Comments on: TurboTax Raises Prices, Punishes You Lazy Bums

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:47:00 +0000

oops, it increased proportionally with the retail price. it’s now $48.70 for premier. still better than paying retail.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:43:09 +0000

well, you still can get turbotax at a discount. just check your bank, your fund company, etc. i think vanguard had the cheapest for TT premier ($32.45) online.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:38:56 +0000

I agree with saladdin, it’s not a move to reduce load on servers because that’s not even really a concern. It’s identifying the fact that people who are doing it closer to the deadline are feeling the pinch and are less price sensitive.

Either way, all non-free filers (who actually, according to statistics that probably weren’t made up, outnumber paying filers) who waited will pay an extra $5, whoops!

By: saladdin

saladdin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:30:40 +0000

Mike, I don’t think they are trying to get people to stop waiting until the last second but instead they realize that some people will always wait so why not capitialize on it. Would you want to stop people from paying more for your product? Of course not. They have a segment of the market that will always wait until the last moment so why not price accordingly. I don’t think they want to discourage them. If they did all they would have to do is charge 1000% more instead of the 20 or 30% premium. That would catch those last minuters attention and next year they wouldn’t wait so long.

saladdin

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:28:17 +0000

If I were to put on my marketing hat, I’d think that they’re trying to prevent or mitigate the usual April 14th rush that crushes their servers through pricing controls. Free market thinkers should rejoice!

By: saladdin

saladdin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:24:07 +0000

Perfect example of pricing strategy straight from one of my MBA text books.

saladdin

By: Tameika

Tameika — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:46:36 +0000

I think they are all doing. HR Block’s site kicked up the price too. I’ll know better next year. Never put off today, blah, blah! LOL!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:41:13 +0000

I didnt recieve my K-1 until yesturday! I had to put off my taxes this year. Anyway, I don’t mind paying the extra, Its the stupid LLC that I am pissed at.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:39:29 +0000

I do believe it’s gouging, but I don’t blame the company. They’re in business to make a profit, and if you’ve been procrastinating then it sucks to be you and you’ll have to pay an extra $5.

By the way I don’t have any solid data to back this up, but I do think tax preparers raise their prices too, not blatantly in most cases, but they just tell you they have too much on their plate. Desperate clients will then offer extra $ for “rush service”

Not a big deal, if you ask me. People should know better