PRICING AT WHAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR
The strategy of pricing on the basis of what the market will bear can be used only when the seller has little or no competition. Obviously, this strategy will work only for nonstandard zed products. For example, a food store might offer egg rolls but have neither the time nor the knowledge to prepare the wrappers themselves will buy them at any reasonable price.
SOME FINAL NOTES ON PRICING STRATEGIES
In some situations. Local. State, and federal laws must be considered in setting prices. For example. The Sherman Antitrust Act generally prohibits price fixing. A case in point is a suit brought by the California Attorney General’s Office against Bioelements. Inc., a Colorado-based cosmetics company, because it prohibited online retailers from selling its products at a discount. Bioelements did not admit to liability but agreed to a settlement to refrain permanently from fixing resale prices. The firm also agreed to pay $51,000 in total penalties. Not a trivial amount for an independent business.
When a small business markets a line of products, some of which may compete with each other, pricing decisions must take into account the effects of a single product price on the rest of the line. For example, the introduction of a cheese-flavored chip will likely affect sales of an excising naturally flavored chip. Pricing can become extremely complex in these situations.
Continually adjusting a price to meet changing marketing conditions can be both costly to the seller and confusing to buyers. An alternative approach is to use a system of discounting designed to reflect a variety of needs. For example, a seller may offer a trade discount to a particular buyer (such as a wholesaler) because that buyer performs a certain marketing function for the seller (such as distribution. The stated, or list, price is unchanged, but the seller offers a lower actual price by means of a discount.
Small firms should not treat bad pricing decisions as uncorrectable mistakes. Remember, pricing is not an exact science. If the initial price appears to be off target. Make any necessary adjustments and keep on selling!
Pricing Mistakes
The president of Palo Alto Software, Tim Berry, shares some typical mistakes that small business owners often make in their strategies in “The 3 Most Common Small Business Pricing Mistakes,” which can be found at http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/the-3-most-common-small-business-pricing-mistakes-tim-berry
Offering Credit
BENEFITS OF CREDIT
If credit buying and selling did not benefit both parties in a transaction. Their use would cease. Borrowers obviously enjoy the availability of credit, and small firms, in particular, benefit from being able to buy on credit from their suppliers. Credit provides small firms with working capital, often allowing marginal businesses to continue operations. Additional benefits of credit to customers (borrowers) follow.
- The ability to satisfy immediate needs and pay for them later
- Better records of purchases on credit billing statements
- Better service and greater convenience when exchanging purchased items
- Establishment of a credit history
Suppliers. On the other hand, extend credit to customers in order to facilitate increased sales volume and also to earn money on unpaid balances. They expect the increased revenue to more than offset the costs of extending credit, so that profits will increase. Other benefits of credit to sellers follow;
- Closer association with customers because of implied trust
- Easier selling through telephone and mail order systems and over the Internet
- Smoother sales peaks and valleys, since purchasing power is always available
- Easy access to a tool with which to stay competitive
FACTORS THAT AFFECT SELLING ON CREDIT
An entrepreneur must decide whether to sell on credit or for cash only. In many cases. Credit selling cannot be avoided, as it is standard trade practice in many types of businesses. It is important to note that in today’s marketplace, credit selling competitors will almost always outsell a cash only firm.
Type of business
Retailers of durable products typically grant credit more freely than do small grocers that sell perishables or small restaurants that serve primarily local customers. Indeed. Most consumers find it necessary to buy big-ticket items on an installment basis. And the life span of such a product makes installment selling feasible.
Credit Policies of Competitors
Unless a firm offers some compensating advantage, it is expected to be as generous as its competitors in extending credit. Wholesale hardware companies and retail furniture stores are examples of businesses that face stiff competition from credit sellers.
Age and Income Level of Customers
The age and income level of a retailer’ customers are significant factors in determining its credit policy. For example, a drugstore adjacent to a high school might not extend credit to high school students, who are typically undesirable credit customers because of their lack of both maturity and steady income.
Availability of Working Capital
TYPES OF CREDIT
Consumer Credit
The three major kinds of consumer credit accounts are open charge accounts, installment accounts, and revolving charge accounts. Many variations of these credit accounts are also used.
Open charge account when using an open charge account, a customer takes possessing of products at the time of purchase, with payment due when billed. Stated terms typically call for payment at the end of the month, but it is customary to allow a longer period than that stated.
Installment Account An installment account is a vehicle for long-term consumer credit. A down payment is normally required, and annual finance charges can be 20 percent or more of the purchase price. Payment periods are commonly from 12 to 36 months, although automobile dealers often offer an extended payment period of 60 months or even longer. An installment account is useful for large purchases, such as a car, washing machine, or television.
Revolving Charge Accounts A revolving charge account is a variation of the installment account. A seller grants a customer a line of credit, and charged purchases may not exceed the credit limit. A specified percentage of the outstanding balance must be paid monthly, forcing the customer to budget and limiting the amount of debt that can be carried.
Credit Cards
A credit card provides assurance to a seller that a buyer has a satisfactory credit rating and that the seller will receive payment from the financial institution that issued the card. Credit cards are usually based on a revolving charge account system. Depending on the issuer, we can distinguish three basic types of credit cards: bank credit cards, entertainment credit cards, and retailer credit cards.
BANK CREDIT CARDS The best-known credit cards issued by banks or other financial institutions are MasterCard and VISA. Bank credit cards are widely accepted by retailers that want to offer credit but don’t provide their own credit cards. Most small business retailers fit into this category. In return for a set fee paid by the retailer, the bank takes the responsibility for making collections. Some banks charge annual membership feet to their cardholders. Also, cardholders are frequently able to obtain cash up to the credit limit of their card.
ENTAILER CREDIT CARDS Well-known examples of entertainment credit cards are American Express and Diner’s Club cards. While these cards have traditionally charged an annual fee, American Express now offers the Blue Card, which has no fee for use. Originally used for services. These cards are now widely accepted for sales of merchandise. As with bank credit cards. The collection of charges on an entertainment credit card is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency.
RETAILER CREDIT CARDS Many companies for example, department stores and oil companies issue their own credit cards specifically for use in their outlets or for purchasing their products or services from other outlets. Customers are usually not charged annual fees or finance charges if the balance is paid each month.
Debit cards
A variation on credit cards, and technically not a form of credit, is the debit card. A debit card is an alternative to cash in that its use immediately results in a withdrawal from the customer’s bank account to pay for the product or service purchased. Some financial institutions arrange for extensions of credit for delayed payments on a debit card.
TRADE CREDIT
Firms selling to other businesses may specify terms of sale, such as 2/10. Net 30. This means that the seller is offering a 2 percent discount if the buyer pays within 10 days of the invoice date. Failure to take this discount makes the full amount of the invoice due in 30 days. For example, with these terms, a buyer paying for a $100,000 purchase within 10 days of the invoice date would save 2 percent, or $2,000.
MANAGING THE CREDIT PROCESS
As mentioned previously, many small firms transfer all or part of the credit function to another party. For example, a small repair shop or retail clothing store that accepts VISA or MasterCard is transferring much of the credit risk: in effect, the fee that the business pays the credit card company covers the credit management process. On the other hand, merchants pay for the privilege of this risk transfer. Banks and their business customers are often in conflict over the fees charged. Many small business owners find that the fees cut their profits significantly. A number of small firms want to offer their own credit to their customers, particularly business customers therefore, they need to understand the credit function. Let’s take a look at some of the major considerations in developing and operating a comprehensive credit manag
PRICING AT WHAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR
The strategy of pricing on the basis of what the market will bear can be used only when the seller has little or no competition. Obviously, this strategy will work only for nonstandard zed products. For example, a food store might offer egg rolls but have neither the time nor the knowledge to prepare the wrappers themselves will buy them at any reasonable price.
SOME FINAL NOTES ON PRICING STRATEGIES
In some situations. Local. State, and federal laws must be considered in setting prices. For example. The Sherman Antitrust Act generally prohibits price fixing. A case in point is a suit brought by the California Attorney General’s Office against Bioelements. Inc., a Colorado-based cosmetics company, because it prohibited online retailers from selling its products at a discount. Bioelements did not admit to liability but agreed to a settlement to refrain permanently from fixing resale prices. The firm also agreed to pay $51,000 in total penalties. Not a trivial amount for an independent business.
When a small business markets a line of products, some of which may compete with each other, pricing decisions must take into account the effects of a single product price on the rest of the line. For example, the introduction of a cheese-flavored chip will likely affect sales of an excising naturally flavored chip. Pricing can become extremely complex in these situations.
Continually adjusting a price to meet changing marketing conditions can be both costly to the seller and confusing to buyers. An alternative approach is to use a system of discounting designed to reflect a variety of needs. For example, a seller may offer a trade discount to a particular buyer (such as a wholesaler) because that buyer performs a certain marketing function for the seller (such as distribution. The stated, or list, price is unchanged, but the seller offers a lower actual price by means of a discount.
Small firms should not treat bad pricing decisions as uncorrectable mistakes. Remember, pricing is not an exact science. If the initial price appears to be off target. Make any necessary adjustments and keep on selling!
Pricing Mistakes
The president of Palo Alto Software, Tim Berry, shares some typical mistakes that small business owners often make in their strategies in “The 3 Most Common Small Business Pricing Mistakes,” which can be found at http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/the-3-most-common-small-business-pricing-mistakes-tim-berry
Offering Credit
BENEFITS OF CREDIT
If credit buying and selling did not benefit both parties in a transaction. Their use would cease. Borrowers obviously enjoy the availability of credit, and small firms, in particular, benefit from being able to buy on credit from their suppliers. Credit provides small firms with working capital, often allowing marginal businesses to continue operations. Additional benefits of credit to customers (borrowers) follow.
- The ability to satisfy immediate needs and pay for them later
- Better records of purchases on credit billing statements
- Better service and greater convenience when exchanging purchased items
- Establishment of a credit history
Suppliers. On the other hand, extend credit to customers in order to facilitate increased sales volume and also to earn money on unpaid balances. They expect the increased revenue to more than offset the costs of extending credit, so that profits will increase. Other benefits of credit to sellers follow;
- Closer association with customers because of implied trust
- Easier selling through telephone and mail order systems and over the Internet
- Smoother sales peaks and valleys, since purchasing power is always available
- Easy access to a tool with which to stay competitive
FACTORS THAT AFFECT SELLING ON CREDIT
An entrepreneur must decide whether to sell on credit or for cash only. In many cases. Credit selling cannot be avoided, as it is standard trade practice in many types of businesses. It is important to note that in today’s marketplace, credit selling competitors will almost always outsell a cash only firm.
Type of business
Retailers of durable products typically grant credit more freely than do small grocers that sell perishables or small restaurants that serve primarily local customers. Indeed. Most consumers find it necessary to buy big-ticket items on an installment basis. And the life span of such a product makes installment selling feasible.
Credit Policies of Competitors
Unless a firm offers some compensating advantage, it is expected to be as generous as its competitors in extending credit. Wholesale hardware companies and retail furniture stores are examples of businesses that face stiff competition from credit sellers.
Age and Income Level of Customers
The age and income level of a retailer’ customers are significant factors in determining its credit policy. For example, a drugstore adjacent to a high school might not extend credit to high school students, who are typically undesirable credit customers because of their lack of both maturity and steady income.
Availability of Working Capital
TYPES OF CREDIT
Consumer Credit
The three major kinds of consumer credit accounts are open charge accounts, installment accounts, and revolving charge accounts. Many variations of these credit accounts are also used.
Open charge account when using an open charge account, a customer takes possessing of products at the time of purchase, with payment due when billed. Stated terms typically call for payment at the end of the month, but it is customary to allow a longer period than that stated.
Installment Account An installment account is a vehicle for long-term consumer credit. A down payment is normally required, and annual finance charges can be 20 percent or more of the purchase price. Payment periods are commonly from 12 to 36 months, although automobile dealers often offer an extended payment period of 60 months or even longer. An installment account is useful for large purchases, such as a car, washing machine, or television.
Revolving Charge Accounts A revolving charge account is a variation of the installment account. A seller grants a customer a line of credit, and charged purchases may not exceed the credit limit. A specified percentage of the outstanding balance must be paid monthly, forcing the customer to budget and limiting the amount of debt that can be carried.
Credit Cards
A credit card provides assurance to a seller that a buyer has a satisfactory credit rating and that the seller will receive payment from the financial institution that issued the card. Credit cards are usually based on a revolving charge account system. Depending on the issuer, we can distinguish three basic types of credit cards: bank credit cards, entertainment credit cards, and retailer credit cards.
BANK CREDIT CARDS The best-known credit cards issued by banks or other financial institutions are MasterCard and VISA. Bank credit cards are widely accepted by retailers that want to offer credit but don’t provide their own credit cards. Most small business retailers fit into this category. In return for a set fee paid by the retailer, the bank takes the responsibility for making collections. Some banks charge annual membership feet to their cardholders. Also, cardholders are frequently able to obtain cash up to the credit limit of their card.
ENTAILER CREDIT CARDS Well-known examples of entertainment credit cards are American Express and Diner’s Club cards. While these cards have traditionally charged an annual fee, American Express now offers the Blue Card, which has no fee for use. Originally used for services. These cards are now widely accepted for sales of merchandise. As with bank credit cards. The collection of charges on an entertainment credit card is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency.
RETAILER CREDIT CARDS Many companies for example, department stores and oil companies issue their own credit cards specifically for use in their outlets or for purchasing their products or services from other outlets. Customers are usually not charged annual fees or finance charges if the balance is paid each month.
Debit cards
A variation on credit cards, and technically not a form of credit, is the debit card. A debit card is an alternative to cash in that its use immediately results in a withdrawal from the customer’s bank account to pay for the product or service purchased. Some financial institutions arrange for extensions of credit for delayed payments on a debit card.
TRADE CREDIT
Firms selling to other businesses may specify terms of sale, such as 2/10. Net 30. This means that the seller is offering a 2 percent discount if the buyer pays within 10 days of the invoice date. Failure to take this discount makes the full amount of the invoice due in 30 days. For example, with these terms, a buyer paying for a $100,000 purchase within 10 days of the invoice date would save 2 percent, or $2,000.
MANAGING THE CREDIT PROCESS
As mentioned previously, many small firms transfer all or part of the credit function to another party. For example, a small repair shop or retail clothing store that accepts VISA or MasterCard is transferring much of the credit risk: in effect, the fee that the business pays the credit card company covers the credit management process. On the other hand, merchants pay for the privilege of this risk transfer. Banks and their business customers are often in conflict over the fees charged. Many small business owners find that the fees cut their profits significantly. A number of small firms want to offer their own credit to their customers, particularly business customers therefore, they need to understand the credit function. Let’s take a look at some of the major considerations in developing and operating a comprehensive credit manag
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