The Problem With ResMed Bashing

[MandoJohnny]

I think, in more cases than not, the "issue" isn't WHICH brand of equipment they were given......it's how badly they were screwed by their DME that prompts the emotions from those who respond to them. We see it week after week and month after month......somebody's insurance got charged about $2000 (or more) for a $400 - $500 setup.

This is a valid point, but does someone who just needs advice from fellow users about being compliant with CPAP really want to get into that? They are using the machine they were issued, really wanting to know how to deal with the daunting medical treatment. Do they need someone telling them, "Ha, ha, not only are you have problems, but you got screwed on that machine?" I don't think so. They are already in a bad way. They need help, not more discouragement.

BTW, though, did they actually get screwed? I think they actually paid the same co-pay they would have paid for a reasonably priced machine. The insurance company may have gotten screwed, but the insurance company has the power to look out for itself. Also, DME's don't only mark up ResMed machines. I'll bet a RemStar from a DME is way over priced also. But that's not my main point. My main point is that even bringing up this argument to a newbie just muddies thier alread dark waters.

Resmed doesn't care what we buy or what we say. Why do you care what we say about Resmed more than they do?

You, my friend, did not really even read my posts if you are asking that question, because it misses the whole point I made. I don't give a flip about ResMed or anything anyone is saying about them. My whole point is about WHERE we have those arguments. I think I made that very clear.

But to reiterate, my suggestion is that we differentiate between ResMed basing threads and threads where people want help with ResMed equipment. BTW, to Wulfman's point, if these newbies really want to get into the ResMed "scandal" they can surf around this site and find that stuff, I am not suggesting hiding it from them. I am only suggesting that if the topic is "I need help." We just give them help and support.

[completelyhosed]

I will bash Resmed. They are leading the way to STOPPING Internet cpap retailing. They represent the status quo, DME rules cause we are getting rich on patients leadership. They want cpap patients to have no choice but to buy from DMEs. (Yes, their CEO said so in July as was posted here with a link so you could here it yourself). They want to prevent international customers from buying from USA suppliers. (Resmed policy). There are rumors they are working to make it illegal to sell CPAP to anyone unless you have direct face to face contact with the seller. I wonder what that would do to this site? They are raising the price of equipment on the internet to levels that are clearly aimed at stopping sales. Ready for $200 full face masks? How about no software? $250 Humidifiers?I think not. They are resisting patients taking control of their own treatment at every turn.

Where is Resmed's answer? Why don't they explain their actions to the patients they pretend to support? This forum is a free forum of ideas. I can't imagine CPAPTalk.com taking a Resmed rebuttal down. If they have posted anything than made sense, I have not seen it, by guesting or any username. All I see is folks saying they have the right to do what they want with their products. Yes, they do have the right, but THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. They are trying to slow consumer control down so that they can buy more time to get the other manufacturer's on board. Look at the posts on Resmed going way back. The pattern is clear. They want to put us all where they control the action, back in the world of DME only CPAP.

Yes, I bash bad behavior. My Mom bashed me and I needed it. My dad bashed me hard and I needed it. I am better for it. Resmed is a company that needs bashing. For their good. For my good. For our good. I will bash them.

I don't bash any of us on CPAPTalk. Heck, I love MandoJohnny. He is a great poster who I alway read with interest. This is THE place cpap patients have a voice.

May CPAPTalk's last post be about a new and wonderful cure that makes positive airway pressure a thing of the past.

[SelfSeeker]

MandoJohnny

I completely agree with you.

I was thinking the same thing. We should support all XPAP users no matter what products they use.

People should use the machine that helps them the most. As for mask, if someone has the best fit with one of those mask, at least they found an interface that they are happy with. After all, are we not all on the quest for the best interface we can find that fits our needs.

[Guest]

Bravo, completelyhosed!

Given the opportunity, I will be sure to make it known to anyone who inquires about Resmed products just exactly what Resmed is up to.

Lots of times newbies come here and say -I'm about to get a machine. What should I get?

My response will be- I'd stay away from anything Resmed and here's why....

No one is bashing the equipment. No one is bashing the user of the equipment. We are bashing the company because of their pricing policies.

I don't think we are doing a disservice to newcomers by telling them what's going on with Resmed. These are adults and they can makes their own decisions.

Think of all the times we've seen people say - I wish I'd known that. I wouldn't have bought Resmed if I'd known that. So I'm glad there are so many here who will continue to tell people =new or old what Resmed is up to.

If your like MandoJohnny and your not comfortable spreading the word about Resmed then don't. If you are comfortable about spreading the word about Resmed then do. Its up to each of us to decide how we choose to handle it and its up to the reader to decide what to do with the information once they have it. Give them some credit. They're not dummies who can't make up their own minds. If knowing about Resmed's pricing policies influences their decision, then that's their choice. We are not only cpap users- we are also consumers. Its always smart to make an informed decision. Besides its not like we are steering them away from the best machines. There are others from other manufacturers that are equally as good.

My message will continue to be-- all things being equal, why support Resmed by buying their products?

Doug

[Wulfman]

MJ,

I wasn't saying that any of the forum members "mock" the new users by telling them that they (and their insurance) got screwed. And, YES, the co-pay of $2500 is definitely going to be more than for $800 or $900. By the time these DMEs get done with these new users, that person will probably have paid about as much in his co-pays and rentals as if he'd have bought the equipment outright. I know you've seen the posts that tell the story of a DME that wants another $300 or so to upgrade from a REMstar Plus to a Pro 2 or $500 an Auto.
Often times, what happens is that the person discovers this site AFTER they've gotten their equipment....see that others here are monitoring their therapy with software and want to do the same with their REMstar Plus or an S8 Compact......and/or they find CPAP.COM and the Internet prices and wonder why there is such a difference and why their DME charged their insurance so much more. THAT, my friend, then becomes a delicate conversation.....to keep from hurting their feelings.
I've never used anything other than Respironics machines in my therapy and have NEVER told any of the users that one brand of machine is better than the other (I have relatives that use both of the "R" brands). The only thing I TRY to recommend is that they TRY to get a machine that displays/records data so that they can self-monitor their therapy.

My biggest question is to WHY ResMed is doing this. It seems to counter their objectives to get therapy to as many un-diagnosed apnea patients as possible.

Den

[CollegeGirl]

Okay, no offense intended, but I think that in the brain fog that comes with apnea, a lot is sometimes lost in the reading comprehension area.

MandoJohnny is NOT saying to stop bashing ResMed totally.

He is saying to STOP doing it in threads where newbies are asking for help with the RESMED PRODUCTS THEY ALREADY HAVE.

That's it. That doesn't sound hard to me. It sounds reasonable. No - it sounds downright smart. We do not want to drive away newbies from this forum - we want to help them. We can't do that if we scare them away by bashing the products they're already stuck with.

[Wulfman]

He is saying to STOP doing it in threads where newbies are asking for help with the RESMED PRODUCTS THEY ALREADY HAVE.

I REALLY can't recall much of that happening, anyway, and have been puzzled as to the nature of this thread by MJ.
Yes, there have been comments to the posters as to what ResMed is planning to do, but as far as "bashing" them in those threads.....maybe (if they happened) I didn't read them that way.

Den

[MandoJohnny]

I REALLY can't recall much of that happening, anyway, and have been puzzled as to the nature of this thread by MJ.
Yes, there have been comments to the posters as to what ResMed is planning to do, but as far as "bashing" them in those threads.....maybe (if they happened) I didn't read them that way.

Really? Where here is just one example. Someone started a thread wanting info about the new Swift hoses:

viewtopic/t13885/RESMED-testing-new-hose-for-Swift.html

Here are some of the really "helpful" comments:

"I hope they stick it up their rear end."

"Another reason for a price increase for them? To build better hoses? Doubtful."

"Hey Folks...cut them some slack....the plastic that goes into those hoses has went up in cost due to the high petroleum prices. We are probably saving them from Chapter 11."

And quoting "I hope they stick it up thier rear end." With the reply "Right on."

So Wulfman, tell me how helpful that was to someone trying to get information on re-ordering a hose? This is just one example on one thread. There are others. I do see it as a trend.

[Wulfman]

MJ,

I didn't read that thread as I don't use the Swift (and generally speaking, don't even read threads about nasal masks).
HOWEVER......it looked to me like that thread started going downhill in the second post.....or even in the first post as dllfo expressed displeasure that the ends were coming off of his Swift.
Yes, it went downhill in a hurry, but the "tone" seemed to be set right off the bat.
I think that the whole thread sort of started out and definitely ended up being a ResMed "bashing". They ALL participated.

I didn't see any NEW users on that thread who were asking for help.

Den

[jeepdoctor]

The DME put me in a Respironics CPAP and a CL2 mask, all of which has worked out great (long term view -- short term was frustrating, but I don't think that had much to do with the brand of equipment). Then I bought Encore Pro software from the DME for $ 100. So I have no complaints.

I have no more of an ax to grind with Resmed than I would with the manufacturer of a car that I have never owned.

As far as Resmed's pricing policies go, I believe in competition. Hopefully, the market place will sort things out. FWIW, Resmed's stock has taken a real plunge lately, falling from $ 46.50 to 39.50 in less than a week. However, it seems to be in the buy range with a MACD and MACD EMA both being about -1. The tumble started on 08/18. Is this about the date when they announced their new pricing policy?

[completelyhosed]

They never have announced their new pricing policy. Wall Street heard about it from dealers. The stock fell immedately after the July quarterly earnings announcement. They did speak at length about the internet but it was the increased costs that hurt them I suspect.