Pricing in different areas

Re: Pricing in different areas

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:49:30 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]I've had doctors trying to persuade me to break the Retail Sale of Medicines Act , so as to save them money-and put both my short-term profit, and long-term livelihood at risk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, my attitude was-"the law is the law, is the law "[/quote]

In what way? A colleague of mine rang the local doctor's practice when she had a Strep throat infection, He asked what have you got, and suggested a dose of amoxycillin,

Re: Pricing in different areas

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:02:45 GMT

I've had doctors trying to persuade me to break the Retail Sale of Medicines Act , so as to save them money-and put both my short-term profit, and long-term livelihood at risk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, my attitude was-"the law is the law, is the law "

Wynne

Re: Pricing in different areas

Rob Loxley — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:33:36 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]Do you think these people ask the same questions when they go to the dentist, or the solicitors'[/quote]

Probably; they've realised that if you ask for a discount you'll often get one, as per their previous experience

Re: Pricing in different areas

J G Wray — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 07:19:47 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]Undeterred she then told me that (in her own words) "but with all your skill and experience" it only takes a few seconds to interpret the results.[/quote]

Old and probably apocryphal story. Salvador Dali was once approached by an admiring tourist whilst in a cafe somewhere like Biarritz.

"Senor Dali" the tourist said "I admire you greatly. Please would you draw me a cartoon on this table napkin?"

Dali obliged and said "That will be a $100"

The tourist protested "But it only took you a few seconds!"

Dali replied " It took me a lifetime and a few seconds - $100."

JGW

Re: Pricing in different areas

Laurence Webb — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:15:41 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Julian Earl"] "can't understand why we are so much more expensive than ....."[/quote]

If I get that comment I look sideways at them, raise one eyebrow and say " Cos I'm better?"

[/quote]Reminds me of a client with a diabetic cat who complained that we were charging her to interpret the glucose curve measurements that she was supposed to be doing at home, despite the fact that we had told her that we would charge in advance and noted it in her records.

Her initial argument was that we were making money from selling her insulin, but I felt obliged to point out that we had provided her with a written prescription for a box of Caninsulin which had lasted her 5 months(we don't do that any more!) . I suggested that £10+VAT in prescription fees for 5 months unlimited telephone support wasn't really a viable business plan .

Undeterred she then told me that (in her own words) "but with all your skill and experience" it only takes a few seconds to interpret the results. I felt it worth reminding her that if she wanted someone with skill and experience then she'd have to pay for it, plus that any telephone call takes more than a few seconds. Presumably a passing stranger in the street would not charge to offer their opinion, but I like to feel that I'm better valued than that.

I only got her to accept that my time was worth paying for when I pointed out that you would expect to be charged for telephone advice from other professionals such as a solicitor and that the amount we were charging was probably less than a lawyer would. She grudgingly accepted this.. after revealing that she was a solicitor.

Re: Pricing in different areas

Charlotte Marshall — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:04:45 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]Do you think these people ask the same questions when they go to the dentist, or the solicitors', or to Tesco's for that matter?[/quote]

I think some of them do try everywhere else as well! We had a client who used to complain in a loud voice at reception about the cost everytime they came in. One day the receptionist was out in town and heard them doing the same thing in a bar!

Re: Pricing in different areas

Julian Earl — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:42:45 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]Tell them it still uses a consultation slot which the prevents you from earning a consultation fee and if it's quick and easy tell them to do it themselves. It takes a couple of minutes and significant training and experience plus the facilities to do it in. Cheeky Basta.... Sorry people

[/quote]

That's exactly what I did tell them - about the consultation slot, that is, not to do it themselves. Their last vet - who is, I believe, the one who did it for six pounds - qualified three years ahead of me from college so the experience retort wouldn't work. They do admit to shopping around in their previous area, using one vet for HD X rays, one for export certificates, another for vaginal smears (cheaper than Premate of course!) and who knows how many others.

When I had quoted our PD fee, and the client had asked whether I was going to reduce it I simply said no. Then, as you do, or as I do anyway, I later thought that I should have said no, just like I wouldn't have asked my architect to reduce his fees for his plans for extending my practice building. Do you think these people ask the same questions when they go to the dentist, or the solicitors', or to Tesco's for that matter? The other clients who heard this conversation were appalled at the attitude, so I haven't lost all faith in human nature. Yet.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

I say - I have 25 years experience! Sorry that excuse only comes with time!!!!

[/quote]

Only twenty five? You whippersnapper.

Re: Pricing in different areas

Bob Russell — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:57:28 GMT

I say - I have 25 years experience! Sorry that excuse only comes with time!!!!

Re: Pricing in different areas

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:21:36 GMT

Evelyn I like it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, undercharging is an enormous problem

Wynne

Re: Pricing in different areas

Mark Holmes — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 07:14:11 GMT

Tell them it still uses a consultation slot which the prevents you from earning a consultation fee and if it's quick and easy tell them to do it themselves. It takes a couple of minutes and significant training and experience plus the facilities to do it in. Cheeky Basta.... Sorry people

Re: Pricing in different areas

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:19:48 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"] "can't understand why we are so much more expensive than ....."[/quote]

If I get that comment I look sideways at them, raise one eyebrow and say " Cos I'm better?"

Re: Pricing in different areas

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:08:00 GMT

We charge around the £90 mark for the hip rads, but they have the sedation fee, microchip [if needed] postage etc on top.

There is no reason they are not bluffing you to drop prices?