Some companies have simple products with no explicit pricing. When I call them, there is no custom or bespoke aspects of the pricing and they simply quote me a price. Why didn't they just put it on their website?
Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
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Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#2Bothers me too. I think it's a weasel-y move because it forces the customer to start a convo at an information-disadvantage.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#3It's to give worse prices to customers that are not good at negotiating.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#4It is a transparently obnoxious pattern, unless you are buying something expensive and highly customisable.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#5If there truly is no meaningful exchange of details before giving a price, pretty much yes. (although tbh even "who is the client" can be relevant - few people are going to put "in our experience companies in industry X are always a pain to work with and cause more support needs, and thus we'll bill higher" on the website, but if you have few high-value contracts that's a relevant concern. Not so much if you sell many small things.)
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#6I wouldn't call it a dark pattern. It's more like an archaic sales tactic, but I guess it still works. It's the old "How Much Money Do You Have?" pricing scheme [1].
They're either getting income/revenue information that's connected in some way to the number you called from, or you're providing just enough information to enable them to quote a particular price for you.
[1] https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2004/12/15/camels-and-rubber-...
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#7You shouldn't call them and find something else. It's a money grab.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#8It's mostly relevant for enterprise customers, even if you have pricing for them listed they will not just sign up for your service. Enterprise deals involve many steps: demos, negotiations, contracts, trials, security reviews etc. You would want them to contact you to get this process started.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#9I skip anything that doesn't tell me the pricing terms up front.
Re: Ask HN: Is “contact us for pricing” a dark pattern?
#10Absolutely. Try to imagine how much different the world would be if, for instance, job listings were required to post their compensation exactly.