L6: Setting Prices & Revenue Mgt

1️⃣ Objectives of Pricing Strategies

Revenue and Profit Objectives - Seek profit, cover costs

Patronage and User-Based Objectives - Maximise demand

Build a user base - Stimulate trial and adoption, build market share

2️⃣ Pricing Strategies

Value-based

Competition-based

Cost-based

Traditional

Activity-based Costing

May result in reducing value generated for customers

Relative to costs - problems arise when end cost is too high b/c of fixed costs and overhead

More accurate to allocate indirect costs based on resource needed to perform each service/activity

Set price higher than costs allow achieving desire profit BUT in reality, set price lower than costs

ABC approach is more complex

Firm increases perceived value with added benefits to the core service

Managing perception of value:

Net Value = Perceived Benefits - Perceived Costs

Relate price to value perceived by customer

Reduce non-monetary costs

Reduce related-monetary costs

Need effective comm. and personal explanations to explain value

Physical costs

Psychological

Time-costs

Sensory costs

Create competitive advantage by reducing monetary and non-monetary costs

Minimise unwanted psychological costs

Eliminate unwanted physical costs

Reduce purchase, delivery and consumption patterns

Decrease unpleasant sensory costs

Suggest ways for customers to reduce other monetary costs

Non price-related costs of using competing alternatives are high

Personal relationships matter

When Price Competition is Reduced

Switching costs are high e.g. compensation with contracts, transfer fees

Don't compete $ to $, examine all financial and non-monetary costs

3️⃣ Rate Fences

Types of Fences

Help companies to restrict lower prices to customers willing to accept certain restrictions on their purchases and consumption patterns

Allow customers to self-segment on the basis of service characteristics and customers' willingness to pay

Non-physical fences: Differences in consumption, transaction, or buyer characteristics, but the service is basically the same e.g. cheaper to book the same plane ticket 3-6 months ahead

Physical fences: tangible product differences related to the different prices e.g. seat location in the cinema

Categories of Fences

Physical (product related)

Amenities - airport transfer, complimentary breakfast

Service level - priority queue e.g. check-in, special airport lounge

Basic product - class of travel, hotel room type, cinema seat location

Non-physical

Consumption-based - time/duration of use, location of consumption

Buyer characteristics - group membership, size of customer group, geographic location

Transaction-based - time of booking, location of booking, flexibility of usage