What are the objectives of pricing policy?

Answer 1

Profit Oriented: Target Return - sometimes the vendor specifies a specific dollar amount or percentage amount that the price will be offered at in order to make a profit which has been calculated for a specific purpose. Usually this amount is part of a larger plan involving several product units in a product line

Profit Oriented: Maximize Profits - if the Competitive Market is not intense you may charge the highest price the market will bear because sometimes you may have an advantage for reasons based on

your geographic advantage

special features not available on other competitors' products

very very famous brand.

etc..

Sales / Marketing Oriented: Increase Sales Volume

Sales / Marketing Oriented: Increase Market Share

Status Quo Goals: Just Meet the Competition - if the customer has many choices, and you barely have the resources to stay in the market, then just charge the same price. You don't have the resources to survive a price war, and you don't have the ability to claim better quality to charge a higher price

Prof. Allen says

"Volume objectives include sales maximization and market-share goals, which are specified as a percentage of certain markets. In sales maximization, management sets an acceptable level of profitability and then tries to maximize sales. This objective can lead to discounting or some other aggressive pricing strategy, such as rebates and sales. "

Answer 2

Objectives of the Price Policy The following objectives are to be considered while fixing the prices of the product.

1. Profit maximization in the short term The primary objective of the firm is to maximize its profits. Pricing policy as an instrument to achieve this objective should be formulated in such a way as to maximize the sales revenue and profit. Maximum profit refers to the highest possible of profit. In the short run, a firm not only should be able to recover its total costs, but also should get excess revenue over costs. This will build the morale of the firm and instill the spirit of confidence in its operations. It may exploit wide opportunities in the beginning. But it may prove fatal in the long run. It may lose its customers and business in the market. Alternatively, it may adopt penetration pricing policy i.e., charging a relatively lower price in the latter stages in the long run so as to attract more customers and capture the market.

2. Profit optimization in the long run The traditional profit maximization hypothesis may not prove beneficial in the long run. With the sole motive of profit making a firm may resort to several kinds of unethical practices like charging exorbitant prices, follow Monopoly Trade Practices (MTP), Restrictive Trade Practices (RTP) and Unfair Trade Practices (UTP) etc. This may lead to opposition from the people. In order to over come these evils, a firm instead of profit maximization, aims at profit optimization. Optimum profit refers to the most ideal or desirable level of profit.Hence, earning the most reasonable or optimum profit has become a part and parcel of a sound pricing policy of a firm in recent years.

3. Price Stabilization Price stabilization over a period of time is another objective. The prices as far as possible should not fluctuate too often. Price instability creates uncertain atmosphere in business circles. Sales plan becomes difficult under such circumstances. Hence, price stability is one of the pre requisite conditions for steady and persistent growth of a firm. A stable price policy only can win the confidence of customers and may add to the good will of the concern. It builds up the reputation and image of the firm.

4. Facing competitive situation One of the objectives of the pricing policy is to face the competitive situations in the market. In many cases, this policy has been merely influenced by the market share psychology. Wherever companies are aware of specific competitive products, they try to match the prices of their products with those of their rivals to expand the volume of their business. Most of the firms are not merely interested in meeting competition but are keen to prevent it. Hence, a firm is always busy with its counter business strategy.

5. Maintenance of market share Market share refers to the share of a firm's sales of a particular product in the total sales of all firms in the market. The economic strength and success of a firm is measured in terms of its market share. In a competitive world, each firm makes a successful attempt to expand its market share. If it is impossible, it has to maintain its existing market share. Any decline in market share is a symptom of the poor performance of a firm. Hence, the pricing policy has to assist a firm to maintain its market share at any cost.

6. Capturing the Market Another objective in recent years is to capture the market, dominate the market, command and control the market in the long run. In order to achieve this goal, sometimes the firm fixes a lower price for its product and at other times even it may sell at a loss in the short term. It may prove beneficial in the long run. Such a pricing is generally followed in price sensitive markets.

7. Entry into new markets. Apart from growth, market share expansion, diversification in its activities a firm makes a special attempt to enter into new markets. Entry into new markets speaks about the successful story of the firm. Consequently, it has to bear the pioneering and subsequent risks and uncertainties. The price set by a firm has to be so attractive that the buyers in other markets have to switch on to the products of the candidate firm.

8. Deeper penetration of the market The pricing policy has to be designed in such a manner that a firm can make inroads into the market with minimum difficulties. Deeper penetration is the first step in the direction of capturing and dominating the market in the latter stages.

9. Achieving a target return A predetermined target return on capital investment and sales turnover is another long run pricing objective of a firm. The targets are set according to the position of individual firm. Hence, prices of the products are so calculated as to earn the target return on cost of production, sales and capital investment. Different target returns may be fixed for different products or brands or markets but such returns should be related to a single overall rate of return target.

10. Target profit on the entire product line irrespective of profit level of individual products. The price set by a firm should increase the sale of all the products rather than yield a profit on one product only. A rational pricing policy should always keep in view the entire product line and maximum total sales revenue from the sale of all products. A product line may be defined as a group of products which have similar physical features and perform generally similar functions. In a product line, a few products are regarded as less profit earning products and others are considered as more profit earning. Hence, a proper balance in pricing is required.

11. Long run welfare of the firm A firm has multiple objectives. They are laid down on the basis of past experience and future expectations. Simultaneous achievement of all objectives are necessary for the over all growth of a firm. Objective of the pricing policy has to be designed in such a way as to fulfill the long run interests of the firm keeping internal conditions and external environment in mind.

12.Ability to pay Pricing decisions are sometimes taken on the basis of the ability to pay of the customers, i.e., higher price can be charged to those who can afford to pay. Such a policy is generally followed by those people who supply different types of services to their customers.

13. Ethical Pricing Basically, pricing policy should be based on certain ethical principles. Business without ethics is a sin. While setting the prices, some moral standards are to be followed. Although profit is one of the most important objectives, a firm cannot earn it in a moral vacuum. Instead of squeezing customer, a firm has to charge moderate prices for its products. The pricing policy has to secure reasonable amount of profits to a firm to preserve the interests of the community and promote its welfare.