ᐅ Lowest Price Guarantee: Outsmarting a Marketing Gimmick

Hi!

I also don’t find anything objectionable about the original poster’s basic idea.

Especially in the kitchen industry, their completely absurd business practices (Yes, the list price is €25,000 (about $27,000), but toootally by chance we have this special discount of 38.4168416%, plus the “I really like you discount” and the “poor me, I still have to ask the boss discount,” which brings it down to €12,000 (about $13,000), but since your wife looks so nice, I’ll make it €8,000 (about $8,600)) place a lot of emphasis on portraying themselves as untrustworthy business partners.

Things like a lowest price guarantee on products that are basically not comparable, such as a kitchen, are outright cheeky.

I would even be willing without hesitation to pay a competitor a €200–300 (about $215–$320) fee to provide me with a _really_ good comparative offer. I would gladly promise that I won’t take that offer but instead use the lowest price guarantee to buy from the competitor.

If a supplier acts unprofessionally (and the kitchen folks do so to an extent that probably beats any dodgy tourist trap market), they shouldn’t be surprised when customers get a bit shady themselves.

In my professional experience, I have never encountered anything remotely as absurd as in my two attempts to buy a kitchen in a showroom.

Best regards,

Andreas

What is a realistic price? The fact is that everyone has the option to get comparable quotes from different studios. If you fall for the first offer that lures you in with bait discounts, then in my opinion, you only have yourself to blame. It should be clear—before signing—that kitchens advertised with discounts of 30%, 50%, or even 70% are not accurate. No one, absolutely no one, gives anything away for free.

@Newbie123

Newbie123 schrieb:

I think you are being a bit harsh in your judgment here.

I find the whole idea absurd: haggling over every cent and then, once the kitchen is purchased—and after your last comment on the topic—transferring the painstakingly "negotiated" discount to a third party just to feel better for a moment? I really don’t understand that.

Newbie123 schrieb:

But as I said, questioning the principle of the lowest price guarantee was certainly wrong,

That, on the other hand, I find completely fine; it was just your approach that was off.

Hello Andreas,

andimann schrieb:

When providers behave unprofessionally (and the kitchen salespeople do so to a degree that probably beats even the most notorious tourist scams in Arab markets), they shouldn’t be surprised if customers become cunning in return.

When I read statements like this, I always think of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice ... “the spirits that I called.” What do you think is the reason for this exhausting business model, which affects both sides?

andimann schrieb:

In my professional experience, I have never encountered even remotely as absurd situations with any supplier as in my two attempts to buy a kitchen at a showroom.

I could tell you about far more absurd things from my professional life 😡 Not every buyer is a fair negotiation partner—even when they always believe they are right.

Regards, Bauexperte

Let me share a little insider secret 😀
I always feel like I’m too naive for this world because I always pay all my bills on time...

Hi,

here

Neige schrieb:
It should be clear—before signing—that kitchens are not actually offered with 30%, 50%, or even 70% discounts as advertised. Nobody, absolutely nobody, gives anything away for free.

you are completely right. Something is definitely not right here.
Maybe they just want to attract all the bargain hunters. But to me, the message is different:

Anyone who enters negotiations with such inflated prices clearly thinks I’m a complete fool and is simply trying to rip me off.
That’s exactly what they’re doing!

If it works every fifth time, they make an incredible profit. And this attitude really frustrates me.

I expect to receive _somewhat_ realistic offers from the very beginning. I understand that the seller wants to make money and needs some room for negotiation—that’s totally fine. But we’re talking about a maximum of 10%, not 300% like with kitchen sellers!

Apart from kitchens and furniture, I don’t know any other industry that acts so foolishly.

Yes, every car, washing machine, and camera is ultimately sold with a discount. But I have never heard of a car dealer listing a Golf for €60,000 and then selling it for €20,000. Yet that’s exactly what I’m supposed to accept with a kitchen?

NEVER!!!!!

Best regards,

Andreas

@andimann ... a lot of customers really need to take a good look at themselves. When I see questions here and elsewhere like "How much discount did you negotiate?" instead of "What was your final price?", it's no surprise that sellers try to give you the "great" feeling of a 70% discount 😉

This has escalated the behavior of two groups, discount hunters and sellers, quite a bit.