How Customers Perceive a Price Is as Important as the Price Itself
All too often, companies will
change their pricing very subtly to either increase margin or move more
product. When they do this, often time’s
consumers will not even notice. What
companies must do is ensure that their prices are in-line or below that of
their competitors. Where a company
positions themselves among competitors is also a very key factor in consumer perception
and expected sales. For example, if a
luxury goods company were to price lower than the competitors consistently,
they may be perceived as lower quality, and will not attract the intended clientele
to the brand.
This
relates directly to some course discussions and some readings in Chapter
11. When competitive behavior is
discussed, it brings about the discussion of Levi’s jeans. In the United States, Levi’s are a very
normal, no-nonsense, every day brand of jeans that are priced accordingly. These jeans are sold at outlet stores and at
large big-box retailers in the United States.
Overseas, the jeans are seen as a very premium brand, and are often sold
in boutiques and galleries. The prices
these jeans get internationally are much higher than the prices
domestically. Sometimes the prices are
$50 more on average.
Heda S, Mewborn S, Caine S. How
Customers Perceive a Price Is as Important as the Price Itself. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles [serial
online]. January 3, 2017;:2-5. Available from: Health Business Elite, Ipswich,
MA. Accessed April 23, 2018.
Levi provides a great example as to how pricing effects a brand's image. I think, the low-price strategy Levi has been using in the United States has greatly decreased the perceived value in minds of American consumers.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Cam! It seems like these days, consumers are willing to pay a higher price if the increase in quality is substantial enough. It all comes down to value in the end!
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