How Desperate Do Merchants Think We Are?

Three weeks ago, I posted about my experiences with a retailer (software company) that was hounding me to buy their lastest upgrade and how they kept changing the offer - to make it look different, but it always remained the same.

Can you believe that they're still trying?

Initially, their offer was "save over 50%" by purchasing a $199,99 product for $99.99.

Then, there was "save 80%" as they repriced the $199.99 to $499.99 (although no one ever pays this MSRP).

The price to me was always $99.99 - with a few bonus software packages thrown in - no matter what they claimed the "real" price to be.

Then, there were the too-many-to-remember countdown emails as the "absolute deadline" to act approached. Then a telephone call the day before the offer "expired." Then another email the day of the expiration.

That has been followed by a couple more emails including one earlier this week to "save $400."

Today, I got an email "time is running out" and how after June 30th (what happened to the previous deadline?) the price will forvever return to the $499.99.

Why should I believe them? Why should any of us ever believe them? They have proven to be untrustworthy all along the way.

My conclusion is that the product is not a great value and not worth considering. However, it makes great blogging material.

I know the product is not worth having for two reasons - (1) their elaborate, never-say-die, unending promotion with evovling approaches and moving deadline to act and (2) the fact that the previous two versions that I did buy because they were supposed to work so much better than the ones they replaced did not - and I no longer have them on my computer.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

6 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 27 2009 08:55AM

And the deals keep getting better

Oh the lengths some retailers will go to when they want us to buy. They try to create urgency when all they do is convey desperation. They offer us a discount - for a limited time. Then they extend it. Then it expires, but they're willing to honor it anyway. Then they create a new, supposedly even better offer.

In one of my Home Sales Insights posts, "Why Should I Believe This Is My Last Chance?" I recounted such a recent history with a company.

Rather than truly creating a limited time opportunity, they totally destroy all credibility.

As I mentioned in that post, I had received several emails about a half-price offer for their new version of software (when the current version that I have and rarely use doesn't work all that well - I know, buy the upgrade to fix these deficiencies).

Then I got a phone call from them and made my decision not to by. Since then I have received a few more emails - and then the one today.

Before, at the "save 50%" offer, my price was $100 ($99.99). Now they've raised the supposed retail price (do you really think anyone is naive enough to actually pay this price?) so that today - and today only - I can "save 80%" and guess what, my price is the same $100 ($99.99).  Such a deal, indeed!

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com  for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings . © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

12 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 06 2009 09:24AM

How's that again?

I got an email from Office Depot this afternoon. The title of the email was "Amazing Tech Deals PLUS Coupon" (this is exactly how it looked). I'm thinking, wow, I might actually get to shop at Office Depot because everytime they offer a coupon it always excludes technology. This means that anything I would care to buy at a savings is off limits - software, printers and other hardware, HP toner, telephones, and anything at all to do with computers (including accessories).

Then I open the email and right there in the banner is "Excludes Technology." This is followed by "Restrictions Apply." Oh, goody more things excluded.

Now I know that any email, flyer, or ad with the word "coupon" in it that comes from Office Depot only applies to pens, copy paper, and paperclips.

Boy, do I feel silly for falling for their email subject line.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com  for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings . © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

32 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 05 2009 02:58PM