Interesting Google Ad...

[Steve the DJ]

I noticed the following ad a few times come up on the Google rotation wotsit at the bottom of the forum:

6133

Naturally being a Surrey DJ myself, one of the most affluent areas of the UK (not the bit I live in though... :D ), I did wonder how anyone could offer a decent DJ service for £149?

So being the nosey bugger that I am I clicked on the link and asked for a quote on a Wedding for next year.

The quote came back at just shy of £370 inc VAT, much closer to what most companies in the area are charging.

What accompanied the quote was a complex Excel spreadsheet that allowed you to add in extras and explained some of their pricing in more detail. Here it explained that the starting price of £149 was for the DJ and, well, that's it!

The company would like a further £250 for him to bring any equipment or music...:eek:

So, is the ad fair and has it done what it is meant to do (i.e. generate an enquiry), even if the actual quote is far higher than the lead in price?

Or is it a dodgy piece of marketing that further devalues our business?

Personally I wouldn't book with this company because as a potential client I feel I have been mislead, but would you book with them if you liked everything else about them?

[Pe7e]

So, is the ad fair and has it done what it is meant to do (i.e. generate an enquiry), even if the actual quote is far higher than the lead in price?

Or is it a dodgy piece of marketing that further devalues our business?

Personally I wouldn't book with this company because as a potential client I feel I have been mislead, but would you book with them if you liked everything else about them?

The ad says 'DJ hire - £149' and that's exactly what was on offer for £149, where's the deception in that? If the ad stated 'wedding disco - £149' and you got a quote back for £370, then you have been misled.

[discomobiledj]

Surely that contravening the Misdescriptions Act as it says DJ & Disco Hire.

So although the title is actually correct the body text is competely wrong.

[CRAZY K]

The ad says 'DJ hire - £149' and that's exactly what was on offer for £149, where's the deception in that? If the ad stated 'wedding disco - £149' and you got a quote back for £370, then you have been misled.

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS.

Its a con.

Its not the way proper professionals operate.

CRAZY K

[Steve the DJ]

The ad says 'DJ hire - £149' and that's exactly what was on offer for £149, where's the deception in that? If the ad stated 'wedding disco - £149' and you got a quote back for £370, then you have been misled.

I'm sure you could argue that it offers exactly what it says on the tin, but...



Its not the way proper professionals operate.


...I agree with this sentiment.


Surely that contravening the Misdescriptions Act as it says DJ & Disco Hire.

So although the title is actually correct the body text is competely wrong.

Possibly.

I'm not going to report them or anything, hence why I removed the company name, I was just interested if people thought it was a good marketing or a bit of an "own goal".

I think the latter.

[OllieJames]

Surely if the ad said:

"DJ Hire from £149" then you could expect a quote back for £370?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If I clicked on an ad like that and the quote ended up almost double, I wouldn't use the company out of principle.

[Steve the DJ]

If I clicked on an ad like that and the quote ended up almost double, I wouldn't use the company out of principle.

Nor would I, which is why I think they are shooting themselves in the foot!

I bet they are getting decent click through (at a cost) but how many people will actually book when every customer will get a quote of at least double what they may expect?

[Excalibur]

I'm expecting cost conscious punters simply going for the £149 option. ;) DJ turns up with a heap of cards with song titles on, and holds them up as required. :D


If I clicked on an ad like that and the quote ended up almost double, I wouldn't use the company out of principle.

Hmmm. How many people on here quote a price, and then add surcharges? Same thing, surely? Uplighting? Rob's extra lighting?

[rob1963]

Hmmm. How many people on here quote a price, and then add surcharges? Same thing, surely? Uplighting? Rob's extra lighting?

I'm pretty sure that most people here have more chargable extras or add ons than myself!

[Excalibur]

I'm pretty sure that most people here have more chargable extras or add ons than myself!

Or even chargeable ones. :p :D :D Seriously Rob, that's exactly my point. I just used you for comic effect, as per. :o :o :o

[rob1963]

Nothing changes!

:D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm expecting cost conscious punters simply going for the £149 option. ;) DJ turns up with a heap of cards with song titles on, and holds them up as required. :D



Hmmm. How many people on here quote a price, and then add surcharges? Same thing, surely? Uplighting? Rob's extra lighting?

Uplighting isn't a surcharge - it's a completely different service.

If I don't know the details of a venue or times etc, I quote the client with 'prices from' and then go on to explain the final price will depend on length of gig, access, venue, size of show etc etc

That is a big difference.

[Steve the DJ]

Hmmm. How many people on here quote a price, and then add surcharges? Same thing, surely? Uplighting? Rob's extra lighting?

I think there is a world of difference between quoting a price for a (complete) disco and then adding on extra services and quoting a price which appears to be for a disco but in reality is missing some vital components, i.e. sound, lights and music!

[rob1963]

I think there is a world of difference between quoting a price for a (complete) disco and then adding on extra services and quoting a price which appears to be for a disco but in reality is missing some vital components, i.e. sound, lights and music!

I agree.

After all, you wouldn't advertise a car for sale, then tell them it would be an extra £xxx if they wanted an engine in it, and an extra £xxx if they wanted wheels on it!

[Excalibur]

Uplighting isn't a surcharge - it's a completely different service.

If I don't know the details of a venue or times etc, I quote the client with 'prices from' and then go on to explain the final price will depend on length of gig, access, venue, size of show etc etc

That is a big difference.

Not in my book. Uplighting was the first thing which came to mind. I keep seeing the phrase "Upsell" being used on here. Quoting one price, then offering options which cost more. I'm not saying what's right, wrong, or morally indefensible, just saying what I see.


I think there is a world of difference between quoting a price for a (complete) disco and then adding on extra services and quoting a price which appears to be for a disco but in reality is missing some vital components, i.e. sound, lights and music!

Like me quoting to build a fence for a customer, and tellimg them the timber's optional? :D :D :D Seriously, there are plenty of adverts which quote a price for something, and then tell you that something else which plays a vital part in its operation is an optional extra. When I find one, I'll post it. The advert does indeed only offer DJ hire at that price. I may think it's silly, cheeky, misleading and counter productive, but it's literally and semantically correct in my opinion. ( Which is more than can be said for some posts on here. :( )


I agree.

After all, you wouldn't advertise a car for sale, then tell them it would be an extra £xxx if they wanted an engine in it, and an extra £xxx if they wanted wheels on it!
But Rob, there's a BIG price difference between the 1.1 petrol, and the 3.0 litre V8.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Not in my book. Uplighting was the first thing which came to mind. I keep seeing the phrase "Upsell" being used on here. Quoting one price, then offering options which cost more. I'm not saying what's right, wrong, or morally indefensible, just saying what I see.


Uplighting is a separate service Peter. I can supply uplighting without supplying a DJ or disco. I also supply dance floors which is a separate service. I pay a person to set the uplighting up and don't do it myself.

[A1DL]

Surely, the key point is what joe public's general expectation is, i.e. what is custom in practice when looking for a mobile disco or mobile dj.

The example in question is, IMHO, rather like advertising driving lessons and charging more if you want the car to take the lessons in!

[Excalibur]

Uplighting is a separate service Peter. I can supply uplighting without supplying a DJ or disco. I also supply dance floors which is a separate service. I pay a person to set the uplighting up and don't do it myself.

OK, OK. :whiteflag:

I totally accept that Darren, and my choice of example was appalling. :o :o :o ( Except the bit about Rob, that holds water. :D :D )

Darren, I also accept that you would include the word "from" in your dealings, which these lads do not. I maintain that you're both doing exactly the same thing, you're just being open and transparent about it, which is no less than I would expect.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

OK, OK. :whiteflag:

I totally accept that Darren, and my choice of example was appalling. :o :o :o ( Except the bit about Rob, that holds water. :D :D )


:D


If I did it all myself then I'd probably agree that it was an add on or upselling, but the point is Lee took 2.5 hours to set it up on Friday for a wedding on Saturday and another 30 minutes to take it down and I pay him accordingly.

[Pe7e]

I'm not going to report them or anything, hence why I removed the company name, I was just interested if people thought it was a good marketing or a bit of an "own goal".


I think the ad is open to be interpreted in different ways, and that is poor marketing and very much an own goal. Google pay for clicks are expensive and any ads which don't make it clear whats on offer are a waste of money, the only winner in this scenario is Mr google

[Pe7e]

Surely, the key point is what joe public's general expectation is, i.e. what is custom in practice when looking for a mobile disco or mobile dj.

The example in question is, IMHO, rather like advertising driving lessons and charging more if you want the car to take the lessons in!

I see where you are coming from, but how would you suggest a 'walk in' DJ advertise his services? I know several who work in this way, playing on installed kit in function rooms and clubs, and hiring equipment (from me) when needed, they're a lot of DJs working out there, without their own kit

[Danno13]

When you charge £300+ then why would you want to waste your time with people looking for a £150 DJ? Seems like an expensive way to attract plenty of people who aren't your clients!

[DJ Jules]

When you charge £300+ then why would you want to waste your time with people looking for a £150 DJ? Seems like an expensive way to attract plenty of people who aren't your clients!

I was just thinking that - a lot of people start out with a budget in mind, by advertising a misleading starting price you're attracting people who have that level of budget, so when you quote higher, you immediately price yourself out of the gig (from their point of view).

Psychologically, I'd be disappointed to find the a quote come back 150% higher than expected, which would probably put me off using their services.

Julian

[Vectis]

When you charge £300+ then why would you want to waste your time with people looking for a £150 DJ? Seems like an expensive way to attract plenty of people who aren't your clients!

:agree: absolutely.

Someone in the market for a £10k small hatchback might be tempted to stretch to £12k if the dearer car had some compelling features but there's no way on earth they're going to go for a £25k super-saloon :confused:

If we were talking £149 -> £175 then maybe this tactic would work.

What a :Censored: :o


Personally I advertise "From" prices but these baselines are for a 4-hour inclusive evening gig out of high season and with no frills - in other words the "From" price is the actual price for 50%+ of the gigs we turn out to.