My Chi is being neutered today

[Rosiem2808]

I hope this does not breach guidelines and apologise if it does, but I want to talk about money.
It is costing £307 for the castration with a standard collar for afterwards but they tried really hard to sell me more expensive collar/anti biting alternatives which I decided were unnecessary (been down this route many times before). I think it is costing enough for the castration alone without being pushed to buy more products.
Another attempt at selling me insurance at the point of handing over my dog which I thought was awfully bad timing and I refused. I felt like I was saying 'No' a lot.
When I raised the question of removing the dew claws on his back legs which just dangle and serve no purpose that I could see, I was told this is a cosmetic procedure and not all vets will do this. I fully accepted this and said fine.
As I was driving home they called me and said the vet would be prepared to do it at an extra cost of £220. I declined.
The last time I had this done it was suggested by the vet for safety reasons and they just did it as part of the operation. I know we live in a different word now and everything is about money. I did not expect them to quote such a large amount !
For context, I am not dissing my vets or I would not be trusting them with my precious pet.
Am I being naive I suppose is the question?

Vets are a business 🤷‍♀️

Vets have in the main been taken over by large umbrella groups. Hardly surprising that costs have gone up sadly!

I have always had pets. Gone are the days when the vet was your friend it seems. I know it is private healthcare, but £220 for removing two tiny dewclaws on an animal already under anaesthetic was a shocker.

These days I do not just stick to one vet. I have to shop around which is a shame as I think it's good to have a relationship with your vet.

Many vets have been taken over by big conglomerates & costs have rocketed.
Happened to my vets, rural vet, two years ago when the main vet the owner, retired. She’d been my vet for decades & we’d become friends over the years especially as one of my old girls was there almost monthly the year before she retired. Was shocked the first appointment I had after the change over. The consultation fee had almost doubled as had treatment costs. The hours had also shrunk, no weekend appointments except for Saturday morning ten till twelve only & double the weekday consultation fee. At six o’clock weekday evenings you just got a phone message to send you, as out of hours or emergency, to a city location which is well over an hours drive away