I was going to book some walking tour, but found that most don't show their prices! Some even expect you to give them credit card information. Why would anyone do that if he didn't know the cost?

Is it simply bad web site design or is there some reason that so many tours refuse to show prices?

I would guess both - they've done all the work (or more likely they paid someone else to) setting up lovely pages describing the product without thinking about the continuing work involved in updating as prices change. Or maybe they've just got a silly design that simply makes some information hard to find.

If they haven't thought things through from the customer's point of view enough to anticipate your entirely reasonable question, what does that say about the standard of customer care on the trip itself?

Non-display of prices are quite widespread in tourism industry. The thinking goes something like this. If you prominently display prices (esp if they're rather high), a lot of people will be put off and don't bother going. If there's no price information, people may decide to come (if the venue/attraction/tour sounds interesting enough). Once they arrive at the venue and then discover the cost, having made the journey already, they are less likely to baulk at the prices and leave without going in. I know it's a bit underhand and doesn't help those trying to budget, but it's a competitive, commercial world out there.

I have seen sites without prices....but I have never seen a site that had no pricing AND asked for credit card info.

It should be obvious, not to give out your CC number in that situation.

Although I don't agree with the practice, I can understand it.

If the price is easy to find right off, many will look at the price and (if it is high) look no further.

They hope that they can get you to look at the details first, building the value of their product in your mind, so that the price will seem fair.

Other companies want you to contact them to learn the price. Again allowing them the opportunity to "sell" what they offer, before you (or as you) get the price.

Keith

If a concern won't reveal its price for goods/services because people will think it is "too high" they are probably right and it probably is and you should probably do business with someone else. You haven't heard of anyone not revealing their prices because people would think they are "too low" have you?

I can understand circumstances when prices aren't shown, such as custom designed itineraries.

But in this situation when they expect you to buy a walking tour (you don't say for how long - a day, week, or if an option during a full itinerary) that is beyond me, especially if they're asking for your CC beforehand.

Send them an email - most sites are a link for this purpose and ask the price. If you don't like what they responde, look elsewhere, but do not give out CC info.

I suppose that I could email, buy why should I go to the trouble of sending out a bunch of email messages just get get basic information? If they want me as a customer, they should make it as easy as possible. Besides, they have already irritated me by making me spend time in the futile search for prices on the site.

You are also right that many supply very little information about their tours. For tours like the Vatican where there is an admission charge, many don't make it clear whether admission is in the tour price, whether you have to buy your tickets on your own, etc.

On the occasions that I have emailed for more information, I generally get back a canned response that is just the same that is on the web site. In other words, it's useless.