[graciegirl]

I do not like it when you go to the beauty shop and have your hair done to be subjected to a sales pitch from the beautician to get you to buy high priced "products" for your hair.

They may be superior but boy are they way too expensive. I realize that the sales add to the beauticians income.........but holy cow..they cost way too much.

My friend told me that she went to the dermatologists office for her once a year "look over" and was shown lotions to buy on site for the skin.

I can understand a doctor, a dermatologist recommending lotions, but to sell them at the office seems unprofessional to me. We are given prescriptions sometimes for medicine to apply but never asked to buy things.

What do you think about this?

[Carla B]

Exactly. We went to a dermatologist in TV for an initial visit. The Dr. highly recommended a dry skin lotion that he sells in the office for around $54. That just seems well, unseemly.

My husband's primary physician pushes some kind of niacin that he sells for many $$ that you can buy elsewhere OTC a lot cheaper.

It's kind of like when banks started selling investments. I always thought they should just offer C.D.s and maybe trust services, not try to sell annuities and other investment vehicles. But, of course, banks now buy brokers, i.e., Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.

I think the whole thing started downhill when doctors and lawyers started advertising.

[captg]

I went to the Derm. and they pitched me on the Blue Light special? I thought I was at K Mart.

[blueash]

I agree, it is very disturbing when a doctor, dentist etc feels the need to supplement their income by selling any product other than their expertise. It seemingly could threaten the patient with the concern that should they decline this additional sale, the office may become less interested in giving good care. Tell the doctor you find the office sales counter unprofessional. Tell them you appreciate their product suggestions and if they wish they can give you a list of those products and their costs and alternative stores or websites from which you can purchase those same items so you can comparison shop. Maybe for Villages offices, you can mention you will post the information on this site.

[Canabarrybarb]

Yes we changed from one Village dermatologist to another when we discovered that the first was much more interested in the pig skin in my wallet than my own skin. Really turned off by the cursory inspection and big push to sell lotions.

[Lynn D.]

It seems like you can't go anywhere anymore without a 'sales pitch' being thrown at ya.