A funny thing happened on the way to the Thrift Store...

[spincast01]

Actually, it happened in the Thrift Store (Savers in Phoenix, AZ). My wife and I had just come from her neurology appt. following her sleep study the previous week. We learned that, yes in fact, she suffers from acute apnea and stopped breathing during sleep 192-times within the 2-hr study period. So, of course we were getting her a CPAP. Unfortunately, our crappy insurance coverage offered to pay 50% of the cost over the deductible, so we were looking to buy our own with prescription in hand. So, after the office visit, we decided to shop the near-by Savers thrift store to check for kid's school uniforms and what did we find?

A lightly-used Respironics REMstar Pro M-series C-flex machine with an unused humidifier, manuals, unopened tubing, carry bag, unused filters, and power supply. I take it to the electrical outlet test station and it checks out as operational.

But, it had no price tag. I walk it up to the checkout and ask about the price. After some back-and-forth between employees, they agree: $7.99. Yeah, 8-bucks.

So, I buy the thing, take it home, clean it up, check its operation more thoroughly, enter "Provider Mode" (for I have learned how, being excellent at google searches) and set the machine for her pressure.

So, the next day the neurologists' staff calls my wife to schedule her 6-week follow-up and through conversation learns that we acquired a machine at Savers. Well, a little while later, they call back wanting us to bring it in to the office so they can "Check it" and make sure its "Calibrated" properly. They were aghast that Savers would be allowed to sell such a thing! My wife tells them her husband (me) is quite capable and has already set the machine to the prescribed pressure and in her best Jedi explains, "We don't need to bring it in." (hey, it works on me every friggin time) After some time on hold, while the office staff checked our story with the "Nurse", they relented and said they'd see her in 6-weeks. hmm.

$8. (Plus $130 for headgear and nasal pillows). Not bad, eh?

Sleep well!
BR

[Maple Leaf]

Well, a little while later, they call back wanting us to bring it in to the office so they can "Check it" and make sure its "Calibrated" properly. They were aghast that Savers would be allowed to sell such a thing!

I agree 100% with them. A thrift store should not be able to sell medical equipment. Secondly, you would be wise to accept their offer of a calibration. Better safe than sorry.

Regards.

[Janknitz]

Whoa, that's amazing!

Be sure to change the filters, clean it up well, and I hope it doesn't reek of smoke or anything.

Meanwhile let us all bow our heads in silence for the person who got that machine and probably never even tried it or used it for a few days and gave up.

[Wulfman]

Congratulations!

As far as checking the output of the machine, you can do that very easily yourself. Just follow the discussions and links in this link:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49152&p=450105&hili ... er#p450105


Den

[sleepycarol]

Way to go!!

Congratulations on a great find!!

I do feel sorry for the person that let it go -- at some point they will have worse problems than sleep apnea probably.

For you -- I think it is great that you got what you needed for little cost. This should be an inspiration to all those that need equipment -- search for it -- you never know where a great find will pop up!!

[base2balls]

I see them listed on Craigs List all the time so why not sell it. Even if I got some thing at that price, I would have it checked and cleaned and such like a person would for a used car. Other wise , it's buyer be ware. You got a good deal it looks like. Good luck with it. Huggies, Fay

[cpapernewbie]

a great treasure hunting story. For $8, there is nothing to lose! Buy 10 and sell on CPAPauction

[AndrewB]

One of the other people at the sleep study with me recently was very concerned as he has no insurance coverage - yes we're Canadians but not all the cost is covered.

I reassured him that you can often find second hand machines out there - I know my brother-in-law has one that he got for about 25% of original cost and is quite happy with it.

Personally I'd rather see people using 2nd hand rather than not getting treated at all.

[Babette]

I sleep regularly with a $25 model found at a thrift store.

You lucked out, buddy! Good story!!!!
B.

[dwsupt]

Don't forget to add in the office call saved by not taking it in! Good Luck.

[blakepro]

Well, a little while later, they call back wanting us to bring it in to the office so they can "Check it" and make sure its "Calibrated" properly. They were aghast that Savers would be allowed to sell such a thing!

I agree 100% with them. A thrift store should not be able to sell medical equipment. Secondly, you would be wise to accept their offer of a calibration. Better safe than sorry.

Regards.

This is kind of an interesting thought that I had not considered before...

Its a prescribed item. Does that mean its illegal to re-sell? If I got prescription drugs, is it illegal to give or sell them to anyone else regardless of if they have a prescription for it or not?

If people can sell them on craigslist without getting into trouble, is a thrift store or pawn shop held to a higher responsibility?

I'm not saying its right or wrong, I just think its an interesting discussion.

[roster]

The FDA needs to get off their sorry butts and make all CPAP equipment OTC!

[Wulfman]

Well, a little while later, they call back wanting us to bring it in to the office so they can "Check it" and make sure its "Calibrated" properly. They were aghast that Savers would be allowed to sell such a thing!

I agree 100% with them. A thrift store should not be able to sell medical equipment. Secondly, you would be wise to accept their offer of a calibration. Better safe than sorry.

Regards.

This is kind of an interesting thought that I had not considered before...

Its a prescribed item. Does that mean its illegal to re-sell? If I got prescription drugs, is it illegal to give or sell them to anyone else regardless of if they have a prescription for it or not?

If people can sell them on craigslist without getting into trouble, is a thrift store or pawn shop held to a higher responsibility?

I'm not saying its right or wrong, I just think its an interesting discussion.

I was thinking of this situation from a different angle......
DME could get the serial number from the machine while they're "checking it out"......then they could contact the factory and have them track the serial number through sales records........from the factory to the dealer (DME) to the original end-user.......THEORETICALLY.


Den

[cpapernewbie]

Den
are we treating CPAP as narcotics and "recreational" that some jerk abused to get "fun" and need the CPAP special forces to regulate and persecute people like me who bought devices from Craiglist, thrift store and CPAPauction?

Nobody in their right mind will buy CPAP and masks without real needs. Who will buy CPAP for recreational purpose so that it threaten their life and others like alcohol and narcotics?

[Wulfman]

Den
are we treating CPAP as narcotics and "recreational" that some jerk abused to get "fun" and need the CPAP special forces to regulate and persecute people like me who bought devices from Craiglist, thrift store and CPAPauction?

Nobody in their right mind will buy CPAP and masks without real needs. Who will buy CPAP for recreational purpose so that it threaten their life and others like alcohol and narcotics?

I agree. But, I also believe that in time medical science will discover that lots of our medical problems are connected to our sleep (or lack thereof) and more specifically the lack of oxygen people are getting during their sleep......and more people will be needing these devices.
I made some posts a few years ago, stating that these things will probably be sold in Wal-Marts some day.......right next to the glucose testing supplies and the blood pressure monitors. The former CEO of ResMed, Peter Ferrell, made a statement some years back that the only way these things could hurt people is if they were hit over their heads with them.

Too many people get way too uptight about these "medical devices" needing to be controlled so stringently.


Den