Risk of buying a used machine from the US

[TonyE]

I am thinking of buying a used Cpap machine from the US. https://1800cpap.com/used-resmed-s9-elite-cpap.aspx apart from there being no warranty, meaning I am stuffed if it breaks down, are there any other dangers of things to be weary of?

Also how would I go about getting the machine set up for my needs?

Just thought I better ad I am in Australia

[Julie]

What are you using now? Are you on an autopap or not? If you are, do you use software to track your progress at home? If so, you should know what your pressure settings are and apply them to the 'new' machine with the help of a free clinician's manual (avail. at apneaboard.com - have to scroll around a bit for it), or from knowledgable people here who are very willing to do so. And Cpap.com sponsors this forum and have the best prices (and service) anywhere.

HOWEVER, Resmed has made it impossible for dealers to sell Resmed's outside of the U.S. and you might be better off to find something there (I wonder if Googling 'used Cpap' there would help), or ask if Cpap.com will ship to an address in the U.S. that you give them (friend?) and have them send it to you. Of course C.com would need a prescription scanned and sent to them as well as they need that to fill any orders.

[TonyE]

Hi Julie

Thank you for the quick response I am not currently using any machine I was diagnosed with Apnoea 3 weeks a go and had my C pap-titration last week and just got my prescription so I am looking at buying a machine or renting if it works out to expensive for me to buy

[Pugsy]

The machines are easy to set up.
Here's the provider manual for the S9 Elite/AutoSet which is their typical combo manual.
http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf
Also there is a video here explaining some of the inner workings.
http://www.cpaplibrary.com/machines.html

I have had no experience with the supplier you linked to.
I have bought items from secondwindcpap.com (and know others who have bought from them). They sometimes have new open box specials that included the full 2 year warranty.
Of course it's a PITA to ship back to them if a problem arises but chances are small anything would happen. It's part of what we have to accept when we get a machine at a substantial savings..just a risk we take.
Secondwindcpap.com will also ship internationally.
http://www.secondwindcpap.com/Open_Box.html
Their gently used machines often have minimal hours of use and still come with a 6 month warranty...the new open box specials of course have zero hours of use and come with full 2year warranty.
Might check them out if you haven't already.

[TonyE]

Hi Pugsy

I did look at http://www.secondwindcpap.com as well as 1800cpap I save about US140 on the same machine but then the 2 year warranty and if people have here have brought machines from secondwindcpap and not 1800Cpap then that would be worth more than the $140

Money is short for me right now so I am just looking to try to get a half decent machine to get me started with until I can afford a new machine. This being totally new to me I am just a bit worried about spending money foolishly but if I can avoid renting that would be great.u

Oh just realised the machine from secondwindcpap is a new machine that does make it a lot more appealing

[khauser]

I don't know how things work in your part of the world ... but here patients often rent in the beginning because the journey isn't always over at the first machine. Sometimes you get titrated, get a machine and then after using said machine it is discovered you need a different machine. So the risk of buying at the start is that the machine won't work for you.

Do you know what your prescription is? If it's on the lower pressure side then you're more likely NOT to discover the need for different machines...

[BlackSpinner]

You can buy any machine in the usa and use a shipping company. The machine then has a delivery address in the USA and gets shipped from the shipper. It might cost a bit more in shipping.

[TonyE]

Hi khauser

I am very much on the lower end my prescription says:

Recommendation: CPAP: Commence 6cmH2O (Via a Fixed-pressure CPAP machine, preferably with a humidifier) in the interim.


I have to go for a follow up CPAP titration in 2-3 months to assess my pressure requirement during supine REM sleep.

[TonyE]

You can buy any machine in the usa and use a shipping company. The machine then has a delivery address in the USA and gets shipped from the shipper. It might cost a bit more in shipping.

I did look at http://www.shipito.com/ but I am pretty sure these 2 companies ship to Australia direct well at least I hope so

[Pugsy]

I know for a fact (unless secondwind has changed their policy) that they ship internationally. Someone in England that I know got a S9 VPAP from them...Totally happy with what they got...it was supposed to be used..well it was...like 8 hours on it.

Send them an email as just ask ...and ask for estimated shipping charges. As we know they aren't cheap...I just sent a card reader to Australia but it's still a substantial savings over what the same machine will cost you locally.

If you can afford it....get the S9 AutoSet as it will help you find your pressure needs a little more quickly.
If you can't afford it..the S9 Elite will still get it done with just a little pressure tweaking (maybe won't even need any tweaking).

I would explain the PR System One machine options to you as they don't cost quite as much and you aren't losing anything in quality but since you seemed to prefer the ResMed S9...figured if that is what you want...get what you want.

Crap...my mouse to my computer died....I hate using the mouse pad..now I have to go to WalMart and get a new one.

[TonyE]

I know for a fact (unless secondwind has changed their policy) that they ship internationally. Someone in England that I know got a S9 VPAP from them...Totally happy with what they got...it was supposed to be used..well it was...like 8 hours on it.

Send them an email as just ask ...and ask for estimated shipping charges. As we know they aren't cheap...I just sent a card reader to Australia but it's still a substantial savings over what the same machine will cost you locally.

If you can afford it....get the S9 AutoSet as it will help you find your pressure needs a little more quickly.
If you can't afford it..the S9 Elite will still get it done with just a little pressure tweaking (maybe won't even need any tweaking).

I would explain the PR System One machine options to you as they don't cost quite as much and you aren't losing anything in quality but since you seemed to prefer the ResMed S9...figured if that is what you want...get what you want.

Crap...my mouse to my computer died....I hate using the mouse pad..now I have to go to WalMart and get a new one.

Postage is calculated at the check out and pretty reasonable about US$75 for a machine and a mask

there is a Gently Used ResMed S9 AutoSet with EPR with Heated Humidifier that is actually cheaper that S9 Elite I was thinking of. The main reason I was looking at a fix pressure machine is that is what is recommended on my script and I also read a post here saying some people have more difficulties adjusting to a autoset machine some times.

As far as wanting the ResMed S9 the only reason I have mainly looked at that machine was because I read a few posts here where people said they liked the machine and found a lot of good reviews about it online. It is not set in stone at the moment I do not have a clue what would be best for me and I would be very happy to hear advice on other machines.

I have a couple of days to think about it I am waiting for some money to clear in a online US account I have then I will have approx US$950 to buy a machine and accessories, which I am hoping will be enough to get me at least started.

[BlackSpinner]

An autoset can be used as a single pressure machine simply by setting low/high to the same number. I found it useful to set mine to my titrated pressure and leave the top open for a week - this told me that I really needed to increase my pressure because though it spent most of the time at 9 it sometimes bumped up to 10 & 11. I now have it set to 8.5 - 11.

[Pugsy]

The S9 Autoset has 2 modes of operation....cpap mode like the Elite with fixed single pressure and apap mode with auto adjusting pressures. They both offer EPR exhale relief in any mode. The apap auto adjusting mode can come in handy if a person happens to need significantly different pressures during the night...like when sleeping on their back or REM stage sleep.
My pressure needs can vary (they don't always) a lot during REM and that's why I mention it. If I didn't have auto adjust capabilities I would have to either use a lot more pressure all night long or use lower pressure and just let those events that need more pressure just happen. If a person can get a machine with auto adjusting capabilities it can come in handy sometimes. APAPs can be used in cpap mode or apap mode so like 2 machines in one...cpap only machines have only the 1 mode.

The comparable Respironics machine to the S9 AutoSet would be the PR System One 60 Series Auto Cpap model 560.
It's great machine also. I have had the chance to use both brands..the S9 ResMed and the PR System One and to be honest there's not much difference. Couple of minor pros and cons with either but none are deal breakers.

Both the S9 and the PR S1 machines have easy to obtain and use software so monitoring your own therapy isn't difficult at all.
Just a little bit of a learning curve you have to go through.

$75 shipping is about what it costs to sending something that large and heavy internationally. I have done it several times.

What mask(s) were you looking at?
Can you normally breathe through your nose just fine? If so I would look at the nasal pillow masks or nasal mask (over the nose) first as those are lighter and simply have less surface to have to get and keep sealed.
If you have chronic nasal congestion issues and simply can't breathe through you nose well and can't get it cleared then you will need to get a full face mask because you will be mouth breathing a lot out of need.

[TonyE]

Thank you BlackSpinner and Pugsy you are really being very helpful

They have a Gently Used DS560 REMstar Auto AFLEX Machine with a humidifier it works out a little cheaper than the ResMed S9 AutoSet.


For a mask I was thinking a Nasal Pillow the reason for this was when I got my titration at first I was given a nasal mask to use but I found that after a couple of hours it irritated due to the fact I do not have a wet shave I use clippers as I shave my head so I just continue over my face the unshaven hairs cause a lot of irritation with the nasal mask but I had no problem with the Nasal Pillow. Saying that I do suffer some congestion in my right nostril it is usually blocked but not to the point where I can not breath at all through that nostril and my left nostril is usually totally clear.

[sol]

Both secondwindcpap.com and 1800 cpap.com ship to Australia

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