>>>>>>Now we'll see how many people use it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>https://www.ajc.com/news/national/hospital-prices-are-about-public/2jXYHgoR5CObBj6fSJQQUO/
>>>>>
>>>>>I had a ten day stay in the local hospital this summer.
>>>>>Medicare and my supplemental insurance paid about 20% of the hospital's (outrageous) bill and that was OK with the hospital.
>>>>>I'd imagine that at least half that hospital's patients use Medicare.
>>>>>So, I'm not sure what the hospital's price list really means.
>>>>
>>>>It means that you can shop around for the best price :)
>>>
>>>And you get what you paid for :)
>>
>>It's like anything else -- the highest price does not always mean the best product.
>
>Then, what do you mean by "best price"? :) $1 above the lowest? :)

I see the smiley at the end, but still offer my earnest rule of thumb:
the price where [perceived/current] customer [satisfaction/relation] of current biz partner is close enough to the triple of lowest prices so that I can spare the effort to check out alternatives.

Usually if my current contract price is under 5% distance of low bidders, I do not even check out alternatives.
Between 5 and 10% I try to ascertain if that price difference is/was stable for at least the year before, and if actual savings are high, perhaps change.
Between 10 and 25%: check out 3 lowest prices, usually NOT going for cheapest offer (and making certain that lower offer is known to other side)

And always give current partner chance to match lower prices if current relation is good.

Hoping to get marked as price sensitive, but still valued customer - for instance in car insurance I can discuss surcharge for non-factory line equipment or allowance for other drivers if there is a need (my accident free time span gets nice reductions esp for high HP, but sometimes it is better/smarter to allow other driver for special trips). TANSTAAFL...