Of course this is a subject that seems to light a fire under those of us in the veterinary industry. Here is my take on it. At our practice we tried to become educated about online pharmacies. We talked to our drug reps and we did some research. It is our understanding that the manner in which the pharmacies obtain these meds isn't always on the up and up. We often get letters offering to buy large quantities of heartworm preventatives from us. Right there makes me think that if the online pharmacies are so legitimate and upstanding then why don't they buy the product themselves...or better yet why won't the manufacturers sell them the product? We don't match pricing. We just do our best to keep our mark up as low and affordable as we can for things like flea and heartworm preventions. We educate our clients why they should not buy from online pharmacies. We verbally tell them, we send them a letter and then we leave it up to them. If they want the product it is our policy to give them an RX and let them do with it what they feel is best for their pet. We don't call in to online pharmacies and we don't fax them. Most of our clients understand and trust our relationship enough to not purchase from these pharmacies but again the choice is theirs. Then there is the relationship with the pet. Does the doctor at 800 pet whatever know what drugs this pet is on? Have they listened to its heart and lungs? NOPE! Right there is a huge loss of value in my opinion. I don't want to give medications to my pets from someone I have no knowledge of. Who is making sure a DVM is there to review these prescriptions? Is there? Who is that often rude agent who calls me to request meds on my client’s behalf? Is she trained? Has she had several training sessions on the product she is trying to get me to approve? Does she care or is that just a paycheck for her? I can't imagine she has the bond with Fluffy the way I do. She has never met him! She has never held him and told him it will be ok when he gets his injection. She has never seen his tail wag when he is given a cookie for being a good boy. So, does she care that the medication she may be giving him may be from Australia and not regulated? Maybe she does but it seems like a stretch of the imagination to think she cares like I do. Finally the pricing. It is well known that veterinary professionals don't like to charge for anything! Hence why we keep our doctors away from invoicing. If they could they would treat everything for free but let's be realistic....this is our career and we need a paycheck...the same as the cashier at Wal-Mart! I get angry with articles that claim we gouge our clients on pricing. Just because we "love" animals; it is still a business. A business with expenses...lots of them! A business with employees who we often can't afford to offer medical insurance to and that is because we ARE NOT crazy with our mark ups. If we went with this theory then there would be a standard mark up for everything in the world and we would all pay the same thing regardless of where we went. The roach motel room would cost the same as the top notch, high rise room with the bellman and security. Come on..that is not realistic. The end is pricing will be different. That is just life. The spaghettios I buy will be 3 prices in the 3 stores by my home and it is my choice to decide which one is the one I want to pay for. I will use more than just the price to decide just as clients should. Do you trust your veterinarian and their staff? Do you feel that you are treated fairly and valued? Is the quality of medicine the one you want for your pet? If so then trust that they are not ripping you off but know that they too must make money so there will be a mark up! Ok, enough as I could go on and on.
Of course this is a subject that seems to light a fire under those of us in the veterinary industry. Here is my take on it. At our practice we tried to become educated about online pharmacies. We talked to our drug reps and we did some research. It is our understanding that the manner in which the pharmacies obtain these meds isn't always on the up and up. We often get letters offering to buy large quantities of heartworm preventatives from us. Right there makes me think that if the online pharmacies are so legitimate and upstanding then why don't they buy the product themselves...or better yet why won't the manufacturers sell them the product? We don't match pricing. We just do our best to keep our mark up as low and affordable as we can for things like flea and heartworm preventions. We educate our clients why they should not buy from online pharmacies. We verbally tell them, we send them a letter and then we leave it up to them. If they want the product it is our policy to give them an RX and let them do with it what they feel is best for their pet. We don't call in to online pharmacies and we don't fax them. Most of our clients understand and trust our relationship enough to not purchase from these pharmacies but again the choice is theirs. Then there is the relationship with the pet. Does the doctor at 800 pet whatever know what drugs this pet is on? Have they listened to its heart and lungs? NOPE! Right there is a huge loss of value in my opinion. I don't want to give medications to my pets from someone I have no knowledge of. Who is making sure a DVM is there to review these prescriptions? Is there? Who is that often rude agent who calls me to request meds on my client’s behalf? Is she trained? Has she had several training sessions on the product she is trying to get me to approve? Does she care or is that just a paycheck for her? I can't imagine she has the bond with Fluffy the way I do. She has never met him! She has never held him and told him it will be ok when he gets his injection. She has never seen his tail wag when he is given a cookie for being a good boy. So, does she care that the medication she may be giving him may be from Australia and not regulated? Maybe she does but it seems like a stretch of the imagination to think she cares like I do. Finally the pricing. It is well known that veterinary professionals don't like to charge for anything! Hence why we keep our doctors away from invoicing. If they could they would treat everything for free but let's be realistic....this is our career and we need a paycheck...the same as the cashier at Wal-Mart! I get angry with articles that claim we gouge our clients on pricing. Just because we "love" animals; it is still a business. A business with expenses...lots of them! A business with employees who we often can't afford to offer medical insurance to and that is because we ARE NOT crazy with our mark ups. If we went with this theory then there would be a standard mark up for everything in the world and we would all pay the same thing regardless of where we went. The roach motel room would cost the same as the top notch, high rise room with the bellman and security. Come on..that is not realistic. The end is pricing will be different. That is just life. The spaghettios I buy will be 3 prices in the 3 stores by my home and it is my choice to decide which one is the one I want to pay for. I will use more than just the price to decide just as clients should. Do you trust your veterinarian and their staff? Do you feel that you are treated fairly and valued? Is the quality of medicine the one you want for your pet? If so then trust that they are not ripping you off but know that they too must make money so there will be a mark up! Ok, enough as I could go on and on.
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