[RESOLVED] PetMeds - completely not a forum topic

[MMock]

Because I get awesome answers here on all my coding questions, I'm submitting this here as well. If you have a dog, have you ever ordered HeartGuard (heart worm) medicine for him/her on PetMeds?

I tried, and I was happy they wanted my vet's information. That made it seem legitimate. They called the vet then emailed me that the vet wanted me to call them. My vet refused to approve it. They said they had gotten heartworm cases in dogs who had taken medicine from online or catalog companies. (I didn't think to ask at the time if any of the dogs they treated had gotten heartworm while taking medicine they received directly from the vet!) They did not say PetMeds explicitly was one of these companies, but said something like PetMeds lost its license in FL where it is based.

And there's this: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2092231AALgX4w

They had a better price than my vet. My current vet is more $ than my previous vet so I looked around for an alternative. I called my former vet. They said they authorize PetMeds all the time.

Obviously, paying extra money is worth my pet's health, if that's what it takes.

[MMock]

http://sawyers-specialties.com/inter...eds-online.php

Reputable websites that sell medications will check with your pet's veterinarian to ensure you have the proper prescription... Right! Uh, right?

[Shaggy Hiker]

A nice situation to be in. You have to dismiss somebodies claim, but who do you trust? The vet may have a financial incentive to get you to buy through them (well, ok, it is pretty clear that they DO have such an incentive). On the other hand, there's nothing like the warm, friendly, neighborhood experience you get dealing with a web site in person.

How about this: Are the pills you have, or have gotten, in any way distinct? If they come stamped with something, then perhaps you could recognize pills from on-line.

Frankly, I'd be inclined to say that it's safe, but I don't know.

[MMock]

I think they are stamped. I have to check. But I don't know if she's all out or has one left. I can ask another dog owner.

I did ask PetMeds if they would fill my order regardless of vet approval. It will be interesting to see if they do. If most vets authorize them, they might just want to protect their rep and tell me no (which will make me want to order from them all the more!)

[MMock]

Interesting....

My question to them: >
> I spoke with my dogs' former vet and they said they have no problem authorizing prescriptions through you.
>
> Given that my current vet will not authorize it, I don't know if you are willing to continue the transaction without their authorization.


Their reply to me:
> Good afternoon, Marlene. Thank you for your email. I hope you and Sara are having an awesome day. Marlene, please provide us with the vet telephone number, so we can contact them vet for approval. If you need immediate assistance, please call us at 1-800-Petmeds. Give Sara a treat for us!
> Thank you,
>
> Your friends at 1-800-Petmeds
> www.1800PetMeds.com
>

Oh brother! I wrote back and asked if they even read my message...

[Shaggy Hiker]

No. That's gotta be a canned response.

[MMock]

A stupid canned response if you ask me. I can't stand it when customer service goes overboard with niceness. And there's a typo! so we can contact them vet

This was the final reply, so I guess I have nothing to worry about:
MarleneThank you for your email. I am sorry we can not ship with out a prescription from a vet. Thank you, Your friends at 1-800-Petmedswww.1800PetMeds.com

Thanks for the discussion, and if your vet allows it, use Pet Meds! They sound legitimate to me!!!