Paula, I have also had trouble reading your messages. I don't know what the problem is... We charge a cleaning fee for pumps. $5. Big deal. But the worst ones come back from health professionals, and this is SCARY. I feel like I can say this cause it is true here, and I am a nurse...not maligning the profession in general. I have 2 partners, and 4 substations. THis works well for us. We do not charge a deposit, but we do charge late fees for bills not paid on time.... Kathleen >Paula, the last two messages I've gotten from you on Lactnet have started >apparently in mid sentence and then repeat again with a forwarding message at >the bottom. Am I missing anything? (specifically notes. Many days I suspect I am >missing brain matter....<G>) > >Speaking of pumps. I had the filthiest pump I've ever seen returned to me. I >would be embarassed to turn in something that looked this bad. Milk all over >everything, and what looked like it might have been dried grape juice or >something. And this from a nurse. I guess it is finally time to get serious and >start charging a cleanup fee on these things. How do y'all handle such? In Ga I >would routinely get a deposit on the pumps but never used it for a cleaning fee. >Here I haven't bothered with the deposit since so far the moms I've dealt with >just don't have a lot of money. I'm realizing that may just not work any more. I >have this bad habit of assuming people will do what is reasonable, expected, >etc. > >Do any of y'all have substations? Sharon (my Atlanta LC buddy) has told me she >has 3 of them now, after learning about them on the cruise conference. >Apparently they work pretty well for her, tho I'm not sure of the particulars. >Seems she does the paperwork and the substation handles the renting. I don't >know what kind of price deal she has with them. One is an LLL Leader, and >another is a pharmacy, and I don't know about the 3rd. > >Melissa > > ********************************************************** Kathleen B. Bruce RN, BSN, IBCLC Williston, Vermont USA [log in to unmask] Remember to stop and smell the "roses!" **********************************************************************