What do you look for?

[Dave_Knowles]

Hi,

A friend of mine is about to start a mail order business and he believes that it is more attractive to buyers if you give something free with the item than the price. I was wandering what others think? Would you but something lets say a computer if it had a free carrying case rather than search out the lowest price even though you did not get a case with it.



<hr width=100% size=1>Take care
Dave
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.theboatjumble.co.uk>Visit The Boat Jumble - Online</A>

 

[KevB]

Mmm - Personally I would go for the cheapest price unless I was looking for that specific bag as well and together he was cheaper. So, still cheapest price to me I guess.

Now if it was buy something and get a bit of value added service then maybe I'd go for the dearer price.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/45/99/10714599.s.jpg?ch=97&rr=16:00:39>Nirvana</A>

 

[KATIEJ]

I spent 7 years in the mail order business as Marketing Manager and it was always the buy XXXX and get XX free that worked every time. It all depends on how price sensitive the market is that your friend is going to operate in.



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[capnbirdseye]

Surely it depends on the product and therefore the target audience. I would say if the product is technology focussed then buyers would be more inclined to buy on price alone, inclusive of like-for-like 'free' gift. Whereas other 'soft' products, home furnishings for example may be more suitable to this approach.

The killer for me when buying mail order or internet is availability and quick delivery, basically good old customer service.

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[oldgit]

Lowest price for me,you can shove the freebie.All those free offers/gifts/coupons are only going to be eventually financed by one person ......me with a higher price on the stuff I actually want to buy.

<hr width=100% size=1>Nastro Azzurro.Hoegaarden.Chang.Tiger.

 

[Gludy]

I have been in mail order all my life - free items as such do not work = price with service is the king.

This does not exclude all sorts of offers - its the total value of the deal that matters.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[Dave_Knowles]

Interesting that two marketing people give opposite advice. What products were you both marketing?


<hr width=100% size=1>Take care
Dave
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.theboatjumble.co.uk>Visit The Boat Jumble - Online</A>

 

[Gludy]

Not really opposite advice.
Purchase 3 items get the cheapest free etc worj providing there is choice.

Just adding a free item with each order really does not do much.

So I think the advise from both of us is probably the same.

If say I was buying fenders and one seller offered a set of fender socks free or at a greatly reduced price providing I purchased 6 fenders or more from them, then that would work.

Just syaing there is a free cadget with every order , no choice does not really work well.

I have done magazine offers with a take up of 34% of the readership and hit that mark a few times, so when it is right offers can really work.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul