This IS a cheese shop, isn't it?!

I must be the exception to the Apria opinion. Like I said, it's like masks. What works well for one doesn't for another. Or maybe it's the insurance we have and what they allow. My DME at Apria told me right off the bat that my insurance was one of the best to work with when it came to OSA-related matters, and he was right. Never a problem. No time limit on masks, just have to deal with an insurance-approved DME.

So far, I have been blessed with how smoothly my dealings with my DME have gone and how good my insurance company has been about it. That is one thing I can't say a negative word about.

I did have one snag when I tried to get them to buy me the Aura interface I just ordered on this site. None of the approved DMEs carry that mask and cannot order it, so I had to buy it out of pocket. I also went and bought my own Swift and Breeze because I didn't know better and thought my company wouldn't pay for one so quickly from the last one they bought me. But as they say, my bad, not theirs.

Guest was me...sorry.

So it is now officially 4 weeks to get Activa, Silver lining and cable.

After leaving a message, courteously asking for a return call for status....and never getting a call back, I kept calling until I accidentally actually connected with Customer Service at my DME.

"Some Problems with the Puritan Bennett Rep. Not sure when the software or cable will arrive, or what the status is." ..."I haven't ordered ANY software download cables in 4 YEARS, so I don't know how long it will take."

OK, THATS obviously a dead end.

So what about the activa mask?
"Uh, there seems to be a shortage of the STANDARD size." She states.
I ask, "So does it normally take so long to get such a common mask?"
She replies, "Oh no, this is actually a very UNcommon mask and most people don't like the bellows effect, so we usually don't stock these. After all we can't carry EVERYTHING!"

Anyone heard at their DME that "can't carry everything", meaning more than 2 masks and one machine? And how do the on-line suppliers manage?

Does "shortage" and "unpoplular" seem to be a bit contradictory?

So what DO they carry? The Swift and Vista. period.

OK, and those 2 work for EVERYONE?????

But what makes this REALLY funny????

I was the first person that TALKED THEM INTO EVEN TRYING A SWIFT, against their objections! I gave it a "test run", wrote up a nice detailed report, ended up ordering one through them....which only took a few weeks to obtain that time. Apparently my report (although it had postives AND negatives) must have made an impression, because they locked into the Swift for EVERYONE. I feel sort of bad for the people that the Swift doesn't work for or people like me that like to have two masks.

So the cable and software is a writeoff from them, and they say the Activa will be "soon", ....sigh

Can't figure out how DME's get a bad rap....

Amazing, snork. Absolutely amazing. I hope you don't buy lottery tickets. Or go to Vegas very often.

You do write the funniest accounts of your trials and tribulations with the "Hey! Extra service is why we charge more!" DME's.

snork, you did their customers a wonderful favor by causing the DME to stockpile Swifts up to the ceiling! Don't feel guilty at all for the few clients for whom it might not be the best thing since cheddar cheese.

No matter that the Swift might not suit someone here and there. I'm sure it's still WORLDS better than what would have been plopped onto their nose had it not been for you.

rested gal wrote:Amazing, snork. Absolutely amazing. I hope you don't buy lottery tickets. Or go to Vegas very often.

You do write the funniest accounts of your trials and tribulations with the "Hey! Extra service is why we charge more!" DME's.

Well actually I do avoid gambling. I can't bluff and well, my luck is ...well, pretty obvious......

But I have a feeling my experiences are way too common for too many people. I just have no shame, and at least I figure they might as well provide some entertainment.

Sorta like when I or my friends do an impressive bailout when mtn biking. We always figure its better to do that in FRONT of the group, to at least put on a good show with it.

Woooohoooo! After only a month and a couple of days, I got my insurance covered "rare" Activa Standard mask at my local DME.

Let me ponder all the "value added" I got from the DME for whatever outrageous price they are charging my insurance.......
I got to do a couple of visits to their place.
I got to spend a good hour or so on phone calls checking status and "encouraging" them along.
I got to wait MANY weeks longer than doing mail order.
I did NOT get to try the mask on for fit.
I did get to pick it up as a "Will Call", i.e. they had to spend ZERO time "setting it up" or "fitting me".

But the really funny part was that after the Customer Service person made such a big deal about this being a special order, unusual mask that just doesn't work out for many people, so they don't usually stock them.....
As I picked it up from the receptionist, she exclaimed "Oh Wow, they come with a nice travel case NOW. MY Activa doesn't have one of those!"

Sure....they never give an Activa to anyone......

Of course no sign of the Silver Lining software and cable I ordered from the DME over a month ago, but thanks to the apnea forums, I have that taken care of without the help of the DME. They still say that will be "free" so I am going to just let it ride to see if it EVER happens, or if they convienently "forget" as I suspect they might. Its easy to promise something "free" if you never get it.

Gadzoooks! That's the only word that I could print that wouldn't get me in trouble. All this for a friggin Activa!!! God forbid you ordered an Aura!!!

I hope your wait was well worth it when you use it tonight (I'm presuming it will be tonight). Remember to keep the straps loose, not tight, as I'm sure you've heard a million people say on this site. Did you order the standard seal? And don't do what I did and take it apart. Never worked the same after that. Just clean what touches your face and you'll do better, IMHO.

I may have a second bag if you want one. I have two Activas and don't really use either, so if I can find it, I wouldn't mind sending you one of mine if you want. PM me...

Not to pile on...but I cant resist when they deserve it.

Apria is also the preferred DME for United Healthcare in some areas. The first and only time that I contacted them I had to research and provide manufaturers' part numbers to get mask parts. Service like that I don't need!

And yet I have nothing but praise for my Apria here on Long Island. I really think a lot of it has to do with the individual branch location. I had nothing but positive experiences not only with my visits and any telephone conversations I've had with them. Go figure...

Thanks Snork1,

Your post once again proves the fact that the purported "benefits" of using a local DME are the exception rather than the norm.

Good tips above on the Activa. This is actually my second one. I bought the first one mail-order on my own nickel and it was a much more pleasant procurement experience.

The fitting charts show me between the standard and large. I tried the large before and now I am trying a standard. And I NEVER take them apart.

I used Apria before this and they were REALLY bad. STAT medical is actually a step UP from them, locally.

STAT is sending my old Remstar Auto back on warranty for a date and whine problem. I suspect I may never see that machine again, even though I owned it outright. Good thing the 420E is working extremely well for me. I will save that battle for another day....

And this Activa came with its own special bag which my previous one did not. Although I found the medium sized yogurt containers do a great job of protecting the Activa in a CPAP bag for airplane travel and I may stick with that for protection when cramming it in the overhead bin.

And thanks for the cheese shop link....although I have to wait til I am out of the workplace to check it out.

Grabraham wrote:http://www.minderella.com/words/cheeseshop.htm

I knew I should have waited until I got out of the office. I think I just ruptured something from suppressing my laughter in my cubicle.

and it does indeed match up as well, if not better, than I remembered for my DME experience.

Thanks again!

Although I found the medium sized yogurt containers do a great job of protecting the Activa in a CPAP bag for airplane travel

Very inventive, Snork! I guess you just have to make sure you really steam the containers first in the dishwasher so the soured remants don't contaminate the mask and you end up breathing in stale yogurt all night...my stomach is turning from the thought, and I eat two containers of yogurt a day usually.