Curious about "average" markup or discounts

[elarson]

I am trying to get a feel for what the "average" markup or discount percent is between TiLite suggested retail prices and brick-n-mortar distributors.

I would be very interested to hear from those of you who have purchased a TiLite chair recently (2012) through a brick-n-mortar distributor what the percent of markup or discount you received relative to TiLite published prices for the basic chair, with no options and not including taxes or shipping.

It's fine if you prefer to send it in a PM to me or give me the price and model and I will figure out the percent.

[chasmengr]

VA bought my chair, so I didn't pay, and VA won't tell me exactly what they paid, but an in-the-know VA employee told me VA pays, in general, about half of the MSRP for manual wheelchairs and power assists. The VA uses a contracted DMEs to receive, assemble, and deliver the devices.

VA has minor accessories (e.g., spoke protectors) shipped directly to me instead of the DMEs. The DMEs is always eager to serve me, and gets my signature for everything they do for me, so I presume their service costs are additional.

[Gordy1]

End 2010: Tilite rep brought a ZRa2 to our house (along with a couple of other brands). I asked about the cost and he said around $7000 (it did have expensive wheels on it, but not many other extras). As I was paying out-of-pocket, I looked into buying via Sportaid, and got a ZRa2 delivered to our door in Australia for about $2400. Take the wheels out of the equation, and we are looking at a mark-up of more than 100% here.

May 2012: Was offered funding for a new chair. I asked about purchasing an Icon via Sportaid, and when I told the funding agency the cost they said "no problem, we usually need to pay at least $5000 for each (child's) chair, so the Icon is cheaper."

So apart from the obviously ridiculous mark-ups here, the other aspect that irks me is the lack of proactiveness by the children's funding agency here to look into alternative suppliers. If they did, they could buy twice as many chairs, and kids here wouldn't have to wait for 12 months for an overpriced quickie....

[elarson]

That is shocking Gordy. I have not received a final quote locally, but if I go by posted retail prices they average about 37% more than Sportaid and about 19% more than TiLite order form prices (not including shipping/taxes).The government is paying here too, and it's shocking if they accept these prices. At minimum, governments should state that they are not allowed to sell higher than manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). How hard could that be!

Originally Posted by Gordy1

...we are looking at a mark-up of more than 100% here.

[DaleB]

You should search for the invoice posted here for the $10,000 TiLite. Iirc, listed each Spinergy wheel @ ~$600. Or, something absurd like that. An image of it is here somewhere...

[cheesecake]

Originally Posted by elarson

I am trying to get a feel for what the "average" markup or discount percent is between TiLite suggested retail prices and brick-n-mortar distributors.

I would be very interested to hear from those of you who have purchased a TiLite chair recently (2012) through a brick-n-mortar distributor what the percent of markup or discount you received relative to TiLite published prices for the basic chair, with no options and not including taxes or shipping.

It's fine if you prefer to send it in a PM to me or give me the price and model and I will figure out the percent.

I just got my new ZRA S2, I will try to upload the invoice for you to see. Bike-on offers significant discounts on the "add ons" if you buy the chair from them. When I was looking at self pay for the frog legs, there was a significant discount.

[stephen212]

Originally Posted by DaleB

You should search for the invoice posted here for the $10,000 TiLite. Iirc, listed each Spinergy wheel @ ~$600. Or, something absurd like that. An image of it is here somewhere...

Yes, a CareCure classic thread!
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthr...ghlight=tilite

[elarson]

Thanks, I would be very interested. Looking to get a ZRA with frog legs, and they don't show prices.

Originally Posted by cheesecake

I just got my new ZRA S2, I will try to upload the invoice for you to see. Bike-on offers significant discounts on the "add ons" if you buy the chair from them. When I was looking at self pay for the frog legs, there was a significant discount.

[smashms]

I know my chair as speced it was supposed to cost like 4500 but I know Medicaid only paid about 2200 for it. And I got spinergy wheels. That was an aero r and I took delivery on it in jan I think

[cheesecake]

Originally Posted by elarson

Thanks, I would be very interested. Looking to get a ZRA with frog legs, and they don't show prices.

If you PM me with an email address, I will send the invoice and give more details off line as to how I squeesed my DME for discounts.