How do you handle requests for special orders for a patient who wants to see a frame in another color or size? We have always been ok with ordering in a frame, or maybe even two, for them to try. They came back fairly quickly once the frame arrived and almost always purchased it. If they chose not to buy we usually added it to the board and it would sell eventually.
Now that patients seem to be shopping around a bit more, and are able to look up alternative colors online, we are getting more requests from what are becoming casual browsers rather than interested buyers. We have special orders languishing in the drawer for longer amounts of time while we are stuck with the bill. We select our stock carefully and now we are starting to get some odd pieces taking up space from this issue.
In the past we placed these special orders for no charge as a courtesy. Is it reasonable to charge a deposit for these orders? I was thinking that if the patient then purchased that frame we could credit that amount towards the purchase. If the frame sits for 30 days or more, they lose the deposit. I would love some feedback.
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