tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25037502.post1587424146324426543..comments2024-03-16T04:40:25.964-07:00Comments on LA Animal Watch: Public is Getting Fed Up With VCA PricesEd Muzikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13214241089861837159noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25037502.post-73818417265927121882009-04-30T19:16:00.000-07:002009-04-30T19:16:00.000-07:00They cut staff. They fired them. They state they d...They cut staff. They fired them. They state they deliberately increased prices to keep revenue up because fewer customers were coming in due to the economy.<br /><br />Why don't you just speculate the price of bottle water used in their offices went up and that forced them to raise prices? You are really reaching with that speculation.<br /><br />That which motivates VCA is simple: Greed.Ed Muzikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214241089861837159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25037502.post-89222879104542877742009-04-30T18:14:00.000-07:002009-04-30T18:14:00.000-07:00Maybe they started a pension plan for their staff....Maybe they started a pension plan for their staff. That would drive up the prices. Look at what's happening to the city and state because of those pensions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25037502.post-68833891144724364292009-04-28T19:47:00.000-07:002009-04-28T19:47:00.000-07:00Actually that is not true. I have been going to VC...Actually that is not true. I have been going to VCA West LA for two years with two cats with cancer. Recently there was a dramatic increase in their prices. An initial pelvic ultrasound went from $360 to $425 about 8 weeks ago and followup ultrasounds went from $160 to $180--in the middle of a huge recession!!<br /><br />The initial consult fee went up a little as did follow up visits.<br /><br />The cost of some prescription meds prepared there also went up considerably (30% on one of them).<br /><br />The cost for a 20 lb bag of Science Diet went up from about $50 to $56 in that same time frame and neither Petsmart or Petco sell prescription pet food unless a vet is on premise. Even then, Petsmart where they do have vets, prices their prescription pet food only about $5 less for a 20 lb bag ($56), so that theory goes down the drain.<br /><br />As for non prescription pet food, such as Science Diet, Royal Canin, etc., only idiots have bought that from vets for the past 15 years instead of from discount pet stores. This certainly is not a recent "mix" loss for VCA.<br /><br />A non-prescription probiotic prescription that the vet said was $30, was actually charged at $50 at check out. I refused it and got it on the Internet for $19 plus $5 for shipping.<br /><br />A needle biopsy I got done at one vet for $130 three months ago sent to Antech cost me $180 at VCA two weeks ago.<br /><br />The vet would quote me one price but at the front desk it would be significantly higher. The needle aspiration test was administered without my authorization, but my usual oncologist justified the unauthorized procedure after the fact by saying it indicates the cancer may be mutating.<br /><br />One of the interns I saw while their says it is common knowledge that VCA overcharges and prescribes too many diagnostic tests that would not bear on treatment. Fortunately, my oncologist does not recommend a test unless results would indicate a different treatment.<br /><br />Yes, their prices were higher than others when I first went there, and they have gone much higher in the last 2-3 months.<br /><br />Also, in their annual statement they admitted they raised their prices and thus maintained revenue even though customer visits were down. They also claimed they cut costs and fired staff that they took over to bring costs down even more. I posted a link to the annual report on a previous post.<br /><br />This analyst's opinion is consistent with my own observations and their own annual statement.<br /><br />If you have different info, put it in a long comment or email it to me post my analysis and posting.Ed Muzikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214241089861837159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25037502.post-30678620929655937032009-04-28T05:04:00.000-07:002009-04-28T05:04:00.000-07:00This guy is way off. If he paid attention he woul...This guy is way off. If he paid attention he would no it is not pricing going up, but rather due to mix shift. In other words, the company is losing business (like dog food, grooming, pharma) to more places like Petsmart and Petmed express. This has the function of reducing low-priced volume (like a bag of food) and thus means that remaining volume is for medical care, which costs more than dog food. Thus, volume goest down (less food) and rev/order goes up as what is left is higher priced services...it is not that they are just raising prices by that amount...pay attentionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com