I had a local pediatrician get miffed at me yesterday.
  He wanted to rent a part pump for his wife who had a pre-term. I don't
carry that particular type. "Don't you carry XX's products?" I went through
an explaination of why I had the XX's other pumps and not the one he wanted
(he asked for and got my professional opinion) and I had another company's
pumps if he was looking for a light weight pump. "I've never heard of them.
they CAN'T be very good." he said.  After a history lesson, and going through
rental rates (he asked for a professional discount too),  he was still
convinced that he wanted THAT pump. I gave him the number of a station that
carried the pump and offered to help if he wanted to buy one. In the middle
of all of this, he said, "XX is always at conferences and give me a lot of
stuff, so I like them."  I should have bit my tounge but I asked if he
recommended a brand of formula or prescription drugs on the same basis. You
can imagine the discussion that followed-- heated but professional.
I hate marketing practices in general--It should be illegal (if not immoral
and unethetical) for companies to give samples to boost sales.
I lost a rental but I hope I got him thinking.
Marie Davis, hair sufficently curled for today thank you.