Has anyone used Groupon for chiropractic/health purposes?

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Well, I've been experiencing hip problem perhaps due to sports (tennis, mostly likely) injury. I've been calling local chiropractors for out-of-pocket fees. The avg. charge I am getting is about $85 for first visit, $50 thereafter. The subsequent visits are only 20 mins adjustment...so it's expensive if you ask me.

Now, I just browsed through Groupon. I am finding great deals on chiropractic care...$49 includes 1st visit and 2 adjustments. $59 includes 1st visit and 3 adjustments. Now, my question is...how good are these? Has anyone tried before? At such a low price, I am afraid of what I will be getting.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Really? Nobody?

 

[marmasatt]

I don't know dude. By out of pocket, I take it do you not have health insurance? I pay $20 after copay. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they are charging ins. companies $70-100 visit. Ask EITS or whatever his name is - the resident chiro on here.

 

[Slew Foot]

They get you for cheap on the first visit, then they ride you to come back every week for the rest of your life.

 

[RossMAN]

Search Yelp for reviews?

 

[Meractik]

They get you for cheap on the first visit, then they ride you to come back every week for the rest of your life.

I agree with this statement, I tried to use a groupon deal for chiropractor that promised the paid deal was for a chiropractic consult with adjustment AND 1 hour massage.

I went in the chiropractor was nice and all but he totally was hoping to sink me into being a repeat customer and explained his rates wanted me to sign and although I kept saying I wished to evaluate his services first before signing any commitments he than told me that the 1 hour massage is not something he can provide even though its on the groupon because his massage therapists are on-call only for contract customers. I said I wasn't interested in signing a contract without making sure he was the right chiropractor for me he did an adjustment and due to his snake like tactics I never went back. He even kept soliciting me via e-mail and I had to blacklist his address.

Word of advice: be careful... I would suggest just asking friends/family for referrals and possibly getting discounted rates via word of mouth through family/friends.

 

[edro]

The whole point of Groupon deals is to get you in the door.
I would think Groupon chiropractors would be slightly worse than everyone else.

Chiropractors are witch doctors, so they have to convince people to join.
Chiropractors without full schedules would have to resort to Groupon to get more customers.

Free or cheap consultations (of any kind) usually result in a bad experience or high pressure sales.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

It's not just the first visit. The price includes adjustments afterward as well.

Probably not a good route to go with. I just want to hear opinion from people who tried.

 

[eits]

the point of groupon is to generate new business for small businesses. healthcare, like chiropractic, is a business. lots of people go for massages all the time for little aches and pains, so people come in for a massage and the massage therapist talks about talking to a chiropractor about the issues they have, because muscle issues happen because of alignment problems. if you fix the alignment, you can decrease the muscle issues so you don't have to keep coming in to see a massage therapist every week for the same problem over and over and over again for years. that's the goal of groupon/living social/etc. for chiropractors... the goal is to tap into new patients to generate more business from people who otherwise might not think to see a chiropractor.

chiropractors don't get people hooked on feeling better, people get hooked on feeling better. many chiropractors are shysters who blow smoke up peoples' asses to keep making money for unnecessary treatments. however, there are good chiropractors out there who actually do treat problems and then recommend routine maintenance (once a month or so) to make sure things stay corrected rather than letting it all go to hell again and starting all over.

the way i see it, you should research any and all chiropractors you're considering going to. some are shit, some are not. secondly, as far as groupon is concerned, it's in order to generate new business... understanding that premise, you should wonder why they need new business. is it because they're crap at what they do or is it because they're really good at what they do and they get people well and send them on their way (so they need new people to treat because not everyone refers people). research and find out.

 

[eits]

The whole point of Groupon deals is to get you in the door.
I would think Groupon chiropractors would be slightly worse than everyone else.

Chiropractors are witch doctors, so they have to convince people to join.
Chiropractors without full schedules would have to resort to Groupon to get more customers.

Free or cheap consultations (of any kind) usually result in a bad experience or high pressure sales.

well, i think your premise of thinking chiropractors are witch doctors is a big detraction from reality, but we're all entitled to our opinions, no matter how misinformed they may be.

however, you're right. they want you in the door and the reason for doing this route of marketing is because they're desperate enough to take a big hit in pay to try and get new business. however, with that said, just because an office isn't busy or has a full schedule doesn't mean that it's because they're shysters. the general public will fall for practically anything, sadly enough. i've seen chiropractic offices with a full schedule and the chiropractor was just a really good salesman and not worthy of being called a doctor whatsoever. he wasn't good at all, he just knew how to talk to people and milk them the right way so they kept coming back and brought their families and everyone at their church and everything.

long story short: research whoever you're thinking about getting a groupon from. visit the clinic, ask honest questions without being interrogating or a dickhead, google around, see if their perspective lines up with how you feel about things. above all else, ask yourself if you think he will respect you, your money, and your intelligence and whether or not he's intelligent and certified enough for you to trust with your health. credentials and professional history matter.

 

[Vdubchaos]

My take on it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtK_YsVInw8

 

[Legios]

My mom bought a Groupon for Lasik, and now she doesnt wear glasses......

If I had known I would have tried to stop her.