Asking to contact seller before ordering should not be allowed

[jackquack]

I see it often: a seller posts some absurdly low price which makes them appear high in the search results, but then their REAL price is much higher. Fiverr is a marketplace, not an advertising platform of agencies. This is what makes Fiverr special as compared with other websites.

If a seller INSISTS on being contacted first (some may have a good reason for this) then they shouldn't be allowed to have a price. For them there should not be a "continue" button, but only a Contact Seller button. Their ads should not be shown next to other sellers that have a real price. it's not fair to those other sellers that have a real price and it's not fair to buyers to be misled.

[barrisam]

Contact before purchasing is not for price increase. It is actually to discuss the project with the buyer before they actually pay. Most buyers pay for services that are not in line with the description. When the job is cancelled, the seller's stats take a hit. Sellers need to protect themselves. If you contact a seller, and they give a higher price other than what is on their profile, you should leave.

[nick_shipway]

I'd go the other way and say that there should be an option for the buyer to discuss all gigs before taking them on. Some jobs have variable elements that change how long it would take and how much work or cost is involved in a job.