Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cost Savings or Cost Passing?

Boy, does it pay to do a little research. My recent interest in golf is tempered by only two things - time and money. When I can find the time to play, I like to get the best prices possible (who doesn't?).

I found a web site for golf tee times and it had some of my local courses listed. So I signed up (for free), filled out my profile and looked at some prices. It has a two-tier pricing system where you can pay a higher price to reserve a tee time but pay at the course, or pay a lesser fee and use your credit card online. (Impulse buyer's discount?)

I was ready to take advantage of the lower priced fee and decided to call the course before I clicked the mouse. Their price was a full $5 cheaper than the cheapest online price. Plus, I was told about the 'senior' rate (over 50) which saved me another $4. No mention of the senior rate with the online system. A $9 savings for picking up the phone and making my own reservation.

I completely understand that the reservation web site has to make money, too, and that there has to be some kind of fee to either the golfer to the golf course (or maybe both). But a $5 difference seemed high to me. I'll check around with some other courses and see if this was an exception, or the rule. After all, $9 will buy a modest lunch and a bucket of balls at the driving range.

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