MedicAnimal

RE: MedicAnimal

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:25:50 GMT

Not necessarily. I once went to a BVA organised CPD course on dispensing, and one of the things I remember (the topic of the moment was the difference between veterinary licensed and cheaper human products) was that particle size had a huge influence on bio-availability.

Wynne

RE: MedicAnimal

karen jones — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 08:00:17 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="karen jones"]apparently they have no control who the wholesalers sell to once its in their warehouse but they dont give the online pharmacy discount.This is not what the reps have told me before. Im not a big fan of vetplus much too pushy, the keen young rep wants to come back or half an hour of my time to discuss cases to see how I can better use their product[/quote] A little unfair perhaps, VetPlus have some very good products. Although it is true that the wholesaler can give big discounts to the internet pharmacies so theirs may be a bit of an empty promise. The VetPlus lunch and learns can be very useful learning tool for your lay staff and could increase your sales. Surely you're big enough to then decide if you're going to buy their products or not.

[/quote]Plenty big enough to sort out what I stock. I dont like being told one thing and then find out that theyve been obscuring the facts. I am happy for lunch and learn though at moment I am feeling over visited by reps who want my time and to organise lunch and learn. Glucosamine is glucosamine, etc etc.

RE: MedicAnimal

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:06:15 GMT

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:20:10 GMT

Nutravet are the only ones to supply us now!

They don't sell via wholesalers so are not widely available online. It does mean paying a separate invoice but saves the embarrassment of listening to VetPlus spouting on about their support for practices whilst doing nothing to stop at cost or below sales online.

RE: MedicAnimal

karen jones — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 21:33:56 GMT

I had the vetplus rep in last week and asked if they only supplied vets which is what id been told before, then why was synoquin in the online pharmacy? apparently they have no control who the wholesalers sell to once its in their warehouse but they dont give the online pharmacy discount.This is not what the reps have told me before. Im not a big fan of vetplus much too pushy, the keen young rep wants to come back or half an hour of my time to discuss cases to see how I can better use their products and so gain some discounts or the cynic in me thinks improve his bonus,

Think hes going on my black list and will cancel follow up meeting.

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:52:19 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

I might be completely wide of the mark but:-

All the practices I work in write very few prescriptions, a fair percentage are for Advocate as these can be bought cheaper. However is the business model based on sucking in loss leaders onto the sites and then cornering the profitable part of the market? However practices seem quite resilient to this, therefore this business seems to have been burnt by simply losing shed loads of money. In his case are others due to follow?

Maybe in future, there will be a equitable pricing as internet pharmacies simply have to make a profit to satisfy their investors?

Neil

[/quote]

Or in other words - fair competition!

I am not expecting to be able to compete with the internet and we write very few prescriptions but those tend to be filled by this trio of companies. Like Amazon they seem more interested in building up an empire, presumably to rule the world.

Hopefully this empire building will hit a brick wall especially if these companies are not planning to settle their debts with the wholesalers. I know who will be expected to pay the price as the wholesalers make good their losses!

I have to admit my Amazon purchases have dropped to almost nil as they start to hike prices!

RE: MedicAnimal

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:43:40 GMT

I might be completely wide of the mark but:-

Maybe in future, there will be a equitable pricing as internet pharmacies simply have to make a profit to satisfy their investors?

Neil

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:26:35 GMT

Not too worried about cheapskate clients but admit I will take a degree of pleasure in warning clients to pay by credit/debit card instead of PayPal, in case the on-line companies collapse.

I will accept competition that is fair. Buying in bulk will save money but as I see things it has to be veterinary practices that are paying more than needed to subsidise these companies.

The Competitions Commision was meant to open up the market , not distort it to the degree it has been since they interfered!

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:19:47 GMT

If it has gone into "Pre Pack" administration. I hope the wholesalers find themselves well and truly stitched up! Something has gone very wrong when a buying group purchase costs a practice more than an internet seller charges including VAT and delivery!

In time we will probably find out who the new 'owners' really are!

RE: MedicAnimal

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:16:53 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Plenty more of these parasites to go before a fair balance is restored (if it ever is)![/quote]Would that be the moaning cheapskate clients or the on-line retailers then Bob?

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:40:52 GMT

One option is for a company to enter pre Pack administration which I understand allows them to walk away from many debts, be up trading again within days and even sold to people connected to the old company.

Not (of course) suggesting this has happened in this case but pretty impressive to announce a business is calling in the administrator and be up and running within days. Safe and protected by the courts.

If something looks too good to be true it probably is!

It would be nice to see wholesalers treating practices and buying groups with a little more respect than they do at the moment!

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:16:29 GMT

Actually site is back up so perhaps they are still there!

But they have appointed an administrator!!

http://www.retail-week.com/multichannel/online-retail/pet-supermarket-parent-files-notice-of-intention-to-appoint-administrator/5077860.article

RE: MedicAnimal

Bob Russell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:09:09 GMT

Bad news for employees but a shot in the arm for the veterinary profession IMO!

Last week a 'client' got very stroppy because they wanted Advocate. Our price was rather higher than online and they made it clear they thought we were profiteering.

Plenty more of these parasites to go before a fair balance is restored (if it ever is)!

RE: MedicAnimal

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:54:07 GMT

If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is.

Wynne