Why do people selling items say things like "Contact for price" ?
Another one is "Contact for details" when the details that are left out are vital to knowing whether the item is of interest or not.
Things like motor size, weight capacity.... I am specifically talking about machine shop tools, but the same question applies to almost any other item being sold.
It might be on Craigslist, or on a company's own website.
It seems like a complete waste of not only the buyer's time, but also the seller's time.

Is there some good reason for this very widespread practice other than getting a "hook" in and making a potential buyer talk with a salesman?

Doing so increases the level of involvement on the part of the buyer and higher involvement typically means they'll accept a higher price

Two things I think.

1. Adds an aura of intrigue to the item in question. Like oooooh this thing must be too cool to talk about. I want it.

2. It's got an issue they would rather sugarcoat on the phone with fancy sale pitch and not spell out to the masses right off the bat.

Hemi Cuda with a clean title tied up in a nasty divorce. House that's awesome but half of it was built sans permits. Haas CNC stolen from Boeing. Things such as.

could be map pricing

Two things that piss me off to no end.
1. Contact for price.
2. Fill out the entire six page form to find out how much the shipping is.

If one of those two pop up - they just lost a sale.

I guess my explanation would be much simpler. People are lazy. Why do you think so many ads lack pictures. Too lazy to learn or too lazy to implement the process. Same goes for written description. Just my 2 cents.

Lots of times things can be sold at prices lower than MSRP and if advertised they get vendors in trouble.

Other times its a product that the market/price changes daily and it doesnt make sense to update an ad/website daily.

How did people sell Items back when there was no internet for pictures......they went and looked at it....talk about lazy.....I think the internet makes people lazy

I'd go with "efficient" over "lazy."

^^^^

As he posts from his phone

When I post an ad for something that I feel needs NO pics. I get tons of "Can I get pics?" those people will waste your time sending pics then you will never hear from them again. Or they will offer you $30 for an item you have listed for $100.

1. come look before beating me up on price. 2. only ask for more pics if you are serious or have legit concerns.


Most times, I respond with, "got pics of the money?"

In the 90's a new Asian market opened up in Bellevue.
Nothing had a price on it.
I figured you had to haggle at the counter.