Haggling with your dentist? Yes or No?

brook2jack

People often haggle when they are aware there is a large profit margin on a service/product and that a trader may have a margin they are happy to trade on to get a sale.

We all know not to accept the first quote a double glazing firm gives etc .

However dental practices are run on very tight margins with the hourly cost to providing the service worked out to the penny. a typical practice will have roughly 2/3 expenses to pay out before the dentist gets paid.

In specialist practice the practice expences are even higher eg the implantologist will have paid upwards of £250,000 for their additional training and kit set up in addition to normal practice expenses.

There is not the profit margin to haggle and prices are set according to practice expenses

[Deleted User]

Hello Beenie,
I had dental implant work done by a specialist recommended
by my regular long term dentist.I received a fair discount by paying in full, upfront. I had complete faith in my dentist's advice re specialist and felt comfortable with this option. Implant treatment was expensive, but very worthwhile (I made cutbacks elsewhere to fund treatment) I am delighted with outcome 5 years on!
regards
mrwmartin

BananaRepublic

I’ve never haggled with a trade. The way many if not most work is that they work out how much they need the work, and their overheads, then add profit. If they need the work, they’ll do it cheaper. Or maybe it suits their schedule and fills a slot. If they are busy, they might chance a silly high quote. But getting a good trade is hard, I’d rather pay a good one enough to keep him or her happy.

Although dentists earn a lot, they have big overheads too. And I’m sure implants take a lot of work. As an aside, a friend lost four teeth playing ice hockey, when a slap shot landed in his mouth. I didn’t realise quite how much he will have to pay to have his smile restored.

SuperPikachu

I thought this said hugging! I would like to do that but I think she might hit me