Resmed Internet Price Policy?

[twokatmew]

I just got this in my email. (I bought my battery from them.) Has anyone else heard about this yet? A real bummer....

***************************
This email is being sent as a courtesy to notify our past customers of impending changes to Resmed's internet pricing policy that are set to take effect on March 15, 2010. In the past, we were required to display a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) for Resmed's products, and after the product was added to the shopping cart, an actual lower sale price could be disclosed. The new policy will result in an outright ban on internet sales below the Minimum Internet Retail Price (MIRP) as dictated by Resmed. You can expect price increases on the order of 30% for CPAP masks and 80% or more for CPAP machines after these new policies take effect on March 15, 2010.

We launched BestCPAPprice.com back in 2006 in an effort to bring CPAP users some relief from the high cost of purchasing equipment to maintain their therapy. In the current economic climate, we think this is more important than ever before. We are completely opposed to these changes that are being mandated by Resmed, but unfortunately as of now we cannot do anything about it. We are pursuing every avenue possible to try to bring our customers who use Resmed products as much relief as possible from higher prices, and still remain in compliance with their policy. Resmed has made it abundantly clear to all of its resellers that failure to comply with their policy will result in suspension or termination of their account.

We highly recommend that our customers who use Resmed products try to stock up on replacement parts and equipment before these changes take effect. We will be happy to help out with the selection of alternate CPAP therapy products from other suppliers if needed. If you have any questions about these policies, feel free to contact us via phone or email.

Thank you for being our customer - we highly value your business, and we hope to continue to offer you the best CPAP prices and service in the future!

[dsm]

Done to death over the past few weeks

DSM

[roster]

Done to death over the past few weeks

DSM

I say not.

That action by a supplier needs to be kept in the face of CPAP users. It is a threat to all of the internet DME suppliers we depend on.

Thanks 2kat.

[Really]

Didn't Resmed used to make CPAP equipment and masks? Really??
They must think a lot of the end-users! Really!!
I think they have gone down under!! Really!!

[rosacer]

Bye bye Resmed

[coreyg]

You just need to place the order by phone instead of internet. Just call cpap.com and listen to their message to see what will happen. Yes, this is stupid and a bad policy but as long as there is an easy way around it, it's not a major problem for anyone that does some research first.

-Corey

[Slinky]

This should really help to sell those new S9s.

Maybe Respironics is so ticked off about Resmed launching the S9s so soon upon Respironics' introduction of the PR SystemOnes they (Respironics) borrowed a Resmed letterhead and made that mailing to the online DME providers.

And - its a good excuse for a few online DME suppliers to up their profit margin a bit, you think??

[jnk]

This should really help to sell those new S9s.

Maybe Respironics is so ticked off about Resmed launching the S9s so soon upon Respironics' introduction of the PR SystemOnes they (Respironics) borrowed a Resmed letterhead and made that mailing to the online DME providers.

And - its a good excuse for a few online DME suppliers to up their profit margin a bit, you think??

Gotta clear out those old S8II's somehow, right!

[roster]

You just need to place the order by phone instead of internet. Just call cpap.com and listen to their message to see what will happen. Yes, this is stupid and a bad policy but as long as there is an easy way around it, it's not a major problem for anyone that does some research first.

-Corey

Seems to be some confusion in this thread.

The letter that 2kat posted says this goes into effect 3/15.

If cpap.com received the same letter, I would expect they will change their policy (and their phone message) on 3/15.

[coreyg]

You just need to place the order by phone instead of internet. Just call cpap.com and listen to their message to see what will happen. Yes, this is stupid and a bad policy but as long as there is an easy way around it, it's not a major problem for anyone that does some research first.

-Corey

Seems to be some confusion in this thread.

The letter that 2kat posted says this goes into effect 3/15.

If cpap.com received the same letter, I would expect they will change their policy (and their phone message) on 3/15.

The phone message says the policy change is effective on 3/15. I'm not sure why they have the S9's under the new policy already.

[Slinky]

Maybe Resmed thinks they are gonna "get a lock" on the truckers now that the move is afoot to monitor all long-haul truckers for OSA and xPAP therapy compliance where warranted.

[jnk]

Seems like one of those Groundhog Day kind of things that gets relived every few years . . .

http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=133

[torontoCPAPguy]

Want to beat them at their own game? How about someone call the suppliers and post the current pricing for the three main internet suppliers each day?

[roster]

You just need to place the order by phone instead of internet. Just call cpap.com and listen to their message to see what will happen. Yes, this is stupid and a bad policy but as long as there is an easy way around it, it's not a major problem for anyone that does some research first.

-Corey

Seems to be some confusion in this thread.

The letter that 2kat posted says this goes into effect 3/15.

If cpap.com received the same letter, I would expect they will change their policy (and their phone message) on 3/15.

The phone message says the policy change is effective on 3/15. I'm not sure why they have the S9's under the new policy already.

It still doesn't make sense to me. The letter 2kat posted says, "The new policy will result in an outright ban on internet sales below the Minimum Internet Retail Price (MIRP) as dictated by Resmed. You can expect price increases on the order of 30% for CPAP masks and 80% or more for CPAP machines after these new policies take effect on March 15, 2010."

How does our host get around this?

[roster]

Seems like one of those Groundhog Day kind of things that gets relived every few years . . .

http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=133

That is a good article that Senske posted. I disagree with only one point in it:

While I'd like to think my company and I rank high on the importance factor in this regard, I know very well that CPAP equipment suppliers - both online and local brick-and-mortars - have a rather limited role in patient compliance.

As many of you have testified here, one internet supplier has a robust role in patient compliance. They provide this excellent forum.