Buying a pre-owned Auto

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:57 pm

I've found a used REMStar Auto with a heated humidifier for $200.

That seems too good to be true.

I'm pretty sure it's the tank, not the M-Series.

Would you consider it? What questions would you ask?

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:26 pm

Ask,"cash or Check'?

get b4 the person changes hir mind.

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:31 pm

Well, I learned something.

Check the model number because the seller might not know what they're talking about.

The model he gave me isn't an Auto. It's a Pro - the original one that was dicontinued in 2005.

I also asked how many hours the machine had been used. The seller didn't know how to check that. Since I'm no longer interested in the machine, I didn't pursue the issue. But, how many hours is too many?

While I'm not getting the machine, this thread might be a good place to add recommendations for what people should ask if buying a used xPAP.

I'll start:

1. Ask for the specific model number and verify on-line it's one you want.
2. Ask for the number of hours the machine has been used.

What else should one ask?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:36 pm

Ask if it has C-Flex. REMstar Autos did not have C-Flex added to them until a few years ago.

If you don't think you need C-Flex, it doesn't matter. But if you do want C-Flex and that hasn't been mentioned in the description of the machine, ask to be sure a used "REMstar Auto" has it.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:50 pm

As RG says, a CFlex machine makes a big difference both in value & function.

The Auto & Cpap machines without CFlex sell very cheaply.

As for hours, 1 year's use is a max I would pay for. That is 365 x 8 (as an average) = roughly 3,000 hrs max. Any more & the machine may be a little too old for safety.

But to be honest, for the little difference in $s plus the benefit of a warranty, I would buy a new one from cpap.com.

Good luck.

DSM

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, cflex, CPAP, auto

Steve-o · Post by **Steve-o** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:54 pm

how do you know the previous owner didn't have TB or some other infectious disease? Probably unlikely, but still...

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:05 pm

FWIW - the machine that prompted this posting does have C-Flex. But, I'm still not getting it. I hadn't really considered buying used until I saw the ad.

Steve-o wrote:how do you know the previous owner didn't have TB or some other infectious disease? Probably unlikely, but still...

I actually thought about this before I responded to the ad. But the CPAP I had attached to me for my titration study wasn't brand new. Makes me think there must be a way to thoroughly disinfect a machine.

I wonder if you could ask the seller if they've had any infectious disease... hmmmm

CRMW · Post by **CRMW** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:41 pm

I would be more concerned if the CPAP was used in a smoking household. The machine is pumping air through a 6' tube, it is unlikely that bugs would crawl up into the blower and wait to infect someone. However once smoke gets in the machine I suspect it will be there forever.

Chris

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:31 pm

The issue of who used it before is an interesting one & perhaps best avoided The following is said tongue-in-cheek

I saw some cpaps being sold in 2005 that came from an horse farm (I have no idea why an animal farm was selling used cpaps on Yahoo back then) but I bought one just for the hell of it (paid $10 for a Remstar Plus & $10 for a PB318).

I thought about what animal it may have been used on (I could tell from a sniff test ) - I pulled this Remstar Plus apart & thoroughly cleaned & disinfected it & then used it. (I am one of those boomers who grew up in a world of germs - we are tough - we needed our daily dose of germs to toughen us up - barefoot country kid ) It worked just fine.

The PB318 smells so bad of smoke I am convinced it was retrieved from a house fire. No amount of disinfecting could remove the overpowering smell of burning house. It is never going to be used by anyone - just makes a good museum piece.

DSM