I think your not thinking this out. There are 3 MAJOR components that derive the cost of medications in the US. First is the actually cost of production. This is easy to figure out. Second is the cost of R&D and return on R&D $$$ used to develop the drug and take the risk of finding a vaible product. Also fairly easy for the quants at the drug company to put a price on. Then there is the cost of product liability. This one is hard to quantify and by far the most expensive. See, here in the US we want to be protected from possible effects of prescription medications. Look at the Vioxx debacle. How much did MRK pay out? A lot. Billions. The drug companies have to charge for anticipated litigation risk and possible punitive damages. In Canada,where there is no product liability, they don't have this risk. If you have a heart attack, you get free medical care to try to save your life. Thats it. You can't sue. You don't have that right. How much did MRK pay in Canada? I don't think anything. LEts say you did see patients and merely said in passing, Viagra might be right for you BUT didn't prescribe it. Then your patient went online and bought it and had a heart attack from it. You, my friend, are on the hook, right there with PFE. Sucks doesn't it?

So, that's how drugs are cheap in Canada. They offer no warranty in the US. Its not that the drug companies are sqeezing the food money from seniors. So all sales coming into the US are illegal but offer lower costs.

There have also been numerous cases of autos coming to the US from Canada at a cheaper price due to differences in warranties and regional pricing. Do you think you get a US warranty on a car smuggled illegally into the US that was built, and tagged for sale in Canada? Nope, but it happens all the time.

Same with cameras. Go look in a photography mag. You want it cheap, buy it without a US warranty.

Sorry for the hijack.

So let me ask you, do you take your store bought ahi tuna to the local sushi house and ask them to filet it?

Damon (Control Remotes), Brian (briremo), Sean (Remote Monkey), Glackowitz, Steve Garn, Mike (Surf Remote), Pheonix, and Mike (Pilgram), thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, they are all greatly appreciated. My wife is starting to get morning sickness now so it could be a fun month or two:) I'm not in quite the fog I was in last week, so my reality is coming back to me.

I'll post some pictures when he/she arrives (please God, not they:)

Matt

diesel,

When my wife was sick it was most of the time...We would go have a nice dinner then on the way to the car she usually lost it all in the parking lot

She was Hormonal like no other..OMG she was upset over everything or crying over nothing.

So if your wife goes there...I feel for you with my deepest sympathy

Again Congats

She's emotional anyways, so I'm sure I'll be on the receiving end of a few ass-chewings. That's O.K., I'll probably deserve a few of them:)

Just make sure you attend the Dr. appointments for the first time you hear the heart beat and also the ultasound ones. Because guys can't feel the changes our wives go thru its hard to get excited but when you can hear, see or feel (first kicks) it really hits home. I also freaked out when my wife was pregnant with our first child. I found out just after I put in my two weeks notice at work because we were moving to Florida. Then the job I was going to get fell through and I was out of work for a while. I was really freaking out about money but luckily everything worked out better in the end.

I hear ya, I put so many hours in (owner, designer, installer, programmer, and salesperson) it's hard to keep up with everything around me. Now I will have an excuse to slow things down a bit.

As a twin I resent that. ; )

Hey, Gackowitz,

You just described MY wife during pregnency!!

Diesel,

It will be much better in about nine months.

Your not a "real man" until the site of a child brings a tear to your eye!

Best of wishes.

Mike

diesel

jervis is right. don't miss any appointments. i see many fathers miss out on being a parent. the dr appointments, ultrasounds and all that jazz is all part of the expereince.

being a dad is cool. its alot of work but fun none the same. i have a 4 and a 6 year old. its great. word of caution, when time to take 'final delivery,' stay at the clean end.

Oh yet, always ask, 'honey can i get you anything' or your the best your sacrificing yourself for our child. women never forget that they do all the work in this phase. so be concerned, compassionate, bring flowers and try to do a liltle something nice daily. hell, maybe we should all do something nice daily for our wives.

congrats.

Thanks Kevin.

I have a question re this whole issue which, I hope, some attorney who sees this can answer.

Can a business REFUSE to sell to ANY buyer? I know this is true for some controlled devices (e.g. medical , and radio transmission equipment), but how about remote controls? How can RTI (for example) legally not sell to me?

I would think that someone could invoke civil rights legislation to bust such a policy. They won't sell to me because I am (black, catholic, old, jewish, muslim, aisian, and so on -- fill in the blank).

Any lawyers out there?

RTI is not a retail business.

They can choose how they want to distribute their product and to who.

Can you call up Ford and buy a car direct? Or would they refer you to a dealer?

I'm a lawyer, and have been one for thirty-five years. The answer to your question is that yes, of course they can refuse to sell to the general public. Manufacturers, distributors, etc. do so regularly.

Your 'civil rights' approach is misplaced. The examples you cite are members of what are called "suspect classes", and are constitutionally protected. If RTI refused to sell to a DEALER because he was black, then he MIGHT have a case. But since RTI will sell to NO consumers (and since consumers are not a "suspec class"), regardless of color, there are no civil rights issues involved here....

rosariorose9

Many businesses have had posted "we reserve the right to refuse service". I believe businesses should have that right. If a customer comes into a nice restaurant, they may be asked to leave if they do not meet that establishment's dress code. Trendy bars and clubs practice that type of activity all the time, by picking and choosing who gets in.



Thank you,
Damon DG
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