reenters the shop & does the deal.

Wow, he sounds like a keeper.

[FritsSikkink]

16 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

What do you say to the elderly or the handicaped ? Sort your own things out ?

Why do you think an elderly or a handicaped person can't do their own talking while shopping?

[FritsSikkink]

45 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

You have a point but if they want to prosper with farang money, it's totally the wrong way. People come to Thailand to relax and enjoy at crashed prices. Not to waste energy or to get annoyed with hateful negotiations and people trying to cheat them.

Not everybody is looking at crashed prices. Quite a few people have money and don't mind that sellers make a decent living too.

[Elkski]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe that is the reason, but maybe not.

 

I watch regularly a YouTube channel from Cutting Edge Engineering in Australia. The guy does fantastic work. In one of their Q&A he talks about prices and why he doesn't talk about them. According to him if he does that then the competition will use that information to be just a little cheaper.

I guess he also wants that possible new customers get a better idea about what he is doing, maybe quality standards, warranty, etc.

 

There are lots of possible reasons to publish or not publish prices. 

 

That guy is a fun YouTuber.   Cant believe he wasnt an apprentice or went to machine shop school.    Rebuilding that dozer blade was a good 2 episodes.  I like how he gives the equipment manufacturers new part prices.   Amazing he works alone and his wife does great videography.  I do wonder how much they make from YouTube. Just found this YouTuber feom Australia who scraps electric motors and such and makes ingots of copper and aluminum and has almost 2 million followers and must make his living from YouTube. 

[OneMoreFarang]

44 minutes ago, Elkski said:

That guy is a fun YouTuber.   Cant believe he wasnt an apprentice or went to machine shop school.    Rebuilding that dozer blade was a good 2 episodes.  I like how he gives the equipment manufacturers new part prices.   Amazing he works alone and his wife does great videography.  I do wonder how much they make from YouTube. Just found this YouTuber feom Australia who scraps electric motors and such and makes ingots of copper and aluminum and has almost 2 million followers and must make his living from YouTube. 

Yes, I also saw that dozer blade video, and many others, amazing.

A few days ago, I discovered this channel, same same and very different.

https://youtu.be/hON9TuMRGIQ?si=Zd4RaE1KVsg9bu1U

 

Sorry to disrupt this thread with YouTube info. But then, it's also about making money. 

[OneMoreFarang]

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Send in a member of your Thai family to do the price negotiation.

 

I am forbidden by my b/f to buy anything that's negotiable. So we browse 'independently' then, after conferring, he reenters the shop & does the deal.

I think what you do makes sense if you buy tourist products on the street like t-shirts or something like that. But many "normal" Thai businesses charge the same for everybody.

[mfd101]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

You are forbidden, how old are you?

Never heard of irony?

[mfd101]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think what you do makes sense if you buy tourist products on the street like t-shirts or something like that. But many "normal" Thai businesses charge the same for everybody.

Of course.

[sirineou]

So many reason why a businessman does not like to give prices over the phone or , on line.

First, they don't like making it easy for their coopetition to know their business.

Second,  they want to see have a conversation with you to fully understand what you want from them, and how difficult the job is, Not all jobs are the same, not all customers are as easy. 

Third they want an opportunity to sell the job. 

 

[sikishrory]

I find this really annoying as well. It makes me feel as though I am gonna get a different price based on my nationality or my bargaining ability.

It is one of those cultural differences. In Australia prices are generally set and on display and clear for everyone. Not dependant on where you're from.

It seemed to me that it was partly so that the business could give you a westerner price instead.

Not so much that they want you to go to the shop as they often send it in a private message anyway.

However, I asked my Thai coworkers opinion on this to get a Thai perspective.

His response was it is so that other businesses do not see the price and undercut them.

To be honest I think it is a mixture of both.

I'm able to write Thai very well so if it is the kind of service that I can see dbl pricing me I will always message them in Line in Thai and get the price first.

Anyway yeh. It is annoying and creates a feeling of being ripped off for me.

[foreverlomsak]

16 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

and people trying to cheat them.

I bought a number of pieces of cooked chicken from a food stall, the price was worked out using a calculator I couldn't see (not sure if it was right but it was in the expected ballpark), as was the change to be given.

The change was counted out from a bag onto the counter, not quite out my sight, then 3 twenty baht notes were moved to one side and the remainder given to me, when I challenged her about the change not being correct the 3 twenties were recovered and handed to me.

I don't mind paying a few baht extra, but that was attempted theft in my book.

[SingAPorn]

45 minutes ago, foreverlomsak said:

I bought a number of pieces of cooked chicken from a food stall, the price was worked out using a calculator I couldn't see (not sure if it was right but it was in the expected ballpark), as was the change to be given.

The change was counted out from a bag onto the counter, not quite out my sight, then 3 twenty baht notes were moved to one side and the remainder given to me, when I challenged her about the change not being correct the 3 twenties were recovered and handed to me.

I don't mind paying a few baht extra, but that was attempted theft in my book.

Yes it's a classic clerk over the counter cheating tactic. Your change is put on the counter but on the side and the rest is put in front. Mechanically you will only take what is in front and ignore the bills on the side. This is used all over the world that's why i always make sure when in Thailand or abroad to have small bills etc. A nuisance but necessary, Also there have small pocket translators now on Amazon that are connected to the gsm network at no extra charge or subscription, Very useful to communicate if you do not or cannot use google translate on your regular phone.