Effort: Low
What to notice
Clarify needs and budget before viewing the seller’s reference price.
Where it fits
- Fits
- People comparing quotes or plans
- Use it when
- Clarifying requirements helps the user.
- Avoid it when
- Asking for a budget adds a substantial burden.
How to build it
- Offer optional inputs for quantity, required features and budget.
- Retain that reference alongside a comparable quote.
- Allow edits and let users browse without completing the inputs.
Measure
- Main metric
- Rate reaching a suitable option
- Guardrail
- Input abandonment and budget overruns
- How to measure
- Compare suitability and input effort with and without the step; time spent alone is not success.
When it backfires
Do not prefill a budget designed to steer users toward a selling price.
Alternatives
Theory behind it
Anchoring
An earlier number can influence a later numerical judgment.
Contested
Reference points and prospect theory
The same outcome can feel different depending on the reference point used to judge gains and losses.
Theoretical model
Confidence calibration
Treat reported confidence and actual correctness as different information.
Limited evidence
Evidence limits: A design hypothesis informed by anchoring; asking for a personal reference first is unvalidated here.