Beware of Drip Pricing
There has probably been a time when every online shopper has found a real bargain, but as they go through the buying process they find there are unavoidable fees and charges added.
That is called “drip pricing”- you only discover the real price bit-by-bit, usually pay much more than the advertised price, and often pay more than you realise.
When shopping online you can be easily caught up in the sometimes lengthy and complex booking processes.
Here are some tips to avoid being caught out, and possibly becoming another one of the seller’s “drips”!
1. The most common place for misleading drip pricing practices is when buying online airline, ticketing, car-rental and accommodation services.
2. The cheapest advertised price is not always the cheapest final price, so add all the charges together then compare elsewhere.
3. Don’t be hooked on the deal – be willing to cancel the purchase if it goes above your expected budget.
4. Many online businesses have “pre-selected” items already ticked. Watch for them and untick them if you don’t want them or need them.
5. Always thoroughly check every aspect of the charges before making the final payment. A great tip is to keep a notepad handy and write down all of the items and their true cost as you go through the process.
6. It may be tedious, but make sure you read any fine print in online promotions where you are offered a free or cheap trial. You might find that you have committed to spend hundreds of dollars, which is automatically deducted from your credit card.
That is called “drip pricing”- you only discover the real price bit-by-bit, usually pay much more than the advertised price, and often pay more than you realise.
When shopping online you can be easily caught up in the sometimes lengthy and complex booking processes.
Here are some tips to avoid being caught out, and possibly becoming another one of the seller’s “drips”!
1. The most common place for misleading drip pricing practices is when buying online airline, ticketing, car-rental and accommodation services.
2. The cheapest advertised price is not always the cheapest final price, so add all the charges together then compare elsewhere.
3. Don’t be hooked on the deal – be willing to cancel the purchase if it goes above your expected budget.
4. Many online businesses have “pre-selected” items already ticked. Watch for them and untick them if you don’t want them or need them.
5. Always thoroughly check every aspect of the charges before making the final payment. A great tip is to keep a notepad handy and write down all of the items and their true cost as you go through the process.
6. It may be tedious, but make sure you read any fine print in online promotions where you are offered a free or cheap trial. You might find that you have committed to spend hundreds of dollars, which is automatically deducted from your credit card.
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