ACCA courses at Private Colleges

SBWife

Now I've never taken any of these classes like to do it on my own and haven't had any problems doing very well without them. But I got a bunch of marketing materials in the mail from them today and all charge EXACTLY the same per course for F4-F9. BPP, Griffith, DBS and Independent Colleges four separate entities all have a base price of €750 for these courses. And for P1-P7 it's the same thing exactly €875 per course at all four institutions.

Isn't there a particular business term that describes this and if I'm thinking of the right practice it's of questionable legality or is it just a hell of a coincidence?

jessup

Those list prices might be the same SBWife but AFAIK all but one of the main ACCA colleges in Dublin are offering various types of discounts; introduce a friend get 50% off your fees, do two subjects and get 75% off your third subject, do three subjects get a free iPad.

Our firm pays for our trainees (so they can 'afford' to be picky) and they nearly all choose to do their subjects in the one college that doesn't have any of those gimmicks.........that should tell you something? "Buy cheap, buy twice"

SBWife

I personally don't buy at all. Pride myself at taking a place or two each session that they can't use for their marketing activities.

Just find it interesting that they come up with the exact same base price without collusion.

jessup

You're a formidable lady to be doing them all by yourself especially when it comes to the P level papers.

If you knew some of the history and bad blood between some of those colleges then trust me, collusion is not a word that would readily jump to mind.

There are other ways to compete other than price, aren't there? And besides, there are significant differences in price when you look at the discounts and special offers etc.

TiGeR KiNgS

SBWife wrote: »

Now I've never taken any of these classes like to do it on my own and haven't had any problems doing very well without them. But I got a bunch of marketing materials in the mail from them today and all charge EXACTLY the same per course for F4-F9. BPP, Griffith, DBS and Independent Colleges four separate entities all have a base price of €750 for these courses. And for P1-P7 it's the same thing exactly €875 per course at all four institutions.

Isn't there a particular business term that describes this and if I'm thinking of the right practice it's of questionable legality or is it just a hell of a coincidence?

1.Cartel
2.Very unlikely because price fixing is highly illegal in market economies, Kapplan are from the US and own DBS so if anything of the sort was found out expect the US to crack down heavy.

SBWife

TiGeR KiNgS wrote: »

1.Cartel
2.Very unlikely because price fixing is highly illegal in market economies, Kapplan are from the US and own DBS so if anything of the sort was found out expect the US to crack down heavy.

Kapplan may be from the US (they actually part of the Washington Post Company) but are routinely under investigation at both State and Federal level in that country for marketing and student loan practices and have been for years. Just because a company is foreign owned doesn't mean that practices are completely kosher.

TiGeR KiNgS

SBWife wrote: »

Kapplan may be from the US (they actually part of the Washington Post Company) but are routinely under investigation at both State and Federal level in that country for marketing and student loan practices and have been for years. Just because a company is foreign owned doesn't mean that practices are completely kosher.

That's not in the same league TBH
Pushing the law to breaking point is one thing,
Blatant price-fixing is another.

SBWife

Like Procter & Gamble and Unilever and Heckler did to their laundry detergent businesses in the EU? Ever wonder why that stuff is so expensive.

jjp123

Probably has a lot more to do with who pays for the courses. A lot of people are supported by work so they don't really have to compete on price.