DME pushing hardware

Is it normal for a DME to push one brand (usually ResMed or Respironics), as I've heard?

Mine told me they had just switched to recommending Respironics but many of my friends (before I discovered this board) were using the new S9 so I pushed back and they folded very quickly. Seems to me no-one really gets to try more than one at a time...

What's your experience?

Respironics costs less than ResMed; since insurance pays the same, they pick the brand with the highest profit margin.
I have found a DME who sells ONLY the S9 Autoset. They have earned my business.
We can push for the product we want/need, and spread the word about the DME's who will sacrifice us for profit.

DMEs typically will use the brand that they get the best bulk price from. For years my DME sold Resmed but switched to Respironics a couple of years ago. I asked "why"....got a little song and dance about features but when I said "better bulk wholesale price?" I got a sheepish grin and a nod yes.
Same reason they push Respironics masks now whenever they can. With the bulk purchase of the machines they get a better price on masks. They will still get me a ResMed mask if I ask but they always try to promote similar mask made by Respironics first...like with the nasal pillow masks...the promote the Nuance gel nasal pillow mask first. It costs them less wholesale so they make more money on it.
It's also why some DMEs simply refuse to stock ResMed masks. They don't feel like they make enough money on them so they don't want to supply them. I got a sheepish grin when I challenged my DME about this fact also. That's okay...they will get me the ResMed mask if I push but DMEs have the option to stock whatever they want. Some care enough that if we push they will fold but some don't care. When that happens it's time to find a new DME if at all possible. I don't have much choice around here where I live.
My other choice is Lin(Idon't)Care who I already got into a fight with and fired them 5 years ago for not wanting to get me the machine I wanted. It was ugly. They may have my picture on the bulletin board with "Bitch" heading.
I don't really want to go back there. So far my DME has only failed me once and that was with the Tap Pap request. I couldn't get them to go for it because I was the only one wanting it.

Does anyone know if there are "soft dollars" or rebates in play with DMEs too? My experience in the PC channel is of lots of secondary margins to build displays, run demos etc. I'm guessing that free samples for sleep labs are endemic, but what else goes on behind the scenes?

Oh, to be a fly on the wall.
Wait! What did I just say? Yum!

Even if the DME is 100% honest, they tend to pick favorites for the wrong reason. DME A has some sort of legitimate problem with Brand G CPAP, gets disgusted and decides to avoid them in the future. DME B has great results on some particular problem with Brand H CPAP, DME C gets used to Brand I CPAP and can make them sing and dance, but doesn't really ever learn the other brands of CPAP as well. Some other DME gets exactly the opposite results with the same brand of CPAP.

An "honest DME?" Did I really say that? Actually, I think there are quite a few honest DME's out there, despite all the dishonest and incompetent DME's out there.

As for choosing brands, stick with Philips Respironics and ResMed for now. I don't think one is clearly better than the other. They both have their problems. I'd stay away from the other brands for now, mostly because the data collection and analysis is easier on PRS1 and S9 machines.

I think using soft dollars in an area that frequently involves government reimbursement (for example, under Medicare or Medicaid) is problematic.

Nick, the medical/drug business is crawling with them though - so who knows? I bet they learn from the diabetes test strip business too.