Finance Joseph Sangl on 17 Jul 2006 07:41 pm
Save at the dentist …
A lady who went through the personal finance course that I coordinate told me of her trip to the dentist.
The dentist told her that she needed a crown. The cost of the crown was to be $650. She told the dentist, “I am paying cash. $250!” The surprised dentist responded, “$325.”
What a deal!
What a thought! You see, the dentist is performing a service. A service is negotiable. When you are paying cash out of your own pocket, you are more apt to question the fee.
It makes one stop and think about the impact of 100% payment insurance. It doesn’t make the patient pay out of their own pocket, so they are less apt to question the fee.
Go out and ask for a better deal!
on 18 Jul 2006 at 10:10 pm 1.papa_ridgeback said …
Doggone it, Joe!
Three weeks ago I went with having a tooth pulled (for $80) instead of signing up for a $3000 crown.
If only I’d thought to negotiate …
on 19 Jul 2006 at 9:36 pm 2.Joseph Sangl said …
Sorry man! Maybe you can negotiate on the replacement tooth!
on 23 Jul 2006 at 9:02 pm 3.papa_ridgeback said …
Joe, I’m gonna try to do without the replacement tooth; I figure having one hole in my head will keep reminding me to always Cut, Slash and Burn debt while saving, investing … and … not worrying about buying stuff I don’t need.