Carla MacInnis wrote: (among other things...) > > Wouldn't it be great if some Joe Blow living with paraplegia or cp, > started his own shop selling the very same products at lesser prices. > Heck, it costs the same to manufactur them no matter where they are sold! > The orthotics shop gets away with gouging the public because they have a > captive audience, even though it is limited. God! I know what you mean! A couple years ago I had articulated AFO (an "ankle-foot-orthotic" that bends at the ankle) made from high-impact PTFE. Thing set me back about $2000. Anyway, it never worked right until I showed the thing to the physiatrist and he said it would NEVER work right because when the orthotist made it, she formed it to my foot while it was tonic! I tried to get her to redo the thing or give me back my cash. Yeah, right! So, you're right. Their market is captive. Your fellow prisoner, Kyle