Coffee roaster sells false teeth along with beans
A German coffee retailer is selling false teeth and crowns alongside its fresh-roasted beans, in a move criticized by dentists as interference in the dentist-patient relationship.
The Tchibo chain, famous for offering an odd selection of products for sale - such as pyjamas or household appliances - has now branched out to include teeth in its selection.
The chain launched its false teeth offer on Tuesday in partnership with Hamburg firm Dentaltechnik which imports them from the Philippines.
"It belongs to our concept which is to regularly offer our customers something surprising," the firm said in a statement. "This time we decided for false teeth," the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday.
The discounts can be huge, with a crown costing €120 rather than the list price of €310.
The coffee-buyer with toothache fills in a Dentaltechnik form at the Tchibo shop and gets a reduced price membership at €24, which can be used via their dentist to order whatever is needed, be that a new tooth or even a full set.
Customers should check in advance if their own dentists are happy to work with the pieces they can buy when getting their coffee - but if they are not, Tchibo says they can find one who is.
The Bavarian association of statutory dentists (KZVB) said the move was a "huge interference" in the relationship between dentist and patient - as dentists generally order replacement pieces from a trusted partner.
"I can only warn against endangering your trusting relationship with your dentist which has possibly developed over decades, for the sake of a few hundred euros," KZVB head Janusz Rat told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Dental patients would not, said Rat, be offered coffee for sale at the dentists' surgeries any time soon.
The Local/hc
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The Tchibo chain, famous for offering an odd selection of products for sale - such as pyjamas or household appliances - has now branched out to include teeth in its selection.
The chain launched its false teeth offer on Tuesday in partnership with Hamburg firm Dentaltechnik which imports them from the Philippines.
"It belongs to our concept which is to regularly offer our customers something surprising," the firm said in a statement. "This time we decided for false teeth," the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday.
The discounts can be huge, with a crown costing €120 rather than the list price of €310.
The coffee-buyer with toothache fills in a Dentaltechnik form at the Tchibo shop and gets a reduced price membership at €24, which can be used via their dentist to order whatever is needed, be that a new tooth or even a full set.
Customers should check in advance if their own dentists are happy to work with the pieces they can buy when getting their coffee - but if they are not, Tchibo says they can find one who is.
The Bavarian association of statutory dentists (KZVB) said the move was a "huge interference" in the relationship between dentist and patient - as dentists generally order replacement pieces from a trusted partner.
"I can only warn against endangering your trusting relationship with your dentist which has possibly developed over decades, for the sake of a few hundred euros," KZVB head Janusz Rat told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Dental patients would not, said Rat, be offered coffee for sale at the dentists' surgeries any time soon.
The Local/hc
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