Haggling with your dentist? Yes or No?

Beenie

We have been given a written quote for dental work (three implants) and the cost is almost £8000. The dentist has an excellent reputation and is someone we clinically trust.

This presumably isn't something you 'shop around' for, so my question is this: is it acceptable to try to reduce the cost as you would when buying a car or similar? Or do other patients take it on the chin and pay the asking price?

Toothsmith

Personally, I wouldn't negotiate costs with a patient. It would be disrespectful to those who pay the proper fee, and unprofessional. The fees are the fees.

If a longstanding patient could not afford the treatment proposed, then I would offer alternatives that might be more within their budget, but reducing the quoted fees just because someone asks you suggests you're charging too much in the first place.

I do know of dentists that might do this - but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable seeing a medical professional who did.

danthemoneysavingman

You could consider the 'going abroad' option... cheaper... but...

If you can find recommendations for that, worth looking into perhaps.

8 grand is a lot of money after all

Beenie

No, we won't be going abroad. This is the dentist we want. And we will pay the fee.

I only asked the question because on some sites (and I think they are American) there is talk of discounting. You are advised to ask the dentist if this is the same fee he would charge an insured patient, and tell him you are self-financing.

I understand your comment that the 'fee is the fee' but a good friend of mine is a vet (now retired). She often reduced her fees or fixed things for clients who were loyal but short of money. The professionalism of veterinary surgery was not in doubt, it was something she did.

Undervalued

Toothsmith wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't negotiate costs with a patient. It would be disrespectful to those who pay the proper fee, and unprofessional. The fees are the fees.

If a longstanding patient could not afford the treatment proposed, then I would offer alternatives that might be more within their budget, but reducing the quoted fees just because someone asks you suggests you're charging too much in the first place.

I do know of dentists that might do this - but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable seeing a medical professional who did.

In times gone by "professionals" used to get 5% extra at the stroke of a pen by charging in guineas!

Do you feel the same way when buying a service or is it only OK to haggle with mere lowly "tradesmen"!

:rotfl:

worried_jim

I wonder what corner they may cut to offer this discount? I would be going the other way, "£8k, no problem, and if you do a grand job they'll be a drink in it for you too sir/madam!"

Toothsmith

Undervalued wrote: »

Do you feel the same way when buying a service or is it only OK to haggle with mere lowly "tradesmen"!

:rotfl:

Actually - no, I don't haggle. I'm pretty crap at it! But - over the years I've built up a list of tradesmen I trust, and get on with.

They do a good job, and I'm not someone who picks holes in everything they do in order to get a price reduction, I accept it if unexpected problems crop up that add to a bill, and I pay on time at the end.

Apparently - these simple courtesies makes me a 'good customer' and people like doing jobs for me.

From what I gather, I don't ever seem to be charged that much more than my hair-splitting, hard-haggling, late paying acquaintances! I also have no problem if I ever need something doing urgently, unlike them, who often seem to be hard pressed to find anyone to come out to help them.

It's almost as if, if people know you have a reputation for mucking about - the bill probably starts much higher in the first place?

Beenie

We are not hard-nosed hagglers by the way; this is the MoneySaving Expert website and the proper place to ask money-saving questions, imo.

Something I have just remembered is that I recently had cause to see a medical consultant privately. I was a patient of his when we were in PPP, but that policy lapsed when OH retired, so I was self-financing this time.

Without me even asking, he said he couldn't do anything about the hospital charges but was waiving his consultation fee in this instance. His professionalism and reputation are impeccable, so I'm not too sure about this never questioning the fees of doctors and dentists.

Toothsmith

Beenie wrote: »

Without me even asking, he said he couldn't do anything about the hospital charges but was waiving his consultation fee in this instance. His professionalism and reputation are impeccable, so I'm not too sure about this never questioning the fees of doctors and dentists.

Yes - this is something quite different though. As mentioned by someone else above - if I have a regular patient who is going through a bit of a hard time - then I 'forget' to put a few items into the list of items, or apply a bit of a discount.

Doing it unasked for (And sometimes without pt even knowing) is quite different to dropping prices just because someone chances it.

Tallaght

Beenie wrote: »

We have been given a written quote for dental work (three implants) and the cost is almost £8000. ?

I thought teeth implants were £800 - £1000 each on average ?

Toothsmith

I usually tell patients to expect £2-2.5k each if they are considering them.