Comments on: Four Pillars: Of trains and planes and automobiles…. and the internet http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2006/07/08/four-pillars-of-trains-and-planes-and-automobiles-and-the-internet/ a blog about information Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:37:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lars Plougmann http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2006/07/08/four-pillars-of-trains-and-planes-and-automobiles-and-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2635 Lars Plougmann Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:54:06 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2006/07/08/four-pillars-of-trains-and-planes-and-automobiles-and-the-internet/#comment-2635 How we would all benefit if there was more focus on simple and transparent pricing, both in the consumer and biz to biz markets. Pricing drives market efficiency and incentives but both are warped if the pricing mechanism is unclear or illogical. The rail example is a classic. Budget airlines, internet brokerages, a few telcos and many other disruptive service providers understand that their success is not just dependant on low prices, a simple price structure is important as well. But back to railways... In Britain it is still possible to save money by inquiring about a return ticket when you are travelling one way only: The return ticket is sometimes cheaper. How we would all benefit if there was more focus on simple and transparent pricing, both in the consumer and biz to biz markets. Pricing drives market efficiency and incentives but both are warped if the pricing mechanism is unclear or illogical.

The rail example is a classic. Budget airlines, internet brokerages, a few telcos and many other disruptive service providers understand that their success is not just dependant on low prices, a simple price structure is important as well.

But back to railways… In Britain it is still possible to save money by inquiring about a return ticket when you are travelling one way only: The return ticket is sometimes cheaper.

]]> By: Mitch Ratcliffe http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2006/07/08/four-pillars-of-trains-and-planes-and-automobiles-and-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2468 Mitch Ratcliffe Sun, 09 Jul 2006 09:01:55 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2006/07/08/four-pillars-of-trains-and-planes-and-automobiles-and-the-internet/#comment-2468 An excellent demonstration that for all our progress organizations regress, repeat and learn lessons all over rather than break old models. Unfortunately, this doomed business model, like British Rail before, can buy a lot of influence in government while the rest of us sit on the platform. Not very encouraging. An excellent demonstration that for all our progress organizations regress, repeat and learn lessons all over rather than break old models.

Unfortunately, this doomed business model, like British Rail before, can buy a lot of influence in government while the rest of us sit on the platform. Not very encouraging.

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