Is Cost Negotiable?

[LoronDotCom]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post so here it goes. I've been checking out orthodontists in my area lately (St. Louis, MO) for braces. So far two of the places I visited charged about $4300 for metal/ceramic and $6200 for invisalign. One of the other places I went charged about $2000 more in each case. I really liked the atmosphere of that office and the people that were there and their interest in my teeth. Is this a service I can try to negotiate the price of? I want to go to this doctor but right now I can't justify spending that much more even though I like the doctor a lot more.

Thanks.

[braces guy]

Yes in my experience you can negotiate some when it comes to price. You can start by telling them that you will be paying cash, and not using insurance. You can also offer to pay for the whole price at once instead of payments. Often they will discount the price in order the get money sooner. Last but not least you can explain that you are looking at other places and what other prices you are finding.

[mikeg]

just about everything is negotiable orthodontics is a business just like any other... so talk to your ortho, tell them your situation and what you can afford and see what happens.

[Sunny]

Definitely ask, but where I work it would never be an option. We offer a great product and service and if you want it, then you have to be prepared to pay for it. Our staff are well trained and this training has taken many years and cost a fortune in dollars. We will not allow it to be downgraded by people bidding for us like they would when purchasing a car or house.

We charge the same whether a person pays up front or in instalments, but this is where the options do differ. We try to make options that allow people to pay in a way that they can, but the price doesn't change.

Re-interview the ortho's you've met and this time don't look at the 'bells and whistes', instead interview the ortho's and chose the person who sounds best to treat you. Good luck with finding the best treatment for you.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Our office also does not negotiate. We have set fees that are in place in relation to our expenses depending on the estimated duration of treatment. We offer a discount for payment in full up front that can vary with the savings interest of local banks, for those who are the 2nd member of the family, and on occasion, if there is a short cancellation that we would fill. We do not accept insurance in our practice, so whether someone has it or not does not matter. We also keep everything on the books, so we actually prefer to take payment via credit card via than cash.

That being said, we offer interest free payment plans during treatment and will provide insurance forms for our patients who require them.

You will find some orthodontists that you can "bargain" with, but unlike physical products that would be the same regardless of which store you buy them at, this is not the case with orthodontists, their teams, service, and results. Good luck!

[lileepers]

My orthodontist offered a 10% discount if you paid in full. He also discounted some of the work I had done before the braces, because there was quite a bit of it!