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Opaque Pricing

Categories: Company Management

You can't tell what the real price is. "Opaque" = "Not see-through" (that's the technical definition).

Where does opaque pricing come into play in the real world? Eh...lots of places. Like...what you pay for ESPN. You get a $117 bill from Comcast. It has this package and that package listed on it. But all you really wanted was ESPN 7; you like the women's volleyball. (We're not judging.) But you have forced-bundling, in that you have to also buy ESPN 1-6, and then CSPAN, and the network TV in high-def package. And also one super premium like Showtime.

So what'd you pay for Beach Valley Girl Revenge? You have no idea. The pricing was...opaque.

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)