120-105= me getting ripped off.

I’ve had contact lenses for the better part of 18 years now and because my eyes are sensitive, I had to use the gas permeable contacts.  Which I love, I find them to be comfortable and easy to take care of, plus long lasting. 

Now those that wear contacts, know that solution isn’t cheap and we go through a fair amount of solution.  So in the end that’s a good size chunk of change that comes out of our pockets and goes into the contact solution companies.   So we like to save every last drop of solution and be as stingy as we can, because we know that the next bottle will cost us a kidney or a “donation” of some sort (use your imagination there people).

Therefore, imagine my surprise and disgust when I went to my local drug store here in Canada to purchase my solution so that I can bring some back to NL and I see a new bottle with LESS product but for MORE money!!!  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….

So this prompted me to write to the company and complain, below you will find my email:

Hello,

 

I’m sure I’m not the first to make mention of this, and if I am then I’m sure there will be others who will follow suit concerning your new bottles that you have out for the Boston contact solution (all different varieties).  I noticed that not only are the bottles 15ml smaller then the old ones but the price has increased by 2 dollars for most stores. 

 

I thought that ok… maybe they are trying to save money, but when I saw the increase of price and the decrease of product I realized that you aren’t trying to save money but instead rip off your customers.  How do you justify taking away 15ml of solution for a “New Look”, but yet you hike the price?  Now really if I’m paying the extra 2.00 per bottle because your budget went a little over when trying to design the snazzy new flip tops; then for the most part I can understand that.  BUT why are you reducing the amount of solution in the bottle?  OH wait… don’t tell me, you are trying to save on packaging.  Got it. No problem.  But, and yes of course there will be a “but”, that means less packaging, less product to bottle the solution in, less money spent to bottle the solution, more space when shipping since you can fit more on a pallet thanks to the new sleek design, less cost for shipping, more money in the company.  So then since there is more money in the company why are you now charging an extra 2.00 a bottle?? I mean you just went through a massive reconstruction of the bottle design and cardboard box design so that you can make the consumer THINK they are still getting the 120ml in a bottle.  But in fact they are only getting 105ml in a bottle.  So where exactly is the extra 2.00 going if not in the bottle?

 

Slush fund for the CEO’s vacation? 

 

Either way I’m not impressed.  I’ve been using your product for the better part of 18 years.  I knew what bottle I had to buy and I knew how long each bottle would last.  Now with this new bottle and the 15ml less, I’m at a loss.  I have no idea if I’m going to be able to handle the flip top with out injury, or if the new “round” bottle will easily slip from my grasp landing on my dog’s head causing severe brain damage, or if the 15ml less product will turn my contact wearing life into turmoil because I might run out – no I will run out earlier then anticipated, or maybe in this economic crisis I will have to declare bankruptcy because the additional 2.00 per bottle will drain my savings.  Who knows what is going to happen, all I know is that after all these years of using your product, and I feel cheated.

 

I understand that companies are looking for a way to save money, but don’t rip us off by giving us less product and hiking the price in the process.  You want to save money, then find a way to do it on the inside with in the company.  Not by reaching into our pockets to compensate your budget problems.  The consumer is what keeps the company going, and if you start to take away then we are only going to find another product to go with, however inferior the product maybe.  I’m not happy in the least about this, and I’m sure you can figure out the math where you are going to gain in this and I’m going to loose. 

 

Feel free to contact me, I’ll try my best to read the reply if my internet doesn’t get shut off because of an unpaid bill.  The things I have to sacrifice to be able to see.

Now to see if I actually get a reply.  I doubt it, they are probably too busy counting my twoonies they reefed from me.

*EDIT*

Well I got a reply…from the sounds of it they have their standard template all ready for this type of thing.

Dear Melissa,

 

Thank you for contacting Bausch & Lomb Canada.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your concern with us. 

Bausch & Lomb’s global manufacturing has decided to use the new bottles in order to have one type of bottle used world wide.

Where as before many different countries had different bottle types.  

As for the new prices at retail, we needed to make a price adjustment. We had not had a price increase for over ten years on the Boston products.

With the high cost of gas and transportation, we believe the price adjustment is justified.

If you can forward us your mailing address, we will gladly send you some rebate coupons.

 

Needless to say… I’m taking the coupons!!!!