Pricing feels morally wrong :(

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Tania Ford — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 10:31:25 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]

Ooh-er... careful what you say on here talchi - perhaps remove this post and do it as an Anonymous one?

That said - sounds horrible. Yes, go elsewhere!

[/quote]

Yes couldnt agree more Ali. This site is good for forums like this, just to air some of your grievances sometimes, but remember, the veterinary world is very small, and any comments under your own account could come and bite you on the bum! Defo re post as anon if possible.

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Jan Harris — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:20:35 GMT

I jacked a job in because of this. When they charged an OAP £22 for eleven 5mg Prednisolone I knew it wasn't the place for me. Never regretted leaving. There has to be a shred of humility even if you need binoculars on backwards to find it!

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 15:38:38 GMT

Ooh-er... careful what you say on here talchi - perhaps remove this post and do it as an Anonymous one?

That said - sounds horrible. Yes, go elsewhere!

Ali h

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

talchi — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:17:31 GMT

hey! up until two days ago i was at a small independant practice in cornwall. our prices are ASTRONOMICAL! like you, i agree money needs to be made. HOWEVER... we put a 100%markup on routine meds, and 200% on emergency drugs! the vs also will adv a urine test at £20,then change her mind but still charge them for it! the other day she charged an elderly owner for a cysto, despite the cat using the katkor! i took the plunge to hand my notice in, and havefound another practice, as i cant stand all the other crap that was developing at my practice. i was badly bullied by the vet, who is also the practice manager and she is the owner and director also, because i stoid up for whats right. she charges people who cant afford it normal price, but if you send your son to the same school as her son, which costs 11000 a term, and drive a brand new range rover etc, she wont charge you a consultation and will let you have discounted drugs.... it really made me notwant to do this job anymore! maybe look for somewhere else to go,? x

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Selena Carnell — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:09:03 GMT

Our primary consult is around £38, a PTS appointment is usually booked as a double @30mins, Factor in any sedation, drugs for Euthanasia plus sundries and that sounds reasonable to be honest. What shocks me in the profession is the mark up that is put on some of the drugs, then if you compare it to the price that some of the corporates can get it in at, we just cannot compete with their prices.

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

ashbee91 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 19:35:52 GMT

My only concern with this is that the larger the price difference between treatment and euthanasia the more likely the client will go with the latter option :/

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 14:07:44 GMT

All really good points. Agree also that many of us HAVE seen pricing policies that are downright unfair and you have to make your own decisions on that one regarding whether to sit down and have a chat or just move on.

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

jojofruits — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:43:12 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]

jojofruits - as ever - am in complete agreement with ya, blossom! #sensibleadvice #realisticoptions and, importantly, YES #weareworthit

[/quote]

D'awwww. thanks love!

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Robyn — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:10:51 GMT

I definitely see where OP is coming from, especially on euthanasia. Obviously it takes a lot of resources, but euth in particular is something I feel should be offered more cheaply. It's a tough enough time without worrying whether you can actually afford it, and especially when it's being offered as an alternative to treatment when funds are limited.

As for regular pricing...it is tough, and I think everyone needs to find a way to justify it to themselves (within reason. Some pricing structures can't be justified). It can help to chat to management about sudden price hikes and find out their reasoning for it - maybe it's worth sitting down with someone and airing your concerns?

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 12:13:39 GMT

jojofruits - as ever - am in complete agreement with ya, blossom! #sensibleadvice #realisticoptions and, importantly, YES #weareworthit

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

jojofruits — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:35:56 GMT

I do think that you really get what you pay for, and this is a good chance to really have a look at what your practice is doing to make the prices really worth it.

In our little practice I know that we are able to stand out on things like dental xrays, having 24 hour hospitals that are local and linked, having access to specialists, even having good parking! and people will pay what you are worth.

I also think that the staff should be looked after, good salaries and benefits and something has to pay for that too!

I have my hair cut at a very expensive place, but I go because they really listen, they always run on time, they are conveniently placed, they give me a GREAT haircut everytime without fail, I can book online, and I get a glass of fizz.. and I'm worth it!

I have worked in a charity that provided low cost veterinary treatment to people who couldn't afford vets fees, and people still complained about money.

Pets are not a necessity and the cost of paying for them, whatever price bracket vet they choose to visit, lays on the owner, not the veterinary practice. I suppose its up to you which type of veterinary practice you would prefer to work in? ( assuming the veterinary standards are reflected in the pricing)

hope that helps?

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Sal the 1st — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:19:38 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

Laughed out loud, that was what 'Which' magazine said it costed to get a plumber to fix a leaky ball valve in 2012. Me? I fix my own leaky ball valves!

[/quote]

me too - ball valves a piece of cake - doughnut washers however a whole new ball game and needed a plumber. It was kind of satisfying to repeat the exact words he said about our prices (he is a client) back to him when I handed over my hard earned 'by 'ell you know how to charge'

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:07:11 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]Arlo your plumber was a snip at the price[/quote]

Laughed out loud, that was what 'Which' magazine said it costed to get a plumber to fix a leaky ball valve in 2012. Me? I fix my own leaky ball valves!

[quote user="James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN"]It is out of your control so don't lose sleep over it - remember that your clients are free to shop around, there is a limit on how much the practice can charge for services before the clients will decide to go elsewhere so it's self-limiting in that sense. [/quote]

That I could not agree more with. Got to remember that people have a choice, and yes ...

[quote user="James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN"]If your practice and the staff and services stand out from the crowd in terms of being well-educated, well-spoken, well-presented and friendly, the clients are happy to pay - I would be! [/quote]

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Sal the 1st — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 07:57:54 GMT

I agree with James - absolutely nothing you can do about it so your choices are stick with it and give the clients the best you can or look for another practice. I have been through take overs a number of times and sometimes it takes a bit of time to adjust to new ways of thinking. Clients aren't daft and for many their loyalty will be determined by their bank balance.

Having worked for a few corporates now I am convinced that some of the big boys hike their prices to shed some of the poorer clients, who then end up with some of the smaller stand alone practices. ie one practice I worked at was taken over by a corporate - it was in quite a poor area. Cascade didnt exist at that time and we used to use quite a bit of amoxycillin or ampicillin and generic heart meds - these were pence and allowed people with limited funds to treat their animals. Along comes Mr corporate and makes the rule no more ampicillin or amoxycillin you have to use synulox in all cases instead. Synulox was priced something like 50p a tablet which lost us a huge number of clients to neighbouring independents but Mr corporate didnt mind too much because 'there was no money in them anyway and it would keep the independents busy seeing them and leave them with less time to make mischief'. A few of the vets that had worked with the practice prior to take over left over this but Mr corporate wasn't unduly upset as they could be replaced with others more in tune with his way of thinking.

Arlo your plumber was a snip at the price - they would charge that and more just to come out round here

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:56:26 GMT

It is out of your control so don't lose sleep over it - remember that your clients are free to shop around, there is a limit on how much the practice can charge for services before the clients will decide to go elsewhere so it's self-limiting in that sense. What IS in your control is ensuring that your clients get value for the money they spend. If your practice and the staff and services stand out from the crowd in terms of being well-educated, well-spoken, well-presented and friendly, the clients are happy to pay - I would be!

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

WelshyNurse — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:42:12 GMT

I’m in Wales, and that’s nearly double what we charge so does seem a lot to me.

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

steph fursland — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:09:18 GMT

If your consults are £40ish then I think £85 for a euthansia does work out about right - most PTSs will be given a double appointment, and often a nurse will need to be available as well as the vet, so it takes quite a bit more staff time than other appointments would.

RE: Pricing feels morally wrong :(

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:32:32 GMT

[quote user="VetNurse Anon a/c"]Does this sound reasonable to you guys? Our consult price has gone over the 40 pound mark also..[/quote]

Well, given it was £63 to get a plumber to fix a leaky ball valve in a toilet cistern in 2012, £40 seems like a steal to me.

I hope others will come and give an opinion here, but in general, I think the bigger problem in the veterinary profession is one of under-charging.

But at the same time, there is a real conflict (I think) between commercial pressures and what I think most people think means to be a vet or veterinary nurse, so I completely understand your unease.

How much staff time does it usually take to PTS a dog? Not just vet (and nurse?) but receptionist and back office? Cost of drugs and any other materials (I don't work in practice, so I don't know)?