I understand that your pricing structure may be complicated, and that everything’s somewhat negotiable. But if you refuse to put prices or price ranges on your web site–or even worse, if you refuse to put prices in your “information” packets–then I don’t really want to do business with you. Clearly you think you’re too expensive, because if you were a good value, you’d want to advertise that. And anyway, you’re just wasting a whole lot of my time and your time, because then I have to call you, and you have to dedicate time to coming up with a price quote for me, and you have to keep following up and inquiring with me, even though your location is far too expensive in the first place. If you’d just tell me up front how much it’s likely to cost, I could avoid wasting everyone’s time. Do you really think that by making me talk to you, you’re going to convince me to spend twice my budget? Not a chance. Instead, you’re going to get a shitload of people calling you to find out what you could have easily posted on your web site. And the people who could afford it will, and the people who can’t won’t. You’re not going to convert anyone, you’re just going to piss people off.
I understand your frustration- but there are reasons why vendors don’t post their prices.
I for one do-however I am going to change that on my website. Vendor competition in the bridal industry is fierce, and if you post your prices for other vendors to see, they will undercut you for sure, even if they are losing money. If this continued-no one would make any money and numerous companies would be out of business. A large company can afford to undercut, but smaller businesses, especially those just getting started cannot do it. Flowers are another thing. Brides need to know what type of flower they want, colours, greenery etc.
Some flowers may be in season- some not and are imported from all over the world. It is not cut and dried when it comes to floral arrangements at weddings, and many variables have to be taken into consideration. I know this probably hasn’t made you feel any better, but that is one perspective as to why prices aren’t posted.
While to a certain extent I understand the vendor’s comment above, I too find it infuriating when certain vendors don’t post prices, and here’s why:
The wedding industry is full of first time buyers and seasoned, cynical vendors who are quite practiced at wringing every possible penny out of the innocent too-in-love-to-care-about-the-ridiculousness-of-wedding-costs couple. If a reception site doesn’t give a flat rate to rent their facility on a particular date, it’s because they want to see how much they can get from you before they highball a price and then “give you a deal” that’s still more than the place is really worth. They’re all bastards. Well, most of them. Robin’s caterer threw in a bunch of stuff for free (ex. china and silverware upgrades) and then went a step further and charged LESS than the quoted price. I’ll let you know after Saturday how they do.
My further comment on the above comment is this: with the rise in wedding message boards, more and more brides (and in David’s case grooms) are able to get other brides and grooms’ feedback on vendors… It doesn’t matter how cheap a vendor is; if I hear bad reports, I’m not hiring them.
those fucking bastards….i’ll get them for you david….don’t fret