resemd cardreader no longer available - now what???

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:06 am

So I just am going to finally get the software - and I get to the site here at cpap.com and it says - This product is not for sale at this time -

so I emailed cpap.com to find out what's up - and they said via email:
We don't sell the software or card reader because Resmed no longer
makes these products available to us or the consumer

great - so I tried to search for it elsewhere and guess I was just a little late on this - but they said no prob to follow up on cpaptalk to find out if anyone else can get them or have any ideas? so any ideas? I could ask my DME but am pretty darn sure they would vomit at my audacity -
so any ideas would be greatly appreciated
ps - and getting a new machine - software is not an option at this time - maybe next year

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:17 am

That company whose name I will not mention seems to be partial to Australian cpap online sellers:

You apparently still get their software here:
http://www.cpapdownunder.com.au/baccessories.htm

And I sincerely hope they will lose a lot of customers in the near future.

O.

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:13 am

can't thank you enough for the info - makes me think a diff machine may be the way to go now so no more headaches in the future

offlineon · Post by **offlineon** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:56 am

OJ wrote:That company whose name I will not mention seems to be partial to Australian CAP on line sellers

That 'company' was founded in Australia, and as an Aussie I feel the need to apologise for their (IMO) restrictive marketing practises. I have been a loyal customer of theirs (non xpap products) over the years, but no longer. I'm even researching a different brand to replace my UMFF when it retires.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:10 am

Don't be too tough on 'em mate! - they may be boss cocky in the market and act a bit that way but they also are subject to pressure from DMEs & major resellers (very big pressure.

Brian at cpapdownunder.com told me he believed Resmed had given in to pressure (in Australia) from big Chemist chains who insist that Resmed don't allow their resellers here to sell unless the buyer can physically see the machine at the point of sale. This pretty well killed cpapdownunder's internet sales. He now has a guy in a van to visit the Murray/Darling region (where he is) in order to keep his Resmed sales up.

So who do we kick ? Resmed or the Chemists.

Solomon would not like such a decision

Cheers

DSM

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:33 am

I, for one, am kicking Resmed. Unabashedly, not at all shamefully, kicking Resmed.

And I own a Resmed S8 Elite. Its a good product, a good machine. The company's new selling policy STINKS. A bunch of greedy control freaks catering to a profession that has wallowed in control issues for eons.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:58 am

Only one thing to do. When it comes time to replace your machine do not buy anything from Resmed in the future. If it is still a rental, take it back and get a different brand.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:03 am

If I had one, which I don't, I would make every effort to return it, and buy a Remstar. It was just luck that got me my Remstar, that was the only thing the DME did right. Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:50 am

dsm wrote:Don't be too tough on 'em mate!

Fair enough, but one thing is certain - when the supply chain starts dictating to the manufacturer, the only real way to fight back is to target the manufacturer. I seriously doubt a few Internet users can really hurt a giant like this unnamed company anyway. We might, however, create a blip on the radar screen big enough to give their competitors some pause, before contemplating the same route.

Regardless, how could anyone knowledgeable recommend brand X to someone, if policies put in place reduced that brands usefulness, while increasing its cost.

Hypothetically, if a particular group was in breach of the TPA, with regards to restrictive trade practises, someone could run up a submission to the ACCC under Part IV. A case might hypothetically be argued that a particular organisation was engaged in full line forcing and price fixing, via exclusive dealing. Hmmm....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 8:46 am

In all likelihood there are still some online DME suppliers who have the Reader in stock. A phone call can bring better results than an e-mail. The Reader that comes w/the cable is the key. The software is easier to come by. Most online DMEs have a toll-free number.

Unfortunately, the majority of first time PAP users are not online in forums like this so it will be hard to apply an effective boycott. But I, for one, intend to NOT support Resmed by purchasing any further Resmed products. Had I known ahead of time I would NOT have the Resmed S8 Elite now. We can keep this issue at the front page of the various forums so those first time users fortunate to find us before purchase can be made aware.

I would think, too, for those of us who have Resmed machines could make things uncomfortable for the sleep doctors scripting the Resmed machines by insisting on regular printouts of the full data from the machines. The doctors cannot legally refuse us copies of our medical records. If they want to get crappy about it and want to charge us we can always insist the printouts be sent to our GPs. Doctors who try to charge for records provided to other doctors are NOT looked well upon.

We just have to be innovative in finding ways to make it uncomfortable for the DMEs and doctors to steer us to Resmed products. Right now Resmed is making it appealing to the DMEs and doctors to provide their products.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:45 pm

Just ask your doctor for the prescription to say "with cflex" and the DME has no choice! My other demand was that I travel a lot. I wanted the apap m series w/ cflex and the DME told me my doctor left me with no choice of product by saying "cflex". I had the nurse write the prescription for "apap w/cflex and w/ heated humidifier". Only thing, I had to wait three weeks as they were back ordered due to humidifier. DME had factory call me directly and explain why.

Mike2000 · Post by **Mike2000** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:51 pm

Anonymous wrote:Only thing, I had to wait three weeks as they were back ordered due to humidifier. DME had factory call me directly and explain why.

Was that because they had to fix the leaking tub issue?

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:10 am

Well, the Christians one, lions zero in the latest skirmish. A good friend saw my Encore Pro data, then asked how I went about getting all this.

I told him about the forum and that the DME code for inexpensive machines was the same as the expensive ones, but I really liked my Respironics Auto BiPAP. I mentioned the HH and smart card.

They were offered a CPAP that would not work with Encore Pro. The lady asked for the Auto BiPAP, WITH smart card and HH. Her prescription did not say that, so she called the dr. office right then, explaining what was going on and the dr. office faxed a new prescription over. It gets better.

She told them she was a friend of mine, showing them the email I sent her husband. They said they knew me and just gave her the box. WITh the smart card and Providers Manual (User's manual too) in it. She also got the HH. They did not have it on hand, but ordered it for her.

I told her the Provider's Manual was VERY hard to get. she is very happy and can finally go to sleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. Mask on of course. She said to thank everyone on the site and as soon as they get their computer fixed, she will come on board with us.

She is one pleased lady.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:55 am

Note: AutoScan™ is being replaced by ResScan.

O.

gsacca · Post by **gsacca** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:00 am

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been dealing with an unreasonable DME when it comes to wanting access to my information and input into the type of machine I can have. Right now I have a rental that she told me will be converted to a purchase in 6 months. My question is, can I call my insurance company and request that they not purchase the Resmed as I would prefer the Remstar. My doctor approved the Remstar, but the DME once again made the decision that the Resmed Elite would work as well as far as Cflex. I would prefer the Cflex feature as well as access to my information and since the software and reader are no longer an option on the Resmed, I do not want to have this machine indefinitely.
Thank you.