Any theories why a some stores don't put prices on merchandise?

[debodun]

I hate that - you don't know what you're paying until you get to the checkout. I noticed this mostly at the local hardware store with their "outdoor items". They have equipment, patio furniture, bags of topsoil and fertilizer. There's nothing to indicate what they are charging. I noticed this at WalMart's garden center, too.

 

[OldFeller]

Its cheaper to control pricing in one single location than it is to have employees tagging products individually. As the price changes due to an increase or a sale, you just have to tell the computer the price.

The problem nowadays is that you're lead to believe the product is on sale at a discount but it rings up a higher price at the checkout.

Remember. The goal at big box and supermarket stores is to have a minimum of employees and to make it a help yourself transaction.

 

[Tom52]

I always got a kick out of pricing at some jewelry stores. Most everything has a price tag on it, but the tags are turned in the display cases so the customer cannot see the price unless they call over a sales person.

I assume their hope is you will fall in love with an item solely based upon the looks, then after seeing the price you will buy it even if it is out of your price range. That must work on some people but that technique just turns me off.

 

[OldOld]

Some stores selling high end products don't have price tag on them because their prices fluctuate and/or the salesperson/owner want to decide what price they want to charge based on their interaction with the customers. If their customers show enthusiasm, the salesperson would want to ask higher prices.

 

[David777]

Gasoline and convenience stores have done that for years because that allows the person behind the counter to size up a customer and then spew out as much $$ as they think they can get away with. If I find myself in a situation purchasing something from such stores where some clerk jacks up a price too high, will simply smile and walk away. That always seems to surprise such clerks as they "Guessed wrong". If some clerk thinks he can sell me a $1.29 candy bar for $2.95, my appetite evaporates. Of course, if a familiar local is at such a counter, they will expect a reasonable low price.

 

[Oldeagle66]

There's a display rack at my local store with fruit pies that look great but also expensive but no price. It's been about 10 years and I never picked one up because of that. I finally took one to get price scanned and they aren't as expensive as they look so I bought one and probably will buy more. They probably would of have a regular customer for years if the price was displayed.

 

[Disgustedman]

Yeah once we went with UPC codes it was a lot easier for people working for the supermarket to just scan the UPC and change it standing there and the computer would record the change so you always had to buy quickly and run to the front before they change the price especially when it was beef season in the prices were changing by the hour!

I do remember Mad Magazine making fun of the UPC symbols for quite a while because they were required to have it.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I use self check out so if there’s something im uncertain of the price, it stays there.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I understand why goods are no longer priced individually and I confess that I miss the days when you could reach to the back of a shelf and sometimes find a lower priced item.

I do appreciate it when some stores have scanners scattered around the store that allow me to check prices.

 

[VaughanJB]

Because the price is going up in ten minutes time, and they'd have to re-sticker them.

 

[Babs2u]

I stopped at Dollar Tree for batteries for my remotes. They had gone up to $1.50 from !.25. Some of the items were still 1.25. I'm not sure if they just hadn't finished raising the prices or what.

 

[Nathan]

Any theories why a some stores don't put prices on merchandise?

Because the store wants to play to odds, doesn't want the customer to be too aware of the true cost, and certainly doesn't want the customer to do any mental price comparison.

 

[That Lady in PA]

Gasoline and convenience stores have done that for years because that allows the person behind the counter to size up a customer and then spew out as much $$ as they think they can get away with. If I find myself in a situation purchasing something from such stores where some clerk jacks up a price too high, will simply smile and walk away. That always seems to surprise such clerks as they "Guessed wrong". If some clerk thinks he can sell me a $1.29 candy bar for $2.95, my appetite evaporates. Of course, if a familiar local is at such a counter, they will expect a reasonable low price.

Really?

the UPC scans at the same price for everyone, right?

 

[Ruthanne]

Sometimes they haven't gotten to it yet or they are hoping you'll buy it without a price because it costs too much.

 

[January]

I haven't seen individual price stickers for years

Big items like furniture have price attached but most things just go by bar code scanning.

 

[Michael Z]

Often times the price is so high that is excluded in hopes that once you have made up your mind to buy, the price will not deter you. Costco flyers show many items with discounts, but not the final price - this marketing might work for some, but not me!

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I understand why goods are no longer priced individually and I confess that I miss the days when you could reach to the back of a shelf and sometimes find a lower priced item.

I do appreciate it when some stores have scanners scattered around the store that allow me to check prices.

View attachment 444147

Those are handy.