Prices on your website

[TOM]

I just had to post about this. I will never understand why certain outfitters don't post their daily rate and trophy fee prices on their websites! As a consumer and agent, the first thing i want to see is a price list. As soon as i can't find that or i'm told to "contact for more details" i immediately look elsewhere.

Am i alone in this or does that bother anyone else?

 

[browningbbr]

Tom,

I'm in the same boat. Unfortunately, I'm not rolling in money, so I have to have some idea of price. When I don't see pricing or I see "contact for more details", I assume that I cannot afford to hunt with the outfitter and I move on. Also, if an outfitter is way out of my price range, I don't want to be bothering them.

I'm sure that I am passing up some safari companies that would be in my price range, but since there are many to choose from, I look at the ones that are "up front" with the daily fees and trophy fees.

An exception would be outfitters that have posted hunts, daily rates and trophy fees on AH. Since I have some idea of cost, I would go to the next step and send an email for more information.

Thanks for starting this thread. I thought it was just me that was bothered by this...

- browningbbr

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Yeah I'm with you on this Tom. I will sometimes go ahead and "contact for more details" if I'm really interested. But most of the time I see this as a "If you have to ask you can't afford it" type message, very big turn off for me.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Tom,
From a non client point of view , i must agree with you. When I shop online for something, and the price is not there for me to see, I look somewhere else immediately.
But , you've got it spot on. No matter how good and recognised of a merchant you are, price will always play a role

 

[kuduman]

yes i am in the same boat as the others, if they do not advertise a price then i assume that i cannot afford to hunt with this outfitter and i move on.

 

[enysse]

I don't like poorly designed websites, and it irritates me when daily fees, trophy fees, charter flight fees, airport pick up fees, taxidermy drop-off fees...etc. aren't posted. Some owners do that so you have to contact them and they can call you or email you a tailor made package hunt....that way they have a contact list....and send you periodic information about their operation. I like to shop around and not be sales talked...I get plenty of that at work. A good website....should be a great starter for a sales pitch later!!!!

 

[enysse]

Here is a website from a very respectable outfitter...has a beautiful ad in the Nov/Dec. SCI Safari Magazine.....Great outfit but....where are the pricelists etc. ?

Kambako African Safaris - Mozambique, Africa

Sorry, If I offended anyone, it's more than 2 cents.

Great outfit....needs a better website!

 

[enysse]

Want to see a well designed website! Leeukop Safaris

That's what I like to see in a website.

 

[browningbbr]

enysse,

These are two great examples.

Leeukop's website tells you nearly everything.

When I looked at the other one last week, I didn't even save it to my "next hunt" folder. (A very reputable company, but I figured I couldn't afford it...)

- browningbbr

 

[ChrisT]

This is very insightful indeed and thanks Tom for starting this thread.

In spite of listing my Daily Rates on my website I would still get enquiries from folks who would ask: "I am interested in a 10 day hunt for X,Y and Z species... Can you tell me what my safari would cost me?" Well, I thought it was quite simple... multiply the advertised Daily Rates by the number of days you wanted to hunt, add the Trophy Fees for the species you were after and you knew what it would cost... Why ask someone for a quote if all the details were available on the website already?

Then an Outfitter (deceased now after being trampled by an elephant) who ran a very successful Outfit here in the vicinity told me he wasn't advertising his rates on the web - reason being that - "if someone had to ask what it cost to hunt with him he couldn't afford it anyways..."

Well, I removed the section pertaining to Daily Rates from my website and replaced this with something to the effect of: "Daily Rates are determined by the number of clients in the hunting party, the duration and type of hunt, etc. etc. please contact us for further details"

Guess what? The average number of online enquiries I received per month halved! Funny thing was that my Daily Rates were on par with (if not cheaper than) most of the other guys in the business.

Needless to say - my current rates are back up on my site again...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

This is very insightful indeed and thanks Tom for starting this thread.

In spite of listing my Daily Rates on my website I would still get enquiries from folks who would ask: "I am interested in a 10 day hunt for X,Y and Z species... Can you tell me what my safari would cost me?" Well, I thought it was quite simple... multiply the advertised Daily Rates by the number of days you wanted to hunt, add the Trophy Fees for the species you were after and you knew what it would cost... Why ask someone for a quote if all the details were available on the website already?

Then an Outfitter (deceased now after being trampled by an elephant) who ran a very successful Outfit here in the vicinity told me he wasn't advertising his rates on the web - reason being that - "if someone had to ask what it cost to hunt with him he couldn't afford it anyways..."

With all due respect to the deceased, this comes across to me as very arrogant and quite presumptuous. I didn't know this man to say he was actually that way, but for me that is an immediate reason for exclusion from further consideration. The fact is there is a great deal of variation from one outfitter to another especially from country to country. Every rich person I've ever known was also a savvy shopper.

Well, I removed the section pertaining to Daily Rates from my website and replaced this with something to the effect of: "Daily Rates are determined by the number of clients in the hunting party, the duration and type of hunt, etc. etc. please contact us for further details"

Guess what? The average number of online enquiries I received per month halved! Funny thing was that my Daily Rates were on par with (if not cheaper than) most of the other guys in the business.

Needless to say - my current rates are back up on my site again...

I think part of the reason that some feel the way they do here is that other guided hunts outside Africa tend to be for one or maybe two species. For example when considering Alaska, there's a fair amount of species to be hunted, but most show up for one maybe two at a time. As a result, the prices tend to be all encompassing for the entire hunt. So, it's kind of what at least us Americans are used to seeing.

For me, I just don't want to be bothered running through all the nickels and dimes to arrive at the final cost. Establishing that for me saves me time and also garners my trust.

 

[jeff]

One reason I ask how much even if daily rates and trophys are posted is I want to find out any hidden costs like pickup and dropoff, trophy prep, vat and others.

 

[VonJager]

If trophy fees and daily rates are not either in a brochure or their website I decide it is not worth my time. How do I know the prices I am quoted are the same prices that anyone else would get quoted. I think it just says something to be upfront. I have never asked for a quote, but I have asked about packages even when their were published daily rates and trophy fees. You never know what you will come across when hunting, so how can you have a complete upfront price and stick to it, if you never connect with the kudu, but a bushbuck comes out at 100 yards and just stares at you?

We try to make hunts personal, and about camaraderie, but in the end it is a financial transaction, and most hunters can not write checks for any amount. Unless you have many repeat hunters, and/or a waiting list, prices are a must.

 

[ChrisT]

I think part of the reason that some feel the way they do here is that other guided hunts outside Africa tend to be for one or maybe two species. For example when considering Alaska, there's a fair amount of species to be hunted, but most show up for one maybe two at a time. As a result, the prices tend to be all encompassing for the entire hunt. So, it's kind of what at least us Americans are used to seeing.

For me, I just don't want to be bothered running through all the nickels and dimes to arrive at the final cost. Establishing that for me saves me time and also garners my trust.

Good point Phoenix and I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[steve.pitts]

When I was searching for my plain games hunt this past year and when I ran across outfitter sites that requested contact for pricing I passed up immediately. I go on the theory if I have to ask then more than likely I can't afford it anyway. - Steve

 

[Scott Spencer]

I believe Phil has it right and that we in the US are use to pricing for a specific animal or animals on a hunt here in North America. As a consumer myself a package offering from the outfitter seems to be the easiest thing to consider. Perhaps once a pkg is selected the hunter can then talk about additional animals or substitution of animals in the package and the cost to do that.

Price the packages as all inclusive of everything but taxidermy, tips, and transportation. That way everyone can reduce the running through nickels and dimes to figure out how much it will actually cost them.

 

[NUys]

Hi Enysse,

Thank you for the compliment!

 

[superwavedash]

I for one agree! When I come across a website that does not list the prices, I simply press back and look for the next. I really like it when the prices for everything, especially animals, are listed. As buyers, it is our right to know everything.

 

[Frederik]

Prices are very important there is only a very small amount of people who can afford to go no matter what the price is and with the current ecomomic market its needed as most everyone is on a shoestring budget and needs to know what the cost will be from a-z.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Hey Guys I'm in the same boat my hunts are based on what I can save for and not always what I would like to hunt for. When I see websites that states price on request I move on to the next one it takes me back to what a friend once said "if you have to ask then you can't afford it". Bob