5 ms·

> Hims charges $28.50 for a monthly supply of finasteride, plus a $5 fee for an online physician visit. The drug can be had for half the price elsewhere. Good

by koolba 7y ago

> Hims charges $28.50 for a monthly supply of finasteride, plus a $5 fee for an online physician visit. The drug can be had for half the price elsewhere. Good luck finding a doctor to write you a scrip elsewhere for $5. Assuming you’re on the common high deductible plan you’re looking at $100+ for a 5-min appointment unless you can mention it in passing to during your annual checkup. Can you take the scrip from these online pharmacies to your local one and get the $.15/pill pricing?

arcticbull 7y ago
> Can you take the scrip from these online pharmacies to your local one and get the $.15/pill pricing? I'd wager the bulk of the premium is in the discretion -- bland packaging that just shows up at your door -- so you don't have to look anyone in the face and ask for it. If you were okay with that, you'd just have done it at your annual physical like you suggested.
- village-idiot 7y ago
  And convenience too. I use Harry’s razors because the shopping experience is really nice, even though I could probably find a similar quality for cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes people optimize for ease rather than cost.
  - arcticbull 7y ago
    Indeed, I'm a big fan of Harry's. Curious how it changes as a member of the Schick family.
jonathanjaeger 7y ago
Costco online costs about $35-$40 PER YEAR for finasteride and it comes in just as bland a packaging as anyone else would send. I can't speak to the other products Hims sells. Hims is cheaper than CVS for generic finasteride but is 10x more expensive than Costco online.
- romwell 7y ago
  The same can be said about many things Costco sells. And yet people are willingly paying about $100/year for Amazon Prime to buy things from Amazon at a higher price. Not understanding why people would prefer to do that is a big part in how companies like Sears died.
  - snazz 7y ago
    Why do people prefer to do that? I’m genuinely curious as I’ve significantly reduced my Amazon usage besides for buying niche programming books (otherwise I hit my local bookstore and a physical retailer for everything else).
    - sokoloff 7y ago
      Because I don’t have to drive to Costco for things I buy on Amazon (or EBay or Aliexpress or Zappos or...) With kids, an overall busy schedule, and more free money than free time, I’d much rather pay a few bucks and wait a day or two. Click, click, click, it’s fast and easy.
      - snazz 7y ago
        Sorry, that was unclear. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the advantages of buying things online and getting them delivered; I should have asked why people stand the Amazon tax when there’s so many other options at better prices and equally convenient (including Costco’s online delivery service).
      - masonic 7y ago
        Why do you have to drive for purchases from Costco Online?
mlevental 7y ago
>Can you take the scrip from these online pharmacies to your local one and get the $.15/pill pricing? https://www.getroman.com/faq/#toggle-id-3 https://www.getroman.com/faq/#toggle-id-3 >You can always use your own pharmacy, although it can be twice the price. It’s also important that your pharmacy is able to receive e-prescriptions and that it’s part of the Surescripts Network. (The Surescripts Network includes 95% of pharmacies across the country). The "twice the price" thing is a scare tactic. If you're insurance covers it then it'll be cheap.
romwell 7y ago
So you're saying one can pay $35 and get something with a click, and only get charged a few bucks out of that for conveniece? These guys are Amazon Prime for Viagra.
JauntTrooper 7y ago
Not to mention the time it takes to find a doctor, schedule an appointment, fill out their extensive (always hand written) forms, give them insurance info, take time off of work to go wait in the waiting room for hours.... doctors are as convenient as the DMV.

by koolba 7y ago

arcticbull 7y ago

> Can you take the scrip from these online pharmacies to your local one and get the $.15/pill pricing? I'd wager the bulk of the premium is in the discretion -- bland packaging that just shows up at your door -- so you don't have to look anyone in the face and ask for it. If you were okay with that, you'd just have done it at your annual physical like you suggested.

village-idiot 7y ago
And convenience too. I use Harry’s razors because the shopping experience is really nice, even though I could probably find a similar quality for cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes people optimize for ease rather than cost.
- arcticbull 7y ago
  Indeed, I'm a big fan of Harry's. Curious how it changes as a member of the Schick family.

jonathanjaeger 7y ago

Costco online costs about $35-$40 PER YEAR for finasteride and it comes in just as bland a packaging as anyone else would send. I can't speak to the other products Hims sells. Hims is cheaper than CVS for generic finasteride but is 10x more expensive than Costco online.

romwell 7y ago
The same can be said about many things Costco sells. And yet people are willingly paying about $100/year for Amazon Prime to buy things from Amazon at a higher price. Not understanding why people would prefer to do that is a big part in how companies like Sears died.
- snazz 7y ago
  Why do people prefer to do that? I’m genuinely curious as I’ve significantly reduced my Amazon usage besides for buying niche programming books (otherwise I hit my local bookstore and a physical retailer for everything else).
  - sokoloff 7y ago
    Because I don’t have to drive to Costco for things I buy on Amazon (or EBay or Aliexpress or Zappos or...) With kids, an overall busy schedule, and more free money than free time, I’d much rather pay a few bucks and wait a day or two. Click, click, click, it’s fast and easy.
    - snazz 7y ago
      Sorry, that was unclear. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the advantages of buying things online and getting them delivered; I should have asked why people stand the Amazon tax when there’s so many other options at better prices and equally convenient (including Costco’s online delivery service).
    - masonic 7y ago
      Why do you have to drive for purchases from Costco Online?

mlevental 7y ago

>Can you take the scrip from these online pharmacies to your local one and get the $.15/pill pricing? https://www.getroman.com/faq/#toggle-id-3 https://www.getroman.com/faq/#toggle-id-3 >You can always use your own pharmacy, although it can be twice the price. It’s also important that your pharmacy is able to receive e-prescriptions and that it’s part of the Surescripts Network. (The Surescripts Network includes 95% of pharmacies across the country). The "twice the price" thing is a scare tactic. If you're insurance covers it then it'll be cheap.

romwell 7y ago

So you're saying one can pay $35 and get something with a click, and only get charged a few bucks out of that for conveniece? These guys are Amazon Prime for Viagra.

JauntTrooper 7y ago

Not to mention the time it takes to find a doctor, schedule an appointment, fill out their extensive (always hand written) forms, give them insurance info, take time off of work to go wait in the waiting room for hours.... doctors are as convenient as the DMV.