Kahlenberg horns

[Nick_H]

That might assume some sort of technical knowledge on behalf of the customer though , Nick. If you give me 20 pages of components, I wouldnt have any idea where to start.

Issuing a price list doesn't preclude the buyer from asking questions though, or not looking at the price list and asking for a personalised quote, it just gives them the option. Actually, i'm a little intrigued now as to how Piers does provide quotes to customers for his lovely horns. Does he calculate a price each time based on raw materials, labour, shipping costs etc., or does he refer to some kind of .. err .. price list

 

[gjgm]

Issuing a price list doesn't preclude the buyer from asking questions though, or not looking at the price list and asking for a personalised quote, it just gives them the option. Actually, i'm a little intrigued now as to how Piers does provide quotes to customers for his lovely horns. Does he calculate a price each time based on raw materials, labour, shipping costs etc., or does he refer to some kind of .. err .. price list

Ah, but that is the one you are not allowed to see....
Ooops...didnt mean to say that

 

[sarabande]

would it help both sides if Hooters Inc priced up some typical base installations in each range, and published them ?

That would give potential buyers the opprtunity to fit product to budget, and then it's up to the sales people to add value and flog (sorry, incrementally adjust the customer's purchasing regime) extra bits or upgrade him.

Also it would save time answering the phone or email to people who just have a passing interest but no real commitment to purchase.

 

[henryf]

We have a similar problem on the CCTV site. There are lots of options, particularly when it comes to cameras and you will need certain ancillary equipment to make everything work. There are also a number of different ways you could wire / power the whole system.

Our solution is to have as informative a website as is possible. This allows people to understand their needs and also helps to establish you as the authority figure within you chosen field.

By the sound of things (sorry!) there are obviously some basic rules which need to be adhered to. Explain these and then state in the product info what each horn would be suitable for. Explain the basic requirements of a system, ie. the fact you will need to provide the horn with a given volume of puff and once again rate the compressors.

A price against each item with the possible hint that packages might be available and people will get a ballpark feel to where things are going to be price-wise. A lot of folks don't want to pick up the phone or put you to the trouble of an email quotation if the likely cost is a factor of 5 above their budget. Similarly others may assume such lovely equipment comes with an eye watering price tag when in fact it is well within their means.

I can understand not wanting to publish prices when the trade purchase from you and sell on at inflated prices but my understanding is you, like us in the CCTV business are aiming at a retail customer. You can always discount to genuine trade buyers although by publishing a price list you are setting a cap on what that trade installer can ask for the items.

What I will say from my experience with cctv42 is that people who buy online without speaking to us usually don't buy the best equipment for their needs. If we think someone has made a mistake we call them up before dispatching their order. You could do the same, (wrong compressor for a given horn etc.).


Henry

 

[taz]

Decide on product...........locate supplier...............ring supplier with details..........get price.................place order(or not)..........what is so difficult?

I would want to speak to the supplier in person, forget emails. imho.

Judging from replies and positive remarks on Piers and Toby's approach it seems to be in total contradiction to op's experience.

 

[sarabande]

Decide on product............

Taz, that is fine, if price for the product does not come into the "decide on product" task in the project. There are some who don't need to ask, but knowing how many spondulicks are going to be extracted from the thin wallet is an early part of the product selection for many. Otherwise you waste an awful lot of your time (and the suppliers') looping back between "decide on product" and "place order or not".

Setting a range of prices germane to the range of products seems to be basic marketing. When you pass a car showroom, do you see sticker prices on the screen ? Betcha do !

 

[taz]

That's fine if you are comparing like for like................but not Fiat Panda to BMW M3.

With so many variables I think giving ball park figures would/could be highly misleading, then they would come in for some stick for supplying misleading prices?

I see nothing wrong with an enquiring phone call in the 1st instance.

 

[henryf]

Why the aggression towards people who merely want to have a bit of a browse and find out costs themselves without causing a fuss?

The website content can clearly explain the difference between a hand held air horn and a superior product.

We find it saves us a lot of time because some (not all) of our customers have taken the time to read through the site and are more educated as a result. That education actually makes them easier to sell to because they understand the differences.

Henry

 

[PaulGooch]

I might just be browsing around and wouldn't give them a second look without some prices. There might be 10 zillion different combinations of systems, but no reason not to have a list of horns, compressors etc, with prices. I'm not totally retarded (most of the time) and i could add together the price for the horns, the compressor and any other bits i need.

There's 10 zillion different combinations of plotter/radar/sonar/autopilot/VHF/etc too, but i can easily see prices for those. I don't have to speak to someone who will advise me on what i'll need and work a price out for me.

 

[henryf]

In truth you probably would chat to someone to make sure you've got everything you need and to enjoy the benefit of their knowledge re: product selection. But you make that call knowing you're a genuine buyer having satisfied yourself with ballpark costings.

Henry

 

[PaulGooch]

In truth you probably would chat to someone to make sure you've got everything you need and to enjoy the benefit of their knowledge re: product selection. But you make that call knowing you're a genuine buyer having satisfied yourself with ballpark costings.

Henry

Exactly my thinking Henry. I'd look at the site, pick a horn set and compressor and a switch or button (whatever i need, i'd assume the site would give some info on what's required), if it added up to what i thought was an OK price, drop them an email or better yet, make a call.

 

[Groot T]

Hi guys - Toby here.

Interesting reading through the thread and seeing what has been discussed. Some very useful points have been raised, so thank you for the feedback.

We will be at METS in November so please feel free to come along and visit. I know Piers always likes meeting fellow forumites!

Joe if you're going METS do pop over to the stand. More than happy to help and we can go over the horn range and price points, should it aid you in making a decision. No pressure, purely information should that be what you prefer.

IIRC our stand is 11.511

See you there and, again, thanks for the feedback everyone!

P.S. Anyone know where I can get my hands on a light-trap / trip sensor thing? Neighbours cat keeps wondering into the garden and I want to setup a 'acoustic deterrent'...

 

[JoeQ]

Toby,

You know what type of boat I have, why can't you just send out some prices?

 

[prv]

I might just be browsing around and wouldn't give them a second look without some prices.

+lots!

Not getting at sellers of horns in particular, as they're completely irrelevant to my boat. But I hate websites which give no indication whatsoever as to price. Unless I have some experience in your industry, I may have no idea whether what I want costs fifty quid or eight hundred quid. At one end I might order immediately, at the other the whole project may be completely off the table. You need to give some point of reference for me to decide if it's worth looking any further.

Saying "our stuff is complicated" doesn't cut it. Even if what you do is completely custom and different every time, you should be able to show some examples of past work and what they cost. That's enough for me to decide if there's any possibility of us doing business - after that I can get in touch to thrash out an actual package and quote.

Pete

 

[Groot T]

Toby,

You know what type of boat I have, why can't you just send out some prices?

Hay Joe,

Will bash some prices and options over to you now. Just to reiterate, when we first spoke I didn't know who you were so didn't know where to start and our last E-mail communications went unanswered so the conclusion was to leave things be.

However, info heading your way now!
Will we still be seeing you at METS ?

Regards,

Toby

 

[Groot T]

Quick update: Have sent some pricing to you, Joe. If there is anything missing please feel free to reply and I can fill in any gaps.

To address the common point which keeps coming up about pricing being on the website.

It is something I would desperately want to do but we just can't do it, though I fully understand it may be have a negative impact on sales.
We can discuss the reasons for and against at length but will go full circle and find ourselves saying "would be useful but can't be done, sorry!".

On a different note (pardon the pun), really hope you all had a good time looking at the kit at the Southampton Boat Show. Was a new experience for us being the first non-superyacht & non-commercial show.
My apologies if you ventured onto the stand but we weren't free to talk with you due Piers or myself talking with other visitors.
We Had a huge amount of interest and not enough hands on the pumps, we did try and hard as we could, though!

Actually, this may be something you can all help me with. A common theme from the show was from Sail boat owners who would say "I don't need a horn on my yacht". Anyone have any guidance on why this may be a common misconception ?

Thanks,

Toby

 

[Nick_H]

Actually, this may be something you can all help me with. A common theme from the show was from Sail boat owners who would say "I don't need a horn on my yacht". Anyone have any guidance on why this may be a common misconception ?

You mean sailboat owners visited the stand to tell you they didn't need a horn? There's so many things I don't need, i'll have to spend two days at the show next year

 

[benjenbav]

Actually, this may be something you can all help me with. A common theme from the show was from Sail boat owners who would say "I don't need a horn on my yacht". Anyone have any guidance on why this may be a common misconception ?

They've evolved very loud voices from shouting at gin palaces steaming past and upsetting their fray bentos pies.

 

[Groot T]

There's so many things I don't need, I'll have to spend two days at the show next year

^_^

You mean sailboat owners visited the stand to tell you they didn't need a horn?

They've evolved very loud voices from shouting at gin palaces steaming past and upsetting their fray bentos pies.

This arose from conversations with boat owners in the aisle and them saying their yachts don't need one. Though not in the context of "I've already got a horn, thanks". More "My yacht doesn't require a horn". Then again, I didn't factor in the Fray Bentos stereotype coefficient...

 

[yesod]

They've evolved very loud voices from shouting at gin palaces steaming past and upsetting their fray bentos pies.

seriously though - would you buy from a company who invokes the "you won't be insured" bogeyman? smacks of the desperate marketing to me...