Pricing Transparency

Smart as the tech industry is, there is more haggling over prices and discounts than in the souks in the Middle East. And most tech vendors try to protect pricing information even more than their intellectual property. Even though they realize customers whisper to each other and their salespeople turn over enough and walk out with that intelligence, they often go through elaborate charades to prevent pricing transparency.

C'est la vie in tech

But I was amused to see the sign at Walmart (click to enlarge) about competitive price shopping.

This at a company whose legendary founder used to openly talk about walking around the stores of competitors like KMart and learning from them.

May be Walmart is planning to become a technology vendor:)  

Comments

[Ashutosh]

That's right. I remember from the book "Made in America" (one of my all time favorites) how Sam Walton went at length to describe how did exactly the same and with pride. From checking out the price to aisle layouts to parking lots - he did all that.

May be Wal Mart thinks that one Sam Walton is good for America and there is no space for another one now!

[vinnie mirchandani]

Ashutosh, you got it...

in fairness, Walmart continues to be brutally competitive and they gather competitive intelligence and their competitors gather info through price checkers, on-line spiders etc.

I just thought it was amusing they have that sign which Sam would have laughed at...

[Nitin Goyal]

Price discounts are the norm in the industry. Sticker price is hardly close to what you pay to tech vendors.

I am not sure how Walmart can stop comparison shopping in the days of Google hegemony. Perhards "its better to have tried and lost than not to have tried at all". And this when they themselves do price comparison against other retaliers.