Was I being a dick here?

[TheCentaur]

So I go to the vet with my dog, and the girl taking him back said the short procedure they had to do was going to be about $20, and I already knew how much the medication was going to be.

I go to checkout, and sure enough what was said would be $20 was $34, along with the $50 or so for medication. Now I know there are high rollers on here, and $14 isn't life or death to me either.

I went ahead and raised a stink about it and had the receptionist retrieve the girl who misquoted. Of course now the whole gaggle of women there hate me now and I didnt get any money back because thats what it was in the computer. Just sick of this type of crap but maybe Im overreacting and I'm a sociopath, I don't know.

People used to get shot over stuff like this in the old west

[blackbeSSt]

nope, you weren't. i woulda called out the girl and the owner/manager and had them discuss why she misquoted it. worse case you at least make the girl who misquoted look like a fool.

oh, and i'd be finding another vet due to their incompetence

[Robber]

Yo did the right thing

Hate when they lie

[thetrinity]

nah they lied. hate when employees guess cuz they dont wana look stupid.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

You're good, it's the principle of the thing, not the ing 14 bux. Advice> Change Vets.

[RogueScholar]

Like everything else in life from gambling to relationships, the correct decision is a function of perceived value.

If having a good relationship with your vet is worth less to you than $14, by all means raise a stink.

If you value access to health care for your pets beyond what you can provide at home at more than $14, then you're a fool to waste any time quibbling about the difference between the quote and the bill.

I'm not a vet, but as a specialist in another field, I can tell you that the reason you encounter this phenomenon quite often in life is because if you haven't invested the time and money in becoming a specialist yourself, you aren't able to accurately value what their expertise is actually worth. Thus it's pretty common for us to low-ball people who insist on some sort of estimate for the cost of a service which has yet to be precisely determined.

Remember that just by walking in the door, you admitted to them that you can't fix this problem yourself, so why not pay the extra $14 with a smile and hope that your graciousness is repaid at some point down the road when perhaps you're in greater need of it?

[blackbeSSt]

Like everything else in life from gambling to relationships, the correct decision is a function of perceived value.

If having a good relationship with your vet is worth less to you than $14, by all means raise a stink.

If you value access to health care for your pets beyond what you can provide at home at more than $14, then you're a fool to waste any time quibbling about the difference between the quote and the bill.

I'm not a vet, but as a specialist in another field, I can tell you that the reason you encounter this phenomenon quite often in life is because if you haven't invested the time and money in becoming a specialist yourself, you aren't able to accurately value what their expertise is actually worth. Thus it's pretty common for us to low-ball people who insist on some sort of estimate for the cost of a service which has yet to be precisely determined.

Remember that just by walking in the door, you admitted to them that you can't fix this problem yourself, so why not pay the extra $14 with a smile and hope that your graciousness is repaid at some point down the road when perhaps you're in greater need of it?

while true, the reason i am walking in the door is because they fukkin know what they are talking about....including billing. if i were to pull the "about" card here at my job as an insurance agent and told a current customer that their premium on a new car was $xxx amount, and after they bought it told them it was $xxx amount higher, i'd be in deep shit.

i don't think centaur has a problem about the $14. its more of a principle thing. don't fukkin throw out numbers if you can't back it up. its not professional

[ngates815]

Like everything else in life from gambling to relationships, the correct decision is a function of perceived value.

If having a good relationship with your vet is worth less to you than $14, by all means raise a stink.

If you value access to health care for your pets beyond what you can provide at home at more than $14, then you're a fool to waste any time quibbling about the difference between the quote and the bill.

I'm not a vet, but as a specialist in another field, I can tell you that the reason you encounter this phenomenon quite often in life is because if you haven't invested the time and money in becoming a specialist yourself, you aren't able to accurately value what their expertise is actually worth. Thus it's pretty common for us to low-ball people who insist on some sort of estimate for the cost of a service which has yet to be precisely determined.

Remember that just by walking in the door, you admitted to them that you can't fix this problem yourself, so why not pay the extra $14 with a smile and hope that your graciousness is repaid at some point down the road when perhaps you're in greater need of it?

Rogue Scholar bringing wisdom to the website.

Spot on.

[Smoke]

Centuar are you a jew??

[RogueScholar]

BlackbeSSt,

That's comparing apples and oranges. Insurance isn't a subjective industry (except for the claims process), it's a quantitative description of coverage granted in exchange for a monies tendered. Health care is by its very nature a qualitative process, making price forecasting a far less exact science.

You're not paying for the service provided, you're paying for the time of the person accomplishing the task agreed upon. Sometimes a procedure takes longer than expected because your animal is misbehaving, and I'd rather see you pay a little extra at the counter for that than the vet have to raise prices on everybody to "worst case scenario" levels so as to avoid ever having to deal with a tight-ass quibbling over $14.

[MC PICKS]

Nope i had as similar deal when i got my dog fixed about 10 years ago, i dropped her off in the morning and said how much is it gonna be, they said 99 bucks total, i called when i got off work to see if she was ready to be picked up and i said 99 bucks just to confirm cause i had to tap the ATM and they said 129, i said you told me 99 this morning and they said we had to do blah blah blah so i was a little pissed but was gonna pay it. When i got there i went to pay and the twat says that will be 156, i fukking lost it and cursed her and the other twat at the desk out and then the doctor came out and gave it to him too. I end the ordeal by saying, "heres 99 bucks like you told me this morning, now go get my fukking dog" and they went and got it and i never went back. So fukk those people, you're paying their salary, not vice versa. The entire medical profession has been, and always will be, a racket.

[Cheme82]

So I go to the vet with my dog, and the girl taking him back said the short procedure they had to do was going to be about $20, and I already knew how much the medication was going to be.

I go to checkout, and sure enough what was said would be $20 was $34, along with the $50 or so for medication. Now I know there are high rollers on here, and $14 isn't life or death to me either.

I went ahead and raised a stink about it and had the receptionist retrieve the girl who misquoted. Of course now the whole gaggle of women there hate me now and I didnt get any money back because thats what it was in the computer. Just sick of this type of crap but maybe Im overreacting and I'm a sociopath, I don't know.

People used to get shot over stuff like this in the old west

Yes, you were being a dick. If you had planned to make a big deal out of $14 (or out of the fact that she didn't give you the exact amount), you should have made it clear that you wanted an EXACT amount of how much it will cost because you would flip out if the amount wasn't what they said it would be (whether because you are a cheap-ass, have OCD, Asperger's syndrome, or whatever reason).

You ****** your relationship with the vet and killed any possibility of ever ******* any of the chicks at that office, and for what? $14. In my book, that is -EV

[TheMoneyShot]

You did the right thing. I would of bitched too. But Vets are so pricey. I refuse to have another animal ever again.

[blackbeSSt]

BlackbeSSt,

That's comparing apples and oranges. Insurance isn't a subjective industry (except for the claims process), it's a quantitative description of coverage granted in exchange for a monies tendered. Health care is by its very nature a qualitative process, making price forecasting a far less exact science.

You're not paying for the service provided, you're paying for the time of the person accomplishing the task agreed upon. Sometimes a procedure takes longer than expected because your animal is misbehaving, and I'd rather see you pay a little extra at the counter for that than the vet have to raise prices on everybody to "worst case scenario" levels so as to avoid ever having to deal with a tight-ass quibbling over $14.

you missed my point. my point was if a customer calls in and says "im about to buy a car, how much is the annual premium" and i say $x, without actually quoting them (the vet did the exact same thing to centaur. threw out a number without doing the procedure) and they buy it and then i quote it and say its more.

[RogueScholar]

Actually it's you who missed the point, BlackbeSSt.

I made the point that auto insurance and veterinary care were incomparable. You ignored this and proceeded to restate your original argument without adaptation or revision.

Thanks for playing and better luck next time.

[mynameismud]

Centuar are you a jew??

figured that question was coming. just figured it would be from ngates.

[TheCentaur]

Centuar are you a jew??

I'm not sure but my full name is Sol Centaurberg

[blackbeSSt]

Actually it's you who missed the point, BlackbeSSt.

I made the point that auto insurance and veterinary care were incomparable. You ignored this and proceeded to restate your original argument without adaptation or revision.

Thanks for playing and better luck next time.

fine. then insert whatever fukkin thing you want that quotes one price but then its more after the fact. same fukkin thing

edit: unless this is the first fukkin procedure of this kind that they've done there is no need for the "about" card.

[Cheme82]

fine. then insert whatever fukkin thing you want that quotes one price but then its more after the fact. same fukkin thing

I think Rogue is referring to the fact that even if they did their research, they couldn't quote him perfectly because sometimes procedures might take more time than the average. It's like if you quote me $150 a month for an insurance package on a new car, but then i cause a huge wreck and try to buy the insurance a month later. Chances are you won't be able to sell me the same insurance at the quoted price.

[blackbeSSt]

I think Rogue is referring to the fact that even if they did their research, they couldn't quote him perfectly because sometimes procedures might take more time than the average. It's like if you quote me $150 a month for an insurance package on a new car, but then i cause a huge wreck and try to buy the insurance a month later. Chances are you won't be able to sell me the same insurance at the quoted price.

exactly. I'm saying nothing more then they shouldn't have quoted anything until after the fact. just like I don't quote anything until after the fact

[yisman]

you missed my point. my point was if a customer calls in and says "im about to buy a car, how much is the annual premium" and i say $x, without actually quoting them (the vet did the exact same thing to centaur. threw out a number without doing the procedure) and they buy it and then i quote it and say its more.

Exactly. This thread is not about how expensive it is.

It's about asking them for the cost and them giving you an estimate that's significantly off.

Raising a stink is -EV due to the bad feelings it would generate, but I can see why someone would be upset.

If the employees can't be accurate, then they should just say they don't know, cost might vary, etc.

[TheCentaur]

Like everything else in life from gambling to relationships, the correct decision is a function of perceived value.

I respect ur view and thoughfulness Rogue but I think you are oversimplifying. I've already said it wasn't the $14, it was the principle. When you do something out of principle you are basically throwing out value/perceived value assessment and making a stand at a cost. Now if I have to worry about how my dog is treated because I called them on a lie/mistake in their favor they can go to Hades.

The whole test was bs anyway, a "precautionary" blood test before continuing a prescription which is code for "extra profits". She volunteered the info, i didn't ask her for a quote, but i did question the significance of the test, more because of the waiting than the added expense. I was prepared for $22 or $25 because its just something you expect these days, but i couldn't let $34 go. When confronted she said she was mistaken and thought it was a different kind of test.

[ACoochy]

Yes, you were being a dick. If you had planned to make a big deal out of $14 (or out of the fact that she didn't give you the exact amount), you should have made it clear that you wanted an EXACT amount of how much it will cost because you would flip out if the amount wasn't what they said it would be (whether because you are a cheap-ass, have OCD, Asperger's syndrome, or whatever reason).

You ****** your relationship with the vet and killed any possibility of ever ******* any of the chicks at that office, and for what? $14. In my book, that is -EV

Cheme the bitch should be greatful OP didnt go postal and mow down every worker in the clinic...
Its been done over less than $14...

If the women in the clinic wanna go into full superficial mode over $14 then its no loss to OP if he goes elsewhere.

Op if i were u id make an effort to tell others not to go there after the way you were treated for expressing an opinion.

In short, Fukk Them...

[milwaukee mike]

roguescholar i would ask you to put the shoe on the other foot

is keeping a good customer, that is buying your overpriced medicine, worth $14, or should you charge them an extra $14 even though you told them $20 just because their pet was a little more difficult than you expected?

i was taught that the customer is always right (unless you don't want to keep that customer) and that is the way i run my business

[manny24]

Centuar are you a jew??

[chilidog]

just because their pet was a little more difficult than you expected?

It was a routine blood test, and the issue was that the employee quoted a price on a different test, instead of the blood test that was needed.

[RogueScholar]

I respect ur view and thoughfulness Rogue but I think you are oversimplifying. I've already said it wasn't the $14, it was the principle. When you do something out of principle you are basically throwing out value/perceived value assessment and making a stand at a cost. Now if I have to worry about how my dog is treated because I called them on a lie/mistake in their favor they can go to Hades.

The whole test was bs anyway, a "precautionary" blood test before continuing a prescription which is code for "extra profits". She volunteered the info, i didn't ask her for a quote, but i did question the significance of the test, more because of the waiting than the added expense. I was prepared for $22 or $25 because its just something you expect these days, but i couldn't let $34 go. When confronted she said she was mistaken and thought it was a different kind of test.

If this was a response dictated by a principled stand, why did it require validation on SBR from a bunch of strangers? This thread was phrased in the form of a question which led us to believe that your outrage was a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived injustice which you wished to examine for logical flaws. When things are done out of principle, typically there would be no question as to the wisdom of your decision, nor should you care what we think about it.

In conclusion, I'll reiterate that you either trust their judgment or you don't. If you don't, then go elsewhere. If you do, then don't second-guess what they think is a fair price (especially when it's <$20 more than their estimate) and bank the goodwill for a time of greater need.

The world we live in is a complex one and you almost can't put a value on the trouble saved by surrounding yourself with a trusted circle of advisors/experts throughout your life which should include a doctor, lawyer, accountant and veterinarian. Once you select these people, don't cheapen yourself to them by haggling over trivial amounts. If you demonstrate your trust in them in the beginning, they can literally save your life or a loved one's life later on, not to mention the value of their friendship/mutual respect.

[RubberKettle]

Every time I take the dogs to the vet its $100 plus

Rogue Scholar hits nail on head....weighing your relationship with vet vs $14 overcharge

[RogueScholar]

roguescholar i would ask you to put the shoe on the other foot

is keeping a good customer, that is buying your overpriced medicine, worth $14, or should you charge them an extra $14 even though you told them $20 just because their pet was a little more difficult than you expected?

i was taught that the customer is always right (unless you don't want to keep that customer) and that is the way i run my business

Maybe it's because I grew up in a very small town with only one or two of each specialist, but my experience is that doctors/lawyers/veterinarians typically need a single customer far less than they need to maintain the inviolate status of their ability to determine a price for their expertise. The benefit of the doubt always cuts in favor of the person with greater social status in the end, so refusing to honor a preliminary estimate of costs is the correct move in order to perpetuate the perception that the vet is the one best suited to assign dollar values to the health of domestic animals in that area.

[King Mayan]

I'm pretty sure the employee said something like " ohhh I think it's around 20$" ....she was wrong.... Centaur relax pal..

[Cheme82]

Cheme the bitch should be greatful OP didnt go postal and mow down every worker in the clinic...
Its been done over less than $14...

If the women in the clinic wanna go into full superficial mode over $14 then its no loss to OP if he goes elsewhere.

Op if i were u id make an effort to tell others not to go there after the way you were treated for expressing an opinion.

In short, Fukk Them...

Ok, if this would have been done to me and I would have gotten pissed the way the op did, then I would have cooled down and considered my options at a later time. Some of these options are:

1) Romancing one of the front desk girls and getting her to give you discounts, free perks, etc. Until you get your $14 back and maybe keep her around if she's worth it.

2) If the vet is a female. Doing the same as #1 and getting all the stuff for free.

3) If either #1 or #2 are bad lays then *** on their face, scream at them that they still owe you at least $10 because that shit wasn't even worth $5, and either kick them out, or leave yourself depending on where you are.

[BiTeMe UsAdOj]

Just sick of this type of crap but maybe Im overreacting and I'm a sociopath, I don't know.

I've got a slight lean your way regarding this vet situation, but I'm just addressing your uncertainty about your above comment whilst weighing your poker antics:

[blackbeSSt]

I'm pretty sure the employee said something like " ohhh I think it's around 20$" ....she was wrong.... Centaur relax pal..

and i bet she tells the people that have animals that need real surgery "ohhhh i think its around $500" and it turns out to be $750.

[The Giant]

maybe Im overreacting and I'm a sociopath

Considering the way you act at the poker tables, I would say this is very likely.

[raydog]

business as usual, centaur... i cant remember, if its ever fukking happened, when the last time someone quoted me a guesstimated price and it turn out to be cheaper...its part of the sell...i would be much happier with them lying about a price and then have the actual price turn out to be under what was expected... you can still rip me off, but i would feel better about it...