Goodbye Resmed. Prices double 9/4/06

[Sleepless on LI]

[quote="mikemoran"]There is one ray of hope that I cling on to. In regards to other companies following suit, I don't think anyone has climbed on Resmed's no internet sales outside the US bandwagon yet and that has been in effect for a while now. Not everyone has such a big share of the market that they can give up internet sales. It might only be 5% of Resmed's pie but I think it represents a bigger slice for eveyone else.

[Guest]

[quote="Bellcrest"]I quit spending my money on ResMed products once they decided the rest of the world was not 'good enough' to purchase their products online.

[Guest]

ok, expert - so what? good that the dme will get lower prices - they provide the same or less than internet stores - based on your post, you must be a dme who is shaking in their boots because you see lower reimbursement coming your way

[Guest]

[quote="Anonymous"]ok, expert - so what? good that the dme will get lower prices - they provide the same or less than internet stores - based on your post, you must be a dme who is shaking in their boots because you see lower reimbursement coming your way

[Guest]

you must not understand why most of us are on this forum - your witty comebacks just aren't going to sway us - you speak a different language - that of someone getting enough sleep to try to dupe us who are trying to find a way to sleep - nice try though

[BIG MONEY SAVER]

Ever stop to think that these bargain basement internet prices will eventually make the insurance companies LOWER what they reimburse to DMEs?

YES!!!

WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL???

BMS

[Guest]

Well, until such day that my computer can fit me with a mask....

If you've been reading this forum for more than one day you've learned that DMEs can't fit you with a mask any better than you can do it yourself using the sizing guide at cpap.com and ordering on the internet.

So, my friend, the day has come. The computer can fit you with a mask.

[Guest]

Looks like the website that was mentioned on the first post of this thread has watered down the Resmed post. Must have gotten THE CALL from the Resmed lawyers.

[sthnreb]

If oil prices are price gouging, isn't this the same? We all know there is no need for higher prices so someone is gouging. Either the manufacturer or retailer is set to make "more" of a killing.

[Guest]

Looks like the website that was mentioned on the first post of this thread has watered down the Resmed post. Must have gotten THE CALL from the Resmed lawyers.

Wow! You're right! The owner of that internet retail store has changed his online letter.

It went from this:

ResMed has notified all "internet retailers" that as of September 4th, 2006, you must follow new guidelines to sell their products online. They feel that we, the internet cpap sellers, need to sell their items at higher prices to protect the image of ResMed. They also are trying to force us to give them monthly reports on where our products are being sold, and they are introducing specific guidelines as to the minimum pricing for their products, and how we can display and advertise their products.

Express CPAP Supply will not bow down to this type of pressure. We are here to provide low cost sleep apnea equipment to our customers who do not have insurance. Why would you pay $800.00 for a cpap, when a similar cpap sells for $299? We don't think you would, so we have opted to remove all ResMed products from our website by the September 4, 2006 date that ResMed has chosen. We hope that if you need ResMed equipment you will buy it now. Soon the prices of ResMed equipment and supplies will likely increase substantially. We expect their prices to almost double.

This has been in the works for at least six months. We have responded to many complaints by ResMed that we are selling their products for too low a price. The have "recommended" to us many times that we need to raise our prices.

We will not stand for intimidation and pricing games. We are here to offer you the best equipment at the lowest possible prices.

to this:

As of September 4, 2006 we will no longer buy products from ResMed. ResMed notified all internet sellers that they will be imposing strict guidelines and minimum pricing on all of their products. We have chosen to "opt-out" of selling their products as not raise prices of our items. We constantly strive to offer you, the customer, lower prices and better service. We predict that Resmed prices will be increasing substantially, and that does not "fit" into our strategy of offering the best products at the lowest prices.

Oh yeah. He definitely must have gotten THE CALL. I didn't think ResMed could possibly do more damage to their reputation than they did by initiating this price-fixing scheme. I was wrong. Apparently they've now added bullying equipment providers to their repertoire.

Greed and intimidation. They just keep digging themselves in deeper, don't they?

[sthnreb]

I enquired of another internet company if this were in fact true. This is their response:

"That is correct. Although we have not been informed of the pricing, Resmed is initiating a minimum internet pricing structure. They believe because internet providers charge much less for equipment, they are not providing proper service or follow up. They mistakenly are assuming traditional DME's who charge three times what internet companies charge provide service over and above internet providers.

Additionally, they are forcing the millions of people who have no insurance or are under insured to pay much higher prices if they want Resmed equipment. Currently, Respironics does not have that same policy nor is it in the works. Informed people like yourself can certainly make a difference by making your voice heard to Resmed."

I did in fact send Resmed an email about this. It is very doubtful I will receive a response. Who will reap the extra $$$? If they are forcing the companies to sell at higher pricing, I guess the sellers will just double their profits. Wonder what these other benefits are DME's offer? Mine only offered high monthly rental and higher pricing. I was not fitted for a mask or even given an opportunity to try others. Nor other machines. They delivered a mask and machine and showed me how to turn it on. That was it. Does that justify doubling the price? At least with internet, you get the manuals that the DME's sell on Ebay.

[Guest]

Currently, Respironics does not have that same policy nor is it in the works. Informed people like yourself can certainly make a difference by making your voice heard to Resmed.

Thank goodness for Respironics.

Does Resmed hear our voices?

[Wulfman]

Currently, Respironics does not have that same policy nor is it in the works. Informed people like yourself can certainly make a difference by making your voice heard to Resmed.

Thank goodness for Respironics.

Does Resmed hear our voices?

I've been wondering is we really SHOULD tell them.....or just let them keep shooting themselves in the various parts of their (corporate) anatomy. Maybe, at some point, they'll hit a vital/fatal area. After all, there ARE any number of other manufacturers.....and we can only HOPE that they're all not this damned STUPID!

Den

[sthnreb]

I've been wondering is we really SHOULD tell them.....or just let them keep shooting themselves in the various parts of their (corporate) anatomy. Maybe, at some point, they'll hit a vital/fatal area. After all, there ARE any number of other manufacturers.....and we can only HOPE that they're all not this damned STUPID!

Den

It seems with this move, they may have alreacy hit a vital part of their anatomy, everyones $$$. If other manufactures don't follow suite, they will be left alone with pricing that no one will purchase their products unless their insurance buys it. They can double their price and sell half as many and make the same but they would reduce cost of production too. This is raping insurance companies and end users, DME's are already doing this. I have a Respironics Bipap Auto and it was $1479 w/humidifier. It can be purchased now at another site for $1098. So, really, how much is the markup already? I realize internet companies have to make a profit too but how can one company sell the same product for $381 less than another? The quanity sales incentives must be really good.
I sent an email to Resmed about their price increases but doubt I will get a response. Really, what do you get from a DME that you don't from a internet provider? A follow up call asking how it is working out? I didn't even get that from my DME. I did get monthly rental bills from them that I didn't from my internet purchase. The above is just my personal opinions. Others probably have different ones.....

[Maskmeister]

ResMed invested the R&D, the manufacturing and the marketing, the sales visits to homecare companies and sleep labs to gain acceptance of their products. They should now let anyone who feels like putting up a web site skim the profit from their products? I don't blame them. The idea was to work with companies that have 24 hour service and can provide follow up to users, not someone brokering the devices over the web like somone selling toothbrushes.

This internet business has already had a terrible effect on cpap reimbursement and on what each of you must pay out of pocket. Insurance companies and homecare providers use the internet prices as the start of their negotiations with the manufacturers. The internet sellers have virtually no costs, and provide no service.

ResMed is doing the right thing. Here's hoping respironics and the others follow suit.