What Should CPAPTalk.com Become?

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:54 pm

Greetings,

I was recently encouraged by a very popular thread posted by users who want to unite and gain a voice in the CPAP industry. CPAPtalk.com was founded in that hope and CPAP.com is run with that goal. Here are things we have done to try to promote a positive change:

#1 Founded CPAPtalk.com

#2 Run CPAP.com as a low cost, no insurance website

#3 Regularly conduct CPAP Interviews with major manufacturers and hold CPAPTalk.com community Call For Questions - allowing anyone who wishes to ask questions that will be delivered to the people producing the products.

#4 Published CPAP.com sales numbers to illustrate the affect design and price have on sales. (https://www.cpap.com/cpap-user-preference.php)

#5 Created Compare Charts, Sizing Guides and Video Sections. All 100% free to all.

#6 Created and Freely Distributed Introduction To The Sleep Lab DVDs in hopes new CPAP users would see them and visit our website for good information

#7 Created a very large and robust "Answers" section that answers common questions regarding all aspects of CPAP therapy. (https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq.php)

#8 Maintain at our cost a full staff of CPAP experts available for free from 8AM - 10PM via email or phone.

#9 Created BillMyInsurance.com and CPAPForSeniors.com to let those wishing to use insurance determine what their best financial options are.

#10 Created an Sleep Meetings section of CPAPTalk where anyone who wants to start a meeting of CPAP users can post it.

We have experienced growth due to this effort, however, all agree that compared to the size of the problem we could be doing better. I'm open to other ways we can leverage cpap.com and cpaptalk.com into vehicles for end user equipment improvement.

What would you like to see CPAPtalk offer and how would that offering change the CPAP industry for the better?

Johnny

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:16 pm

Start a list of things to think about......

Can you/would you:
support a CAB (Community Advisory Board)?
help in communicating with manufacturers?

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:23 pm

I have this fear, irrational perhaps, that manufacturers will "de-certify" cpap.com if we step too far out of line, so to speak. Johnny has to tell us what he can do and where he can go. The online prices are great, CPAP.COM generally the best. They can turn the screws on the online folks and there goes my ability to afford what I need out of pocket.

Just expressing a fear, irrational or not.

David

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:25 pm

Greetings,

Ok, running list:

#1 CAB - What would the board advise on?

#2 Help in communicating with manufacturers. I really want this. We hold interviews but the number of questions our community asks is disappointing. How could be better connect cpaptalk to manufacturers?

Johnny

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:53 pm

How's about allowing user ratings of available xPAP gear. Or maybe even gear, DMEs and even sleep centers/labs/docs, as many other common-interest sites do (i.e. paddling.net, outdoorgearreviews.com). Of course, CAVEAT EMPTOR would be the rule of the day.

It would certainly allow the world of patients to have a quick and easy forum to express views about both good and bad quality, and would focus market forces.

Just a thought. Congrats on your journey to fulfill a WONDERFUL mission to date.

Chuck

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:54 pm

Bought my first APAP from cpap.com several years ago, and recently bought another APAP from cpap.com as well. The fact that there was a second transaction tells you what I thought of the first transaction: it was perfect in every way. So was the second.

I'm not the least bit surprised you're asking cpap users how you can serve them even better, Johnny. Beautiful, beautiful business model.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:22 pm

-SWS, welcome back. Long time no see.

Paul

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:24 pm

Whoops, sorry. The previous post was from me.

DSM-Guest · Post by **DSM-Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:37 pm

Bought my 1st APAP from cpap.com - great service - have purchased many accessories (masks mask parts guages etc:)

IMHO Your value is already well established.

Perhaps one of the really great asset you have to your business is cpaptalk.

A real and vibrant community. We may have our exciting moments & indulge in some disputes over some issues, people come & people go, but the atmosphere of support and pro-active xPAPing is to me unique and special.

Assuming the Users Group is the success we intend it to be, you can take credit for spawning the environment the created it.

Also, there are so many friends to be made here.

Cheers

DSM

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:56 pm

Johnny, would we be able to ask technical questions of the manufacturers through the cpap.com interviews? The new committee that is being formed by dsm and NightHawkeye has stated their primary goal is to establish a dialogue with the manufacturers. It seems you already have that dialogue established here at cpap.com, but we haven't been making use of it by asking the questions so many have indicated they want to ask.

If we came up with a list of questions for Respironics representatives which included technical questions, do you think they would answer them via a cpap.com interview?

SuxBeingU · Post by **SuxBeingU** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:04 pm

as a NOOB to the site as well as the CPAP world all together, I would like to see more CPAP basics and maybe even a "getting started" section that covers the difference between he machines, masks, hoses and equipment.

As far as big picture it sure would of been nice to find you guys BEFORE I got the machine stuff. I knew nothing and had to basically take what the insurance and equipment people gave me. It would be nice to have a pamphlet or a simple referral from Drs at the sleep centers. They have no ties to to their sellers so I don't see a conflict. How to build that relationship is the question BUT if you have a relationship with the manufacturers their reps could go along way in helping out in that area.

any way thanks for the site it has been a great source of info and help for me

seanconnery · Post by **seanconnery** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:11 pm

There is so much valuable user feedback on equipment (in particular, masks)on a daily basis, is there any way to 'connect' manufacturer's designers to this pipeline for their benefit?

Sleepy-in-AL · Post by **Sleepy-in-AL** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:29 pm

Cpaptalk.com and cpap.com offer a great service! Thanks for all you offer.

Generally speaking, I hope we as a community can convey to the manufacturers that although the Drs and sleep labs are there to guide us in our treatment, the ultimate decisions regarding brands, features, and purchasing power is/should be with the patient.

The manufacturers need to understand and be willing to support a community of patients (consumers of their product) that are more informed and more educated than what the average DME expects a patient to be. A perfect example is Respironics move to "control" their software upgrades. As I understand it, their policy is only to allow access to upgrades for DMEs and Sleep labs. If I have purchased the software, and especially if my Dr. has approved the purchase, they should provide me with the same upgrade rights they provide any other consumer. I understand that they may not be able to provide technical support to end consumers, but they could easily provide access to upgrades and faqs.

Thanks again for the great services.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:43 pm

johnny:

Would you please ask ResMed if it has any plans to bring out an Activa as a full-face mask? If so, when will it be out? If not, can their product development people start working on it? I dream of it. Thanks.

Caroline

p.s. If not a full-face Activa, more comfy options for full-face mask folks. Especially women with short/small faces. They think the shallow size mask does the trick?

HappyHoser · Post by **HappyHoser** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:07 pm

How about a network of "Mentors" perhaps associated with the particular products they use or a specific aspect of OSA that could be contacted directly and privately via the board. Maybe this would reduce the "Guest" posts looking for privacy. There must be some way to provide oversight to help prevent dangerous advice being distributed. Thanks by the way for going so far beyond simple e-commerce with all these resources.

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What Should CPAPTalk.com Become?

What Should CPAPTalk.com Become?

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