Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 15:37:41 GMT -5
I can definitely see my dentist starting to charge a fee although my BFF's husband uses the same dentist and had his teeth cleaned last week with no fee. My dentist doesn't give out "free" toothbrushes because, he says, they aren't really free. He can charge us for them if we like, or we can buy our own.
I do have a teeth cleaning appointment next month. I'll pay the fee if there is one. Certain things are basically necessities, and dental hygiene falls into that category along with mammograms, pap smears, and other preventative procedures.
As long as dining prices go up a reasonable amount (as defined by me), that's fine. The price of food has gone up in general so they have to account for that. I rarely eat out since DH died since it isn't a ton of fun by myself. When my sister is here, we would go out to lunch a lot, but now it will be take-out. And I'll cook in more.
I actually expect all prices to rise and not because of PPE. We are about to hit a period of inflation. Prices go up long before wages begin to play catch-up. I've lived through it before. The people hit hardest are seniors because many of them live on fixed incomes.
I have VIP tickets to Christmas Village, a giant retail festival held at the Civic Center. VIP tickets cost twice as much but are hard to get. There are fewer people and no strollers, etc. I got 3 right before the Pandemic hit when my DIL and I went to Cottontail Village, a similar event held at the beginning of March. If they don't cancel and refund my money, I will see if my DIL/DD has a friend to join them or try to sell them. I won't be going.
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nidena
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Post by nidena on Jun 9, 2020 15:38:59 GMT -5
I've paid $20 at a movie theater in Japan to see Matrix part II. I'm sorry - are you talking about The Matrix Reloaded? I have no idea. I haven't watched it since. It was back in 2004.
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on Jun 9, 2020 15:40:43 GMT -5
All of our summer and fall festivals have been cancelled. Literally every weekend/week has one with live music. It's sad. Plus all of the other concerts.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 19:26:49 GMT -5
I most miss my local little theater-I doubt they will survive this. Small non-profits are always on the edge; I know because I've worked for them in the past. Although local restaurants are allowed 50% capacity beginning this Friday, I think many are already at that or more. Even those places advertising that all patrons must wear masks aren't enforcing it and I understand why. Don't expect a minimum wage server to get assaulted for enforcing a policy like that. We do curbside pickup at some restaurants and tip generously, but we aren't yet comfortable with inside dining. Prices have definitely gone up largely because of rising meat, egg and produce costs. I'm really concerned about my dentist. She can't find enough hygienists (childcare, risk ) and can't secure PPE. She has already said they will not be doing deep cleaning, polishing, or any technique that aerosolizes particles. IF they ever reopen for non-emergency visits, there will be a $25 fee because they will change everything for each patient-booties, gown, gloves, face shield, etc. I'm totally good with that but understand it could be a financial barrier for some. I'm trying to help her find PPE sources but so far, no go.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 9, 2020 19:27:13 GMT -5
IF i go to movies it’s during the day and husband doesn’t go with me Movies in day are usually sparsely attended so no problem with distancing I took a day off work to see the movie Room. Usually there are such a small number of people when I do that, so I though I could go in there and cry. When I walked in, almost every seat was taken. Maybe it was the senior special showing or something. It was older couples. I felt awkward. So many of them didn't look like they had been crying when we walked out.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Jun 9, 2020 19:35:59 GMT -5
PPE does not cost that much. I work in sterile drug manufacturing. It would be a few $s, $25 is overcharging, $100 way too much. I feel bad for the businesses that will have to reduce customers, like restaurants and movie theaters. They will have to make some major adjustments to their business models, including price increases. I didn't either, but they did mention N95 masks for each patient, face shield, new gown for each patient, and shoe coverings for each patient. Sounded like it might get closer to $25, agree with $100 being way too much. Buying in bulk after we are past all the supply craziness: N95 mask $1, gowns $8, shoe coverings $0.10 each. Face shields are $10 but reusable. Really closer to $10.
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pulmonarymd
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Post by pulmonarymd on Jun 9, 2020 19:42:40 GMT -5
I do not think they should be allowed to charge a PPE surcharge. We can't, why should they. N95 have been going for up to $5 each, up by as much as 10 fold. The yellow isolation gowns were mostly made in Wuhan before this, and were on allocation since january. Lots of lousy gowns have appeared on the market, again at a huge markup. We cannot bill Medicare or Medicaid patients anything extra than what we are reimbursed by statute, so we have to eat the cost.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 20:02:30 GMT -5
I do not think they should be allowed to charge a PPE surcharge. We can't, why should they. N95 have been going for up to $5 each, up by as much as 10 fold. The yellow isolation gowns were mostly made in Wuhan before this, and were on allocation since january. Lots of lousy gowns have appeared on the market, again at a huge markup. We cannot bill Medicare or Medicaid patients anything extra than what we are reimbursed by statute, so we have to eat the cost.Possibly another reason my primary insisted on a tele-visit for my annual and says I have 6 months to get my labs done, maybe skip the mammo and he'll refill my RX without an in-person visit. I'll probably opt to self-pay for a mammo at a reputable place; that runs around $500 here which is a reasonable cost for early detection of something bad. It's going to be interesting what they propose for DH's skin cancer check-up in July. He's survived melanoma, and has had multiple squamous cell and other types removed so I won't be happy if they blow him off. We're on an Advantage plan so who knows at this point?
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justme
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Post by justme on Jun 9, 2020 20:09:26 GMT -5
I didn't either, but they did mention N95 masks for each patient, face shield, new gown for each patient, and shoe coverings for each patient. Sounded like it might get closer to $25, agree with $100 being way too much. Buying in bulk after we are past all the supply craziness: N95 mask $1, gowns $8, shoe coverings $0.10 each. Face shields are $10 but reusable. Really closer to $10. From people I know in my area trying to source things, they aren't seeing N95 for $1. Heck I approved POs at work for masks like two wks ago - it was around $1 for the regular surgical masks and I think the N95s we bought were around $4.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jun 9, 2020 21:28:29 GMT -5
I guess prices might go up, but I haven't seen it in my area yet. Since reopening i have had my hair highlighted and cut, gotten a pedicure and eaten out twice. There were no price increases that I noticed.
The first time I ate out I left a $20 tip for an $18 meal. My best friend left a $10 tip for a $15 meal.
PPE is not terribly expensive so I don't foresee major price increases due to that but rather inflation.
As for the movies, I only go maybe 3 times a year. I used to go a lot more but there really aren't very many movies made that I think are worth paying theater prices for these days.
In general, what i would be willing to pay depends on the activity. I could forego going to the movies, but would pay more to eat out because I enjoy it a lot.
I love live theater so would probably be willing to pay 30%-50% more for season tickets.
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crazycat
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Post by crazycat on Jun 9, 2020 23:12:11 GMT -5
What about the seating in live performance theaters? I maybe go to a movie theater 3 or 4 times per year. I almost always go by myself and I always leave a seat or two between me and my fellow movie goers (I really don't want to hear their whispers during the show - I don't want to be distracted as they eat their snacks/check their phone/deal with their kids/deal with their frisky friend sitting next to them. If there were more space between seats (or groups of seats) I might go more. I'm pretty sure with seating anywhere - you can sit next to the people you live with. A bigger question might be what the seating issues mean for all the live performance groups and theaters and all the ancillary businesses that go along with them. I may never get to see "A Klingon Christmas Carol" in a theater with a living breathing audience. I may never get to see a Japanese Noh performance in a theater with a living breathing audience. I may never get to see my favorite operas in a theater with a living breathing audience I may never get to see/hear a symphony performance (add in the symphony playing the score for a Movie) again. (I sobbed at the end of "City Lights" when I experienced with a symphony and house full of other people (some also sobbing). ) I may never again get to sit in a darkened party tent in a forest preserve on a dark October night with a hundred other people while a Storyteller transports us to another place and time with a story filled with creeping terror. I may never get to see a dance recital or play put on my grand nieces/nephews with a living breathing audience. It's the live performing arts I'm concerned about. I'm not all that concerned about Movie Theaters... people will be able to get together at home and watch the latest blockbuster from the comfort of their home theater. Me too . My son works as a sound engineer at a few venues out here in SoCal . He’s been out of work since end of February, beginning of March . The venues have said they most likely won’t be open til next year .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2020 10:43:04 GMT -5
Restaurants- not much extra. Maybe 50%? It depends on the experience- the frugal part of me is always comparing the cost of the ingredients to the menu price. Maybe 50% extra on movies as well.
When the happy day comes that I can take my granddaughters to Chicago by plane I plan to buy 4 seats for the 3 of us- we typically end up on RJs with 2-2 seating. That way they each get a window seat and no one has to sit next to a stranger.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 10, 2020 12:25:39 GMT -5
Restaurants- not much extra. Maybe 50%? It depends on the experience- the frugal part of me is always comparing the cost of the ingredients to the menu price. Maybe 50% extra on movies as well. When the happy day comes that I can take my granddaughters to Chicago by plane I plan to buy 4 seats for the 3 of us- we typically end up on RJs with 2-2 seating. That way they each get a window seat and no one has to sit next to a stranger. I find "not much extra" and 50% to be incongruous. A $20 entree would now be $30. A $100 dinner would be $150.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2020 12:53:01 GMT -5
I find "not much extra" and 50% to be incongruous. A $20 entree would now be $30. A $100 dinner would be $150. I don't do $100 dinners- at least not since I quit working and had an employer to foot the bill!
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Jun 11, 2020 12:14:46 GMT -5
in Berlin an opera company had performances on a large bleacher set in middle of parking garages with orchestra and singers. Audience sat in gliding chairs with about 5 covered chairs between people, 150-200 in audience Ok they performed but would I pay for this? Probably not
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Jun 11, 2020 22:53:27 GMT -5
Our dentist charged each of us $20 extra for additional costs including PPE. I can understand that. My hygienist was so worried about finding child care. She had a college student helping her for awhile, but wondering how she was going to work with kids out of school. Really even harder for working moms now as if it wasn't hard enough before.
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Jun 11, 2020 23:07:47 GMT -5
Yes our daughter-in-law is having difficulty with child care. I wish I could help but my husband is very high risk and we’re both in risk age category If schools don’t open the working moms will have problems and many children won’t be getting enough age appropriate learning Doesn’t seem any good solution just people will do best they can and careful as they choose.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 12, 2020 6:37:28 GMT -5
Childcare is a problem for all parents, not just moms. We definitely shouldnt be assuming that dads jobs arent also impacted by lack of childcare.
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Bob Ross
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Post by Bob Ross on Jun 12, 2020 9:04:56 GMT -5
I hope the businesses say F you and carry on as normal. It is ludicrous that the events over the last two weeks have been allowed to occur, yet small businesses have had to remain closed. I'm now seeing it all as nothing more than a political stunt. My DA has already said she will not enforce any citations that are appealed. This past weekend was the opening of our outdoor dining and even that had some ridiculous conditions attached to it. What I saw was a lot of people saying F you to our governor and getting back to normal life. Two weeks ago I would have been appalled but now I join them. We were played. I will support my local businesses that have been harmed. If that means paying more for dinner/drinks, so be it. I'm also lucky enough that I haven't been harmed by the shut down so I realize that not everyone will be able to pay more. I already didn't go to the movies so I certainly won't be paying more to go. But I would pay more to go to our local comedy club. That is always a good time. Yep, COVID was all a hoax, perpetrated by the Radical Left Dems. Might I introduce you to my friend "Q"?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2020 17:10:57 GMT -5
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Jun 12, 2020 20:14:04 GMT -5
Oh yeah. That's just going to bring back the reluctant fliers in droves.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2020 6:42:13 GMT -5
I fill out e-Rewards surveys (just redeemed some points for 7,000 Hilton points) and marketers are VERY interested in post-COVID buying and traveling behaviors. I've filled out a few asking what it would take to get me back into the air and made it clear that "we'll TRY to keep the middle seat empty but if we can sell every seat, too bad" will NOT work for me.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jun 13, 2020 8:41:12 GMT -5
I hope they allow us to sit together if we want. We are flying early next month and bringing my niece. I prefer that the three of us sit together in one row versus DH being in another row with a stranger.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2020 8:52:08 GMT -5
I hope they allow us to sit together if we want. We are flying early next month and bringing my niece. I prefer that the three of us sit together in one row versus DH being in another row with a stranger. I think they'd actually be happy to let you sit together as a family group. It's one of the things mentioned in the article- that there will be people traveling together who want to sit in adjacent seats so they won't have to have EVERY middle seat empty.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Jun 13, 2020 9:05:10 GMT -5
I'll pay whatever it is worth it to me but that is no different from any other time in my life. Haven't seen much change in prices here except for gas and that was a given June 1 when hurricane season sets in. They hedge their bets every year in case of National Disaster and anti gouging laws in place.
I have a dental apt in August so will see if dentist ups prices - but insurance has taken care of it in total so will be interesting to see if I owe anything above the norm.
ETA: I have received refunds for shows canceled at local theater. Some have been rescheduled and I plan to attend. But those are already paid for. Now I'm waiting to see what the casinos are doing in state west of me!!
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jun 13, 2020 9:49:06 GMT -5
One thing that has changed for the much better IMO is that the American Film Institute has moved its documentary film festival online, and an all-show pass is $50 to access. When we first moved here AFI held the doco series in its own theaters supplemented by some events at Discovery channel across the street. I'd get us each a pass and we could work out a schedule to see as many films as were of interest.
Later they began moving some shows downtown D.C., a problem for parking especially and due to DH being mobility impaired a real hassle. So we got some tickets to individual shows held here at AFI only, a much reduced experience.
But with the online pass we can see all of everything of interest on our own schedule during the five day festival. I'm really happy about this: I enjoy documentaries enormously.
You can still buy tickets to individual shows, but the all-series pass is a great deal.
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