10 Money-Saving Tips for Buying Medical Surgical Supplies

On average, hospitals in America spend more than $36 billion every year on medical surgical supplies. That’s nearly $12 billion per hospital and this figure doesn’t include general doctors’ surgeries and practices.

These supplies play a vital role in the daily care that patients receive. From bandages to surgical equipment to hospital beds, you need it all. So how can you get your hands on all the equipment you need without it costing the earth? Also, you can prefer Medical Equipment Supplier that helps to manage your hospital work.

Read on to find out our top ten tips on how to save money on medical supplies without compromising on quality.

1. Time It Right

When you shop can have a big impact on the price you get. In fact, choosing to buy your medical supplies at the right time can save you thousands of dollars.

The best times of year to buy affordable medical supplies are:

• At the end of the year (between November 15 and December 31), when suppliers will be looking to clear their inventory.
• At the end of each quarter (March, June, or September) when suppliers are looking to hit their sales targets.
• At holidays or special events, when suppliers may offer discounts.

It’s also important to remember that all medical suppliers are salespeople. This means they want to close a deal quickly. So if you go to them saying you’ll buy today if you can agree on a price you could get a very good deal.

2. Consider Refurbished Equipment

Buying refurbished equipment is a great way to save money on medical supplies, provided you do this safely. All professionally refurbished equipment should offer:

• Testing and certification from biomedical technicians
• Cleaning by professionals
• New accessories
• A warranty
• Proper packaging
• An operators manual

If refurbished equipment doesn’t offer these guarantees, you should look elsewhere.

3. Ask to See a “Dollar Menu” When Shopping for Medical Surgical Supplies

A “dollar menu” is a list of items that a medical supply company has overstocked on. This means that they have more than they need of particular medical surgical supplies and may be willing to sell them more cheaply.

This is a great tactic to use, especially at the end of the fiscal year. A company won’t offer these up straight away so it’s important to be proactive about asking for this.

4. Make the Most of Trade Show Offers

Most surgeons and hospital owners know that making the most of a trade show is one of the oldest medical surgical supplies buying tips in the book.

At the shows, exhibitors will offer special discounts or bulk-buying deals. To access these you may only have to pay a fraction of the price on the day!

Of course, the last day is the best day to snag last-minute deals. So it’s a good idea to scout them out over a few days and make any purchases on the last day.

5. Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk is an absolute must if you want to save money on medical supplies.

Often large quantities of stock will come with a discount. This also saves you money on shipping and delivery costs.

So if you know you are buying products with a long shelf-life that you are going to use a lot of, buying in bulk will save you a lot of money in the long run.

6. Get Friendly

Getting your hands on affordable medical surgical supplies isn’t just about sniffing out the best deals. It’s also about making good connections with salespeople.

Being friendly and polite when looking for deals goes a long way. This will ensure you’re on salespeople’s ‘favorites’ lists. So when they have a good deal to offer, you’ll be the first person they come to and this leads us to our next point.

7. Avoid the Medical Equipment Buying No-Nos

Our top tips for buying medical surgical supplies aren’t just to be friendly. Cultivating good relationships with sales reps is also about avoiding certain behavior.

When dealing with medical equipment suppliers you should never:

• Request a quote and then disappear off the face of the earth.
• Make unreasonable demands (on price or delivery).
• Call them without looking at their pricing lists.
• Contact multiple people at the same supply company to try and get a discount.
• Try to compare the price of two incomparable products.

Doing any of those things won’t help you get a discount and will damage your relationship with a medical salesperson.

8. Open the Dialogue About Your Needs

Medical supply salespeople have access to a whole range of equipment, so they might be able to help you out.

This is why it’s a good idea to tell them what you’re looking for and the budget you’re working with. They might be able to point you in the direction of some more affordable alternatives.

When you do this, it’s important to point out any other criteria you’re working with, such as needing FDA approval.

9. Offer a Testimonial

Selling medical equipment is a very competitive job and you as a buyer have something to offer. Offering to give a recommendation or testimonial can put you in a medical supplier’s good books.

For the biggest impact, make sure you emphasize who your contacts are. You might also want to mention if you run a big hospital or multiple medical practices. That way they’ll think you have more business to send their way in the future.

10. Negotiate In Person

Visiting a medical supplier in person shows them that you’re serious about making a purchase. It also gives them the opportunity to really impress and you the chance to get more for your money.

Most medical suppliers will cover the costs of your flights and accommodation. They’re also more likely to offer giveaways and free accessories for big purchases in person than over the phone.

Get Affordable Medical Surgical Supplies Today

When it comes to equipping your hospital or practice with medical surgical supplies, there are plenty of things you can do to save money. As well as buying strategically and shopping for discounts, it also pays to be nice.

So what are you waiting for? For more great business advice, keep scrolling now.