Why not easier to go from cpaptalk.com to cpap.com

[liv2kite]

It fascinates me that it is not easier to go from cpaptalk.com to cpap.com. you would think our sponsors here would send us over there every chance they get. For example, I would expect a large icon on the banner to take me over there. Rather, I am struggling to find something on cpaptalk.com to click on to take me over there. I know I can type cpap.com into the address bar, but I was looking for a link and can not find one!!! I am sure I am missing it but that is my point they are not trying to push us over there all the time - and that is a pleasant surprise. cpaptalk.com is really a great web site (thanks to all the great participants and also to the hosts) and cpap.com is also really excellent.

[blakepro]

I think thats the point. This forum is an unbiased place for us to discuss cpap stuff. Most of the other forums that are sponsored by various companies are just as you described: heavily linked to their products and strictly moderated / censored.

These forums are open to honest discussions and you are free to talk about the competition or whatever without getting shot down by the kind hosts.

Its a nice set-up here, and I'm glad they are so forward thinking with the structure / attitude.

[jdm2857]

Where users have their equipment displayed as icons, the icon links to the appropriate page at cpap.com. Which is good, because it's hard to tell and S8 Escape II from an S8 AutoSet II by looking at an icon.

BTW, it's better to display your equipment as text instead of icons. Following the link to tell which unit is which is not necessary with text. The last setting on the equipment page of the profile controls this.

[Goofproof]

Where users have their equipment displayed as icons, the icon links to the appropriate page at cpap.com. Which is good, because it's hard to tell and S8 Escape II from an S8 AutoSet II by looking at an icon.

BTW, it's better to display your equipment as text instead of icons. Following the link to tell which unit is which is not necessary with text. The last setting on the equipment page of the profile controls this.

Displaying as text is too hard for some, you have to click a button. clicking on text in post profile will also take you to the store. Jim

[mars]

Hi

At the top of every page is CPAP Product News. It is the middle one of the three areas just above "Post A New Topic".

The first entry of CPAP Product News is New Cpap.com Product, which is the link to Cpap.com.

This will get you to the new product, and from there you can link to the Home page, do a search or whatever you want.

I agree that it is easy to skip over this area, and go straight to the posts. But there is often interesting stuff in the news area, which is on the left.

cheers

Mars

[Joe50]

I blame George Bush and to a lesser degree global warming, the hole in the ozone, and spotted owls for the fact that there is not a direct link to cpap.com. But mostly I blame the ozone hole for making it easier for aliens to enter our atmosphere and control our minds.

[WearyOne]

Hi

At the top of every page is CPAP Product News. It is the middle one of the three areas just above "Post A New Topic".

The first entry of CPAP Product News is New Cpap.com Product, which is the link to Cpap.com.

This will get you to the new product, and from there you can link to the Home page, do a search or whatever you want.

I agree that it is easy to skip over this area, and go straight to the posts. But there is often interesting stuff in the news area, which is on the left.

cheers

Mars

Thanks, Mars. I never saw that and always wondered the same thing as the OP. I knew I could click on the equipment things listed on posts, but most of the time when I wanted to jump over there to look at something, the posts didn't have the equipment listed.

[johnnygoodman]

Howdy,

I'm asked this often by CPAPtalkers, co-workers, bosses and other CPAP companies. I'm a capitalist, I come to work to make money and you all appear fairly ripe for the picking being you are actively engaged CPAP users open to new products. So what's the problem?!?!

Well...

1. We do link to CPAP.com, but by the rule of "it must add value to the CPAPtalk experience". Meaning, its helpful to get the news, its helpful to see what products are newly listed on CPAPAuction and CPAP.com and its helpful to click through people's equipment profiles and see the details of what they are using.

2. On occasion you'll see banners for Product Challenges or Product Advantage enrollments. This is a little looser on the direct add of user experience value but it helps CPAPtalk express product quality in unbiased terms, so I have supported it.

With That Said...

I make a living on CPAP.com already. I live comfortably. My wife is amazing and my life is good. Unless a depression hits, zombies invade or my hand is otherwise forced, I'm simply not willing to trade the CPAPtalk community for dollars when it trades in the currency of lives saved and lives improved.

When I read posts by people who have been around a week or more and are asking what the motivations of CPAPtalk are and who is behind it, I grimace. Both because I want them to know what the rules are because they are good rules and because I do own CPAP.com and CPAPtalk does exist because of CPAP.com. Such posts happen a lot and I get internal flack when they do.

I would love to do more advertising of CPAP.com on CPAPtalk.com but it must support and enrich the CPAPtalk experience. I'm interested and open to brain storming on this front and not just from CPAPtalkers - if you are a Sleep/CPAP company or CPAP.com employee lurker, you've also got the floor.

Johnny

[Goofproof]

Johnny, well put. While there are many ways to get to your store on the site, I would not be apposed to adding a button link next to your home icon for jumping to CPAP.COM. Thank for providing this site to help and promote knowledge about Sleep Apnea, and other useful things. Jim

[howkim]

Thanks, Johnny. I like the site the way it is. I appreciate your keeping it like this.