
Penetration pricing is a strategy used by a firm who wishes to enter a new market and gain a high market share through selling at a low price. The aim of penetration pricing is to attract a loyal customer base through offering the most competitive price in the market and undercutting rivals and well-known brands.
When would a company use penetration pricing?
Penetration pricing is a marketing strategy used by businesses to attract customers to a new product or service by offering a lower price during its initial offering. The lower price helps a new product or service penetrate the market and attract customers away from competitors.
When would a penetration pricing strategy be used by a firm quizlet?
also called market penetration pricing; a strategy of pricing lower than the competition, used often when there is a market share objective. It is often used when the demand is elastic and there is a lot of price sensitivity. You just studied 62 terms!
What is the purpose of a market penetration pricing strategy?
Penetration pricing attempts to disrupt an established market by introducing a new product or service at a lower price to entice new customers to purchase or subscribe to a service. This strategy helps a company capture the attention of buyers in the target space and build a customer base quickly.
What is penetration pricing strategy please give an example?
What is Penetration Pricing? Penetration pricing is a pricing strategy that is used to quickly gain market share by setting an initially low price to entice customers to purchase. This pricing strategy is generally used by new entrants into a market.
When a company uses penetration pricing it tends to set an initial price?
Penetration pricing involves setting a low initial price on a new product to appeal immediately to the mass market—the opposite of skimming pricing. 2.
What is advantage of penetration pricing Brainly?
The pricing strategygenerates high sales quantity that allows a firm to realize economies of scale and lower marginal cost.
What are the conditions favoring the use of penetration pricing?
The conditions favoring penetration pricing are the reverse of those supporting skimming pricing: (1) many segments of the market are price sensitive, (2) a low initial price discourages competitors from entering the market, and (3) unit production and marketing cost fall dramatically as production volumes increase.
What are examples of market penetration?
Understanding Market Penetration For example, if there are 300 million people in a country and 65 million of them own cell phones, the market penetration of cell phones would be approximately 22%. In theory, there are still 235 million more potential customers for cell phones, or 78% of the population remains untapped.
Which of the following are reasons that firms implement a market penetration pricing strategy?
Which of the following are reasons that firms implement a market penetration pricing strategy? Sometimes firms selling a pioneering product will set a very low price in order to attract many customers before competitors enter the market.
Why does Netflix use penetration pricing?
Penetration pricing—and an innovative idea—allowed Netflix to build its subscriber base and reach profitability in 2003, five years after opening. The low initial price point let customers test their new service and make the switch.
Why do businesses use market penetration?
A company can use market penetration at the industry level to review the potential for specific products or services or on a smaller scale as a way to gauge the market share of a product or service. It offers insight into how the market and your customers view your product or service.
Which company uses market penetration?
Market penetration requires strong execution in pricing, promotion, and distribution in order to grow market share. Under Armour is a good example of a company that has demonstrated successful market penetration.
What is price skimming and who is it aimed at quizlet?
Market-Skimming Pricing (Price Skimming) Setting a high price for a new product to skim maximum revenues layer by layer from the segments willing to pay the high price; the company makes fewer but more profitable sales.
What is a skimming price strategy?
Skim pricing, also known as price skimming, is a pricing strategy that sets new product prices high and subsequently lowers them as competitors enter the market. Skim pricing is the opposite of penetration pricing, which prices newly launched products low to build a big customer base at the outset.
What is captive product pricing quizlet?
Captive-Product Pricing. Involves products that must be used along with the main product. By-Product Pricing. Refers to products with little or no value produced as a result of the main product. Producers will seek little or no profit other than the cost to cover storage and delivery.
What is the key difference between cost-based pricing and value-based pricing quizlet?
Cost-based pricing is based on the costs of producing, distributing, and selling the product plus a fair rate of return for effort and risk. customer value-based pricing uses buyers' perceptions of value as the key to pricing. You just studied 31 terms!
What is price penetration strategy?
The goal of a price penetration strategy is to entice customers to try a new product and build market share with the hope of keeping the new customers once prices rise back to normal levels. Penetration pricing examples include an online news website offering one month free for a subscription-based service or a bank offering a free checking account for six months.
What Is Penetration Pricing?
Penetration pricing is a marketing strategy used by businesses to attract customers to a new product or service by offering a lower price during its initial offering. The lower price helps a new product or service penetrate the market and attract customers away from competitors. Market penetration pricing relies on the strategy of using low prices initially to make a wide number of customers aware of a new product.
What is skimming strategy?
Conversely, a skimming strategy involves companies marketing products at high prices with relatively high margins. A skimming strategy works well for innovative or luxury products where early adopters have low price sensitivity and are willing to pay higher prices.
What are the disadvantages of market penetration?
As a result, a major disadvantage to a market penetration pricing strategy is that an increase in sales volume may not lead to an increase in profits if prices must remain low to keep the new customers. If the competition also lowers their prices, the companies might find themselves in a price war, leading to lower prices and lower profits for an extended period of time.
Why is lower price better?
The lower price helps a new product or service penetrate the market and attract customers away from competitors.
Why do small businesses benefit from price skimming?
Small businesses or those in niche markets can benefit from price skimming when their products or services are differentiated from competitors' and when synonymous with quality and a positive brand image.
Can curiosity prompt customers to choose a brand?
However, if the low price is part of an introductory campaign, curiosity may prompt customers to choose the brand initially, but once the price begins to rise to or near the price levels of the competing brand, they may switch back to the competitor.
What is penetration pricing strategy?
A penetration pricing strategy prioritizes market share over profits for a given time period. The goal is to generate demand, rapidly build a customer base, and maximize brand loyalty in a short time.
Why do entrepreneurs use pricing and marketing tactics?
Entrepreneurs use these pricing and marketing tactics to grab the attention of new customers and generate recurring business.
How much did Netflix charge in 2000?
In 2000, Netflix users could rent four movies at a time with no return-by dates for the $15.95 subscription plan. That put rentals at or below $1 per DVD for regular movie-watchers, where Blockbuster charged about $4.99 for a single, three-day rental.
What is predatory pricing?
Predatory pricing: Predatory pricing is illegal in the U.S.
Why is low price tag important?
Fast adoption: A low price tag can help speed up how fast customers will test and accept a product or service. Customers may view the purchase as less risky and be more likely to try it.
What is loss leader pricing?
Loss leader pricing: Loss leader pricing is a slightly different marketing strategy and is illegal in half of U.S. states. Companies sell a product or service at a loss—or narrow margin—to attract more customers.
Why do companies enter the market with a low price?
By entering the market with a low price, businesses aim to attract customers quickly —then gradually raise their price. Many high-profile startups have used this strategy to disrupt industries and become today’s market leaders.
What is penetration pricing?
Penetration pricing is a strategy used by a firm who wishes to enter a new market and gain a high market share through selling at a low price.
Why is setting low prices important?
Setting low prices can be a marketing tool raising brand awareness. A quick way to gain market share and enter a competitive industry. It enables a firm to benefit from economies of scale, which enables lower average costs and a firm to compete. Over time, prices can increase and the firm becomes more profitable.
What happens if demand is elastic?
If demand is elastic a small price cut sees a bigger % increase in demand.
Will inelastic demand increase consumer surplus?
Consumers with inelastic demand will gain large increase in consumer surplus.
Is £1.99 a good profit margin?
The existing brand sells at £1.99 which is a good profit margin, but they have strong brand loyalty. If the firm sells a high quantity, they believe the marginal cost of production is £0.88, therefore, they can sell at £0.89 to try and take some market share from the existing brand.
Is the UK supermarket industry competitive?
The UK supermarket industry is very competitive, for a new rival to enter the market it will need to compete on price. European supermarkets Lidl and Aldi entered the market setting low prices – often lower than main rivals Tesco and Sainsbury’s – this enabled them to gain a growing market share. Amazon prime delivery.
What is penetration pricing?
Penetration pricing is a marketing technique for offering a product or service at a reduced rate to better compete in the industry. It also allows a company to engage new customers who may appreciate a discount. Afterward, a company can either increase the price of the product or service or offer a different version of it at a higher price. Penetration pricing strategies often have a long-term objective to improve a company's status in a chosen industry and retain more customers who may feel inclined to choose a familiar brand in the future.
Why do hotels use penetration pricing?
Hotels companies and other hospitality services use penetration pricing strategies to increase brand awareness and sales. It may be especially helpful for securing long-term customers who travel often and may choose the same service in different locations. This strategy can also help a company promote its varied services, including restaurant options or conference rooms. Here's an example:
Why do internet providers charge a reduced price?
Internet and cable provider companies sometimes offer new customers a reduced price for multiple channels or website access, then slowly increase that price afterward. During that time, they can offer other amenities to supplement the increased cost, including a new phone extension or access to certain digital tools. Penetration pricing can help engage prospective customers who may appreciate a reduced price option so they can sample a company's services and compare between different providers. Here's an example:
How do video game companies use penetration pricing?
Video game companies often use penetration pricing strategies by offering free products that incorporate paid features. Executives can also offer an initial game title at a reduced value, then increase the price for any additional features, like downloadable content (DLCs). Customers may feel more inclined to buy more content from a company if they're already familiar with it. Here's an example of how a video game company can use a penetration pricing strategy:
How does a grocery store use penetration pricing?
Grocery store chains may use a penetration pricing strategy to promote a brand by offering food products at reduced rates. To increase sales, executives can also prioritize popular or high-value products when devising their price plans. This strategy can also allow an organization to promote new products, which might help develop positive relationships between its executives and food distribution partners. Here's an example of how a grocery store chain can use penetration pricing:
What is Price Industries?
A hardware manufacturer called Price Industries promotes a new printer line to companies with office buildings. The executives decide to offer the product for free for a 60-day trial, only charging customers for the cost of installation. As a result, multiple companies try the free trial, then decide to purchase the printer for the full retail price afterward.
What is Brodington's Market?
A grocery store called Brodington's Market offers a membership service that gives customers access to certain discounts for new or popular items. To promote this service, Brodington's executives offer organic fruit options at a discounted price of $2.99 to customers who sign up to be new members while completing their purchase. As a result, the organization increases its customer base and develops strong relationships with the distributors of the organic fruit.
What is a market penetration strategy?
A market penetration strategy is a product market strategy whereby an organization seeks to gain greater dominance in a market in which it already has an offering. A subset of this strategy often focuses on capturing a larger share of an existing market through a process known as market development.
What are the advantages of market penetration?
In general, you want your market penetration to be high. The higher your market penetration the more likely that you have some or all of the following market advantages: 1 You’re an industry or market leader 2 You’re well-established in your industry 3 You can leverage economies of scale 4 You have a stronger pricing position 5 Brand awareness for your business is high 6 You have well-established distribution channels and vendor relationships
What to do if your penetration strategy doesn't support your goals?
If you find that a current penetration strategy doesn’t support your larger goals, it may be wise to back off or reallocate resources until it becomes relevant. Or, it may present an opportunity to adjust your business plan to fit the opportunity you’ve found. But without reviewing it alongside your plan and financials, you’d never know for sure.
What to do if your product is similar to your current offerings?
If this product or service is similar to your current offerings, be sure that you cleanly separate it with pricing and messaging. If it’s a complimentary product, try to find ways to cross-promote, and improve the lifetime value of current customers.
What is market development?
Market development involves the actionable steps you intend to take to expand your attainable market. However, instead of working with customers in your current market, you instead focus on obtaining an underserved, non-buying, or new portion of the market.
Do you need to have the greatest market penetration for your business to be viable?
You have well-established distribution channels and vendor relationships. You don’t necessarily need to have the greatest market penetration for your business to be viable. In fact, when you’re just starting out you’ll likely be starting with a minor portion of the market.
Is market penetration a bubble?
Keep in mind that market penetration should not be conducted in a bubble. Any strategies you develop or steps you take should connect to your broader business strategy and help you reach specific milestones. One way to keep this top of mind is to incorporate a review of your market penetration rate and any ongoing strategies into your monthly plan review.
What is penetration pricing?
That’s where penetration pricing comes in. Penetration pricing introduces customers to a new product at a steep discount, and often at a loss to the merchant. Businesses use this strategy to attract customers to a new product or service to win market share. The expectation with a penetration pricing strategy is that you’ll create brand loyalty and get customers to love your product, increasing their willingness to spend more down the road.
Why are consumers reluctant to switch brands?
In a market heavily driven by consumer trust and brand loyalty , many consumers are reluctant to switch brands or try new products. The barriers to entry in a retail market are very high both due to the heavy competition and demanding consumer base. Retailers need to think outside the box to make waves in the market to catch the attention ...
Does Comcast have penetration pricing?
Television and Internet providers are notorious for their use of penetration pricing — much to the chagrin of consumers who see massive sudden increases in their bills. Comcast/Xfinity, for example, regularly offers low introductory prices such as free or steeply discounted premium channels and low incremental costs of upgrading. Over the past five years, we estimate the firm has increased Internet access market share in the areas it serves from about 56% to 64%, with share coming nearly entirely from the phone companies. While that share shift may seem modest, it implies that Comcast’s customer base in a given area is now more than 60% larger on average than its rivals’, up from around 20%. At the end of a specified period, the price increases. Most consumers continue paying the higher bill, but some jump to a new provider offering an introductory rate.
Is Netflix a penetration pricing platform?
Netflix is the perfect example of penetration pricing done right. We have often heard people complaining about their Netflix subscription prices going up or their one month of free subscription ending. Nevertheless, despite occasional grumbling, people are completely fine with paying the higher subscriptions for the unending flow of good media content. Today, Netflix is a market leader constituting 51% of streaming subscriptions in the United States. Other OTT platforms are following suit by deploying penetration pricing to attract new customers.
Is Android a penetration scheme?
Android aims for greater market penetration with a penetration scheme. Android phones, with Samsung leading the herd, are available at a steep discount or are priced at much lower costs compared to Apple, in the hopes that users will become loyal to the brand. This approach also opens a wider range of consumers up to the Android marketplace, while Apple embraces a skimming strategy, providing high-cost products that skim a small market share off the top.
Do landline providers use penetration pricing?
In a market increasingly dominated by smartphones, providers of landlines may use penetration pricing to get consumers to purchase a landline. Some even bundle these deals alongside cable, internet, and smart phone packages.
What is penetration pricing?
Penetration pricing is used on many new food products, health and beauty supplies, and paper products sold in grocery stores and mass merchandise stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kmart. Another approach companies use when they introduce a new product is everyday low prices.
What is going rate pricing?
Going-rate pricing occurs when buyers pay the same price regardless of where they buy the product or from whom. Going-rate pricing is often used on commodity products such as wheat, gold, or silver. People perceive the individual products in markets such as these to be largely the same. Consequently, there’s a “going” price for the product that all sellers receive.
What is price skimming?
Price skimming is a pricing approach designed to skim that top part of the gravy, or the top of the market. Over time, the price of the product goes down as competitors enter the market and more consumers are willing to purchase the offering.
What is leader pricing?
Leader pricing involves pricing one or more items low to get people into a store. The products with low prices are often on the front page of store ads and “lead” the promotion. For example, prior to Thanksgiving, grocery stores advertise turkeys and cranberry sauce at very low prices. The goal is to get shoppers to buy many more items in addition to the low-priced items. Leader or low prices are legal; however, as you learned earlier, loss leaders, or items priced below cost in an effort to get people into stores, are illegal in many states.
How does prestige pricing work?
Prestige pricing occurs when a higher price is utilized to give an offering a high-quality image. Some stores have a quality image, and people perceive that perhaps the products from those stores are of higher quality. Many times, two different stores carry the same product, but one store prices it higher because of the store’s perceived higher image. Neckties are often priced using a strategy known as price lining, or price levels. In other words, there may be only a few price levels ($25, $50, and $75) for the ties, but a large assortment of them at each level. Movies and music often use price lining. You may see a lot of movies and CDs for $15.99, $9.99, and perhaps $4.99, but you won’t see a lot of different price levels.
What is skimming price strategy?
Since then, the price has dropped considerably even for new models. The same is true for DVD players, LCD televisions, digital cameras, and many high-tech products. As mentioned in Chapter 7 “Developing and Managing Offerings”, a skimming price strategy is when a company sets a high initial price for a product. The idea is to go after consumers who are willing to pay a high price (top of the market) and buy products early. This way, a company recoups its investment in the product faster.
What is odd even pricing?
Odd-even pricing occurs when a company prices a product a few cents or a few dollars below the next dollar amount. For example, instead of being priced $10.00, a product will be priced at $9.99. Likewise, a $20,000 automobile might be priced at $19,998, although the product will cost more once taxes and other fees are added. See Figure 15.4 for an example of odd-even pricing.

Illustration and Example of Penetration Pricing
- A current small-sized player in the marketplace where laundry detergent sells at around $15. Company A is an international company with a large amount of excess production capacity and is, therefore, able to produce laundry detergents at a significantly lower cost. Company A decides t…
Advantages of Penetration Pricing
- High adoption and diffusion: Penetration pricing enables a company to get its product or service quickly accepted and adopted by customers.
- Marketplace dominance: Competitors are typically caught off guard by a penetration pricing strategy and are afforded little time to react. The company is able to utilize the opportunity to switch o...
- High adoption and diffusion: Penetration pricing enables a company to get its product or service quickly accepted and adopted by customers.
- Marketplace dominance: Competitors are typically caught off guard by a penetration pricing strategy and are afforded little time to react. The company is able to utilize the opportunity to switch o...
- Economies of scale: The pricing strategy generates a high sales quantity that enables a firm to realize economies of scale and lower its marginal cost.
- Increased goodwill: Customers that are able to find a bargain in a product or service are likely to return to the firm in the future. In addition, this increased goodwill creates positive word of m...
Disadvantages of Penetration Pricing
- Pricing expectation: When a firm uses a penetration pricing strategy, customers often expect permanently low prices. If prices gradually increase, customers may become dissatisfied and may stop pur...
- Low customer loyalty: Penetration pricing typically attracts bargain huntersor those with low customer loyalty. Said customers are likely to switch to competitors if they find a better deal…
- Pricing expectation: When a firm uses a penetration pricing strategy, customers often expect permanently low prices. If prices gradually increase, customers may become dissatisfied and may stop pur...
- Low customer loyalty: Penetration pricing typically attracts bargain huntersor those with low customer loyalty. Said customers are likely to switch to competitors if they find a better deal. Price...
- Damage brand image: Low prices may affect the brand image, causing customers to perceive the brand as cheap or poor quality.
- Price war: A price penetration strategy may trigger a price war. This decreases overall profitability in the market, and the only companies strong enough to survive a protracted pric…
Related Readings
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Penetration Pricing. To keep learning and advancing your career, the additional CFI resources below will be useful: 1. Beachhead Strategy 2. Market Planning 3. ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) 4. Walmart Marketing Mix