it could be. but i know there are people who will take off right away when the words "mahal" come into play. it could be a way of weeding out those who can't pay at the same time challenging those who can pay.
although i remember when i was 14, circa 1994, i answered back at the perfect pitch person. i told him, "look at me, im young, do you think i can't afford that? but my parents can"
it turned into a short interview and ended with a sweet "balik ka ha".
pero nakakaturn off pa din.
isn't is much easier if they just mention the price? "mahal" is very subjective. for most filipinos, even an RJ or an SX is "mahal". so if the goal is to weed out those who can't pay, and at the same time challenge or entice those who can, I think just saying the price is more effective.
pag sinabing mahal kasi, yung di kaya magbayad diretso walk out na lang, tapos yung kaya naman magbayad maooffend lang, lalo na kasi usually pag tinanong ulit ang price, ang sagot "mahal" pa rin. nakakainsulto at nakakaturnoff. so that's already two kinds of sales down the drain.
compared to just saying the price outright. "sir/maam, 35K po yan." it has the same effect on those who can't afford it. but there will be some of them who might think, "pag-iipunan ko yan, mangungutang ako, makikiride sa credit card" whatever, and that converts an inquiry into a sale. pag sa may kaya naman, he can either just snap it up if it's the right guitar, or even stay in the store for a better or more expensive guitar. that's also an inquiry converted into a sale, plus you gain the respect of both markets.
it's puzzling really, how we treat our music shops like a store in a public market. you're playing the economy at a high level but still think in the same demeaning way.