From past experience we have had GREAT veterinary that always took care of our dogs. We have two golden retrievers who we take great pride in. Our vet’s husband passed away so it was the wife and a couple other vets who would rotate in and out to help them with the process of selling the clinic.
We get a letter in the mail said that one of our dogs was due for a shot. I said OK that sounds good and we phoned the vet to see when we could get our dog in for the shot. They set a date with us and that day woke up and went into the vet’s office to get the shot. I sent the wife to deal with it because I was currently working that day.
I got a phone call around 3pm at work and it was my wife. I asked what the matter was and she WAS PISSED! She told me that the vet has taken advantage of her and this one shot turned into a $400+ bill. I asked why the bill came out so high. This is where their bait and switch scheme comes in affect. If you do not know the definition of Bait and Switch here is it. An illegal sales tactic in which a consumer is lured by a low price only to be told that the “special offer” is no longer available and steered to a higher priced product.
What happened was that they sent the letter to have a shot done; when my wife went in she told my wife that the dogs needed, TWO BLOOD TESTS, TWO WORM TESTS, and some other odds and ends. My wife asked do they really need this and the vet responds with “YES, I strongly suggest you to!” My wife was a little hesitant by the Vets PUSHYNESS pretty much telling my wife if you do not get these other shots and tests you don’t care about your dog.
So my wife said OK if you say so, usually before they sold the clinic they will discuss how much or around how much everything will cost. This lady didn’t say a word about money so my wife thought it wouldn’t go over 100 dollars. After all is said and done it came out to $400.00+ so what they did was Baited my wife in and switched everything on her. They had multiples of the same tests but different ways of doing it. Double charging for the same test.
Here is the run down if you think it is a bait and switch from a vet. If you get a letter in the mail that says you need to get a shot for your animal. Call for the animal to get taken in for the shot. Secondly, go to your clinic on the day of your appointment and MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE THERE FOR AND ONLY FOR THAT REASON. If they keep telling you that you need this and that, either Walk out or be VERY stern and say “I AM ONLY HERE FOR THE SHOT NOTHING ELSE” if they keep trying to push other shots, meds on you, simply just walk out. Do not fall into a Bait and Switch from a Vet.