Posted on 04/09/2015 11:59:17 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Did your last box of contact lenses seem unusually expensive? Don’t bother shopping around for a better price, because you probably won’t find it.
Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb and Cooper Vision, which together account for 97 percent of all contact lenses sold in the United States, have set price minimums for many of their contacts, so you’re unlikely to find them any cheaper, no matter how hard you look.
“The manufacturers say the policies are intended to simplify the market and shift conversations between patients and optometrists away from the topic of pricing and toward the clinical benefits of their contact lenses,” The New York Times said.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
What will Holder do?
Isn’t that illegal?
Unless “prosecutorial discretion” as a result of “campaign contributions” comes into play.
Hasn't Apple been doing it for years?
I'm guessing as long as they're not in collusion, such price minimums are perfectly legal.
And I suppose if the almighty government can set minimum prices for labor, why not?
“Hasn’t Apple been doing it for years? “
And Bose.
Four manufactures account for 97% of the US sales, and they got together and set a "minimum price" that their distributors could charge.
If we had a real DOJ this would end badly for them.
Let’s not be myopic about this
I’d rather take the long view.
Did they?
Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb and Cooper Vision, which together account for 97 percent of all contact lenses sold in the United States, have set price minimums for many of their contacts, so you’re unlikely to find them any cheaper, no matter how hard you look.
“The manufacturers say the policies are intended to simplify the market and shift conversations between patients and optometrists away from the topic of pricing and toward the clinical benefits of their contact lenses,” The New York Times said.
What does it sound like to you?
Having a bad day, are we?
I didn't and still don't see evidence of collusion.
But, if you want to see a conspiracy, you will. Or maybe you should work on your reading comprehension.
Sheesh.
Good luck with that.
The sheeple immediately cry foul, saying it's price-fixing. Then, every 5 or 10 years, some deeply-caring politician will launch an investigation of one sort or another, vowing to "get to the bottom of it."
The result is always the same. There is no grand conspiracy. Rather, they all keep an eye on the competition and, when one makes a move, the rest react accordingly, either with a price war or, more often by price-matching (which is perfectly legal).
All of them at the same time, with no collusion.
“The manufacturers say the policies are intended to simplify the market and shift conversations between patients and optometrists away from the topic of pricing and toward the clinical benefits of their contact lenses,”
If the quote is accurate (it is the NYT, after all), this sounds like something different than simply “keeping an eye on the competition.” Shell, Chevron, BP, and Exxon/Mobile aren’t saying “we’re just trying to simplify pricing and change the conversation to the relative merits of the different additives in our gasoline.”
I used to use contacts. It was expensive getting contacts and you threw them away after a few days despite the cleaning you did. The money I spent.... I have had lasik done and do not need any glasses now. Lasik was $3,000 and worth it.
I was -6 nearsighted so if you can get lasik.
This has been illegal for 40+ years AFAIK.
“They all decided to set minimum prices at the same time, but there was no collusion. “
Cowinkydink? I think not.
I hope that these medical companies enjoy the heck out of rolling in it while they can, because this and the recent outrageous drug price increases just provides more ammo to single-payer.
Mrs. 2ndDivisionVet is a manager for Sears Optical, which is part of Luxottica Group, the largest vision-related company in the world. She says to call your local store and negotiate with the optical manager, as they’re called. No price is totally fixed on much of anything and how much your insurance company pays (if applicable) also factors in. They also have senior, military, veterans and other discounts and even a charity program for those who cannot afford certain items. See this, as well:
One Sight
https://onesight.org/
I wonder if this will affect prices at the Canadian places I buy them for a little over 1/2 price and no prescription required?
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