| Pet health care has experienced tremendous growth | | | | rule, and they can in fact be more susceptible to |
| in the past 5 years. New advancements in disease | | | | bait-and-switch techniques. For example, a number of |
| treatment and prevention have improved the quality | | | | pet medicines require refrigerated delivery which adds |
| of life for our pets, but the average cost of care per | | | | to the cost of delivery. Since the consumer typically |
| animal has risen substantially. This has lead to pet | | | | absorbs this cost through additional fees, the listed |
| owners seeking any opportunity to save money on | | | | price of refrigerated meds rarely represents the total |
| medical costs. One of the more popular ways to | | | | cost to you. Thus, it is important to read the shipping |
| save is to buy discount pet meds online. But before | | | | terms and options between merchants before |
| you jump into the online marketplace, here are some | | | | making a final decision. |
| important things to watch for. | | | | Support |
| Total Cost | | | | Customer service is an important part of any sales |
| Unlike books or computers that have a relatively | | | | transaction, but it becomes invaluable when you |
| straightforward pricing structure, pet meds are | | | | buying something you cannot inspect until it arrives at |
| packaged in a number of different ways. Frontline | | | | your door. Some of the so-called discount pet med |
| Plus for example (a popular flea control product), is | | | | suppliers on the internet are merely third-party |
| packaged according to dog size as well as the | | | | distributors or warehouses. They are not specialized |
| number of treatments. This is important to note | | | | in the pet care industry, and most of their customer |
| since it is easy for advertisers to draw you in with an | | | | service reps have very little exposure to the |
| attractive price. However, this may not be the best | | | | products they sell. This not only creates a gap in |
| value for your situation if you own a large dog, or | | | | communication, but it can also lead to a higher |
| perhaps even multiple dogs. The point is to compare | | | | percentage of wrong orders. Make sure your online |
| prices across a consistent grade in order to find the | | | | pet med supplier deals solely with pet related |
| best discounts. | | | | products. Ideally they would also feature a staff of |
| Shipping | | | | veterinarians available to answer any questions you |
| As with any online purchase, shipping can make or | | | | have about their products. |
| break the deal. Pet meds are no exception to this | | | | |