CPAP Auction and Respironics Warranty: Transferrable

Crazy Canuck · Post by **Crazy Canuck** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:17 pm

Just wondering if any one knows if the warranty is good in Canada if purchasing used or via auction. Or is the warranty void as some local DME's say it is?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:19 am

the warranty follows the machine in most cases. Best thing is to purchase from, and patronize, your local DME in Canada who can provide service and offer other products.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:58 am

Guest must work for a DME in Canada.

I would think the warranty would not be valid on a used machine from an auction site as most of the manufacturers require the DME or supplier to ship the machine back to them in case of a problem. The companies do not take the machines back from individuals (if I remember correctly).

If you are purchasing a NEW (as in a machine that has NEVER been used) contact the seller and ask about the warranty. It seems that apparently some of the sellers on cpapauction are associated with DME's. They may honor the warranties, some may not.

Be careful of online auction services if you MUST have a warranty since you never actually know who you might be dealing with.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:06 am

I agree with Carol.

I've purchased from at least one seller on cpapauction who is an online DME. Contact your seller.

And then consider how much of a bargain it really is, if you can't repair the thing, because you don't have a valid warranty.

For $20, I'd go for it. For over $100 I'd pass.

Cheers,
Babs

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:14 am

according to how it is written on the last page of the manual, warranty is valid at any Respironics dealer.

warranty begins when the machine is shipped FOB Respironics to distributor/dealer, so the clocks starts when that happened for a period of 24 months, if it sat on the shelf for 6 months before being sold then you only have 18 month warranty.

Crazy Canuck · Post by **Crazy Canuck** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:01 am

The question then remains is the person you're buying it from a DME or not? Respironics has on their website a warranty checker but you need to be a DME to look that up.

Is there any way anyone can scan the last page of the manual where the warrany info is located? I can see how Respironics can turn down warranty work from a Canadian DME where the machine is a US product, since in Canada, the warranty is three, not two years for a CPAP machine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:59 am

Buy a legitimate Canadian version from your Canadian DME! Geez!

cpapernewbie · Post by **cpapernewbie** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:21 am

I bought my first CPAP from a Canadian DME. I was given a quote of $2,500 for an auto-CFlex.

I have with me a list of prices from on-line DME.
The owner of the DME reduced the price to $1450, after glancing at my list.

My list at that time show similar CPAP at $700 at on-line shops. He also bundled a mask (which he said cost $250 - cpap.com price was $150). He promised to give me the software for tracking my usage but then conveniently ignore my reminders.

That was 16 months ago. The only service I received was a reminder of my 1st year anniversary - to bring my CPAP for inspection. After inspection, my CPAP was declared OK and that is all the service a DME give you...

The warranty is 3 years. Is it worth that much?

I will say no and I just bought another CPAP, a new A-Flex for $450. Even if this CPAP breaks down after 6 months of use, it is worth it...

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Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:31 am

Anonymous wrote:Buy a legitimate Canadian version from your Canadian DME! Geez!

What happened to NAFTA?
You mean that machines bought in (any) other countries are illegitimate?
What happens when a person buys a machine and then moves to another country? Hell......even another state?
Is the DME/supplier (the "true customer" of the manufacturer) only "legitimate" in the country that they sell products?

I know that ResMed has had restrictions on suppliers selling their products (since 2005) outside of their countries of origin (where the seller is located)......and other stipulations on their warranties regarding the "end users" (owners).

This has got to be one of the strangest (F'd Up) industries in existence with regard to their products, warranties, customer relations and ownership.

And all in the names of "healthcare" and "therapy". They're supposed to be HELPING us? What a joke!

Den

Crazy Canuck · Post by **Crazy Canuck** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:55 pm

Anonymous wrote:Buy a legitimate Canadian version from your Canadian DME! Geez!

Sure, let's support our poor local hard working DME that is only looking out for your own best interests.

Crazy Canuck · Post by **Crazy Canuck** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:19 pm

Ok, I just got off the phone with Respironics.

No warranty if buying used. You HAVE to buy from a DME. The DME controls the serial number. Any issues, you go back to the DME. Respironics will not even touch it if it you send it in for servicing unless you have an account number. If the DME goes out of business during the warranty period, you're SOL.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:28 pm

awesome! Good for Respironics! That's the way it SHOULD be! It protects their customers and consumers.

Crazy Canuck · Post by **Crazy Canuck** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:39 pm

dean, you have no logic and are clearly biased. it's a winning situation for the DME and not anyone else. The consumer loses out!

respironics also says that if you're in canada, don't buy a cpap from cpap.com. no explanation on why. Your call is automatcially routed to their international number. Perhaps if an american calls you may find out if they recommend cpap.com. my take is that they are in bed with the high profit DMEs so they dont want u to buy it from cpap.com, unless of course cpap.com has old products and refurbished machines and sells them as new, which i doubt.

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:46 pm

I do agree that you have to have an account number to send a product in to respironics. You do not have to be the DME that purchased the machine. Any DME should send it in for you. I have sent many in for service that were not my machines. If I didn't supply the CPAP I did have the patient pay for shipping.

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:59 pm

My experience with an internet purchase is if you have a warranty issue, you contact the internet provider you purchased from for an RMA. It is true that the warranty begins from the time it leaves the manufacturers dock. So, with a 2 year warranty you could only have 1-1/2 years remaining when you get the machine if it was shelved. You have 30 days replacement with a new machine and if the internet provider hee haws around past 30 days, you get a used/refurbished replacement (for your new one). I purchased one and after 6 months had an issue with it intermittenly stopping and restarting (auto on). Sometimes when I first put it on and sometimes in the middle of the night waking me up stopping. I contacted the provider I purchased from and they immediately sent me a refurbished machine with a new 2 year warranty which they got from Respironics and shipped. They also sent a UPS paid mailer label to return my machine. Can you believe, I went through 5 machines, all stopping and the last one was puffing air in a 6 month period. When I started bipap in 2002 I had a separate circuit ran to the outlet for the machine. After the 4th machine, I went back and completely changed the wiring/outlet and a new breaker for the panel. I noticed the if you kicked the breaker manually, when resetting it, you had to hold it on a bit or it would kick back off. I believe that may have been my problem, the breaker somehow would lose power and back on as nothing else was affected but the bipap. Anyway, this last machine has been working ok for about 4 months now. The internet provider was nice about continueing to replace the machine but I am sure they thought I was misrepresenting it saying it was stopping. I believe Respironics sent me a email when I enquired of them and said I could take it to any provider and have them ship it back. Of course, I would have incurred cost that way and maybe a fee for a refurbished. I would think it is buyer beware on the auction regardless. Most people are honest but not all. You should be able to have any supplier return a machine for you and possible pay a repair fee and shipping. On a cheaper machine it could be better to just purchase a new one. Mine was $1425.

Machine

Additional Comments: Resmed AirCurve 10 VAuto BiLevel with HumidAir