June 5, 2008, 1:52 pm
Increasing fees and keeping customers happy
Gala Ufim, Bergenfield, N.J.
Our dental lab is a small family business. We try not to increase our customers’ fees because of the weak economy, but our minimal annual fee increase does not cover the rising cost of production. How can a small dental laboratory face increasing costs of materials and labor while keeping the customers happy at the same time?
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Dental labs must realize that they are part of the overhead of the dental office. There is no ability to raise fees at these times and insurances have not raised their payments. Dentists must go to labs that stay within their financial constrictions. Therefore, there is no way to increase your price to dentists and keep them happy. You, just like the dentists, must work more hours for less remuneration. Dentists will be looking around much more in this economy to find a more inexpensive lab to free up dollars for daily overhead increases. I might suggest enlarging volume, to pick up on economies of scales, to improve net profits. Work harder, but maintain or increase profit.
Scott V. Powers, DDS
Syracuse, NY