[C320-list] Price matching

[Rob & Deb Evans]

Numerous academics and economists believe that price-matching policies 
ultimately encourage higher overall (average) pricing.  The airline industry 
provides one of the best examples of the use of differential or "tiered" 
pricing strategy (charging different prices for the same product to 
different customers).  They make extraordinary profits on the top pricing 
tiers, and the lower tiers simply provide volume that helps to offset their 
base costs.  A similar thing is happening with price matching - let those 
who value convenience over cost pay a highly inflated price, and supplement 
sales volume by being competitive only when forced to be.

Given the option, I prefer to direct my business toward retailers that 
endeavour to be competitive at the outset.  Since most of my major purchases 
(such as bottom paint at US$200+ per gallon, or instrument packages at 
US$2k+) can be planned with sufficient lead time for shipping, it is usually 
only smaller items that I purchase spur-of-the-moment.  Recently I purchased 
online some engine electrical components for US$40, including shipping, that 
would have cost about US$70 at West Marine.  West Marine is likely pursuing 
a pricing strategy that their analysis favors, and understandably so.  As 
consumers, our ability to alter the behaviour of any large corporation is by 
altering our purchasing behaviour.

Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graeme Clark" <cg at skyflyer.co.uk>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 2:45 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Price matching


I agree Larry.  Also do you really want to buy from the store who, until you 
showed them a competitors price, we’re happy to overcharge you?

Graeme

Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!


> On 19 Oct 2018, at 03:14, Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com> wrote:
>
> Yes but if you don¹t buy from those selling at the lower price they will
> be losing business and will eventually go out of business or WM will buy
> them.  Then WM will be able to charge whatever they want and there will be
> no more price matching.
>
>> On 10/18/18, 7:49 PM, "Brad" <bkuether at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> I bought all of my supplies this spring from WM, and they matched every
>> add I presented to them.  No fuss, no muss.  Also I had the paint
>> delivered to the store, and didn¹t have to pay the hazardous shipping
>> fee, or any shipping at all!
>>
>> I am OK with this model for the real expensive stuff like paint.
>> Otherwise it makes them somewhat expensive for the smaller stuff you may
>> not be able to find or stuff that is WM proprietary.
>>
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>
>> From: Martin Rosenberg
>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 8:02 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Price matching
>>
>> I believe that West Marine ceased price matching a few years ago. I found
>> that I was buying less than a third  of my previous purchases from WM
>> after
>> that.
>> I feel that buying a resale item off the shelf shouldn't cost me a 
>> premium
>> because a store is inefficient.
>> Martin
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 18, 2018 at 7:55 PM bstumpp at comcast.net <bstumpp at comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> As others have said, using West Marine to price-match less expensive
>>> suppliers will eventually increase prices and/or drive the less
>>> expensive
>>> suppliers out of business.  IMHO.  Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE
>>> Smartphone
>>>
>>
>
>