-----Original Message-----
>
> I have called hospitals in our surrounding area to check things out. You
might find it interesting that one staff RN told me they don't handle retail
or rental but she would suggest WalMart because they have the "best prices"



Susan,

I agree with the staff RN.  WalMart does have the best prices, ... for now.
One of the truisms of sales is that of quality, price and service, you can
pick any two.  I have found it quite frustrating to work with a mom for
quite a while and give her the excellent service that every new mom deserves
only to find that she went to WalMart or onto the internet to make her
purchase.  Part of the higher price that is paid in a specialty boutique is
for the service and expertise provided (and referral for help if that would
be better than equipment.)

Eventually, enough people will shop at WalMart so that the specialty shop
goes out of business and mom will have no one to advise her or guide her in
her purchases or let her know that she has other options.  The other
possibility is that the specialty shop will give in and compete on price
neglecting the service that is so critically important at this time.  Once
the specialty shop is out of business, WalMart is free to raise their prices
because they are the only game in town.

When moms do not get guidance, they often purchase equipment that does not
meet their needs nor the quality standards that professionals have come to
expect.  Then mom has an inexpensive but worthless piece of equipment.  At
that point, she often will not have the resources, whether financial or
emotional, to fix the problem, and the mom looses breastfeeding for the
"best price."  She then needs to find the financial resources to purchase
formula, bottles, teats, and additional HCP visits that will be needed.

So your RN person is right, WalMart does have the "best prices" but perhaps
the question should be, "does WalMart have the best value?"  If the moms are
referred to WalMart, is she eliminating a source of information, expertise,
and professional services from her community?  Is this in the best interest
of the moms and babies to eliminate the specialty breastfeeding resource
center as a resource in the community?  Is the RN ready to spend what often
turns out to be hours each week educating women on proper use and care or
breastfeeding equipment at the hospital's expense or as a volunteer?  If her
referrals make WalMart the only place to buy, this will be her duty to the
community because she will have facilitated the problem.

Linda Pohl, IBCLC
Phoenix AZ
Owner of a "specialty breastfeeding shop" and a very hot button on the
subject.... :)
www.eBESTFed.com

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