Sometimes going through this process opens up doors that are hard to close. Once all of these cards are out on the table, doctors are often surprised by how non-competitive their previously preferred vendors are.
If you still aren’t pleased with the “floor” being offered to you by a long-time supplier, despite everything discussed in Step 7 — you might seriously consider cutting ties. Once your eyes are opened to what’s actually possible, it can be difficult to continue doing business with them. There are a plethora of independent suppliers who offer fractional pricing for equal-quality goods in today’s market.
Suppliers can handle these negotiations poorly and clearly demonstrate that your business isn’t as valuable to them as you were led to believe. When you’re made to feel underappreciated or disposable, it’s almost always time to take your business elsewhere.
When these events take place, it doesn’t make sense to force a round peg into a square hole. Assuming you’ve found a supplier of equal quality that competes much more aggressively for your business, don’t hesitate to move on. Relationships are valuable, but they should also be symbiotic — not parasitic like so many supplier relationships have become in this industry.