Resmed price fixing

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:13 am

One of the online CPAP supply newsletters included a warning of the impending Resmed price fixing and resulting 40-60% price increases. They were kind enough to include a contact e-mail address at Resmed.

They caught me in the right mood.......

I kept my message to Resmed very upbeat though!

this is what I wrote
**************************

I want to thank you folks at Resmed.

Thanks to your blatant price fixing policy, taking advantage of people with a handicap, I was finally inspired to take it on myself to pursue an alternative treatment for my sleep apnea.
Now with a combination of working with a pulmonary doctor, and ENT and a certified sleep dentist, and the money out-of-pocket that would have gone into your artificially jacked up prices anyway, I had my sinuses fixed and combined with a TAP dental device, I am now off of CPAP altogether.

THANK YOU!

If your mandatory pricing policy is NOT picked up by other manufacturers, of course people will just switch to other excellent manufacturers. If it does spread, well then I suspect more people will search for other more economically viable alternatives to CPAP for apnea treatment. It could be quite a boon for the industry....Just not your industry.

I want to commend you on your well thought out marketing strategy!

T*** I******
Kirkland WA

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:30 am

Yes, Snork, you were in a good mood!
Lucky for them!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:34 am

Resmed is doing nothing wrong. The prices at which their products were being sold on the internet was ridiculous and should have never occurred. Stop in your local DME to pick up a mask.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:52 am

[quote="Anonymous"]R... Stop in your local DME to pick up a mask.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:18 am

Anonymous wrote:Resmed is doing nothing wrong. The prices at which their products were being sold on the internet was ridiculous and should have never occurred. Stop in your local DME to pick up a mask.

Thank you Resmed for re-stating your position, and for clarifying the issue. It's nice to know you are monitoring this forum (anonymous cowards). And I will be SURE to pop in to my favorite ONLINE DME and buy ANYTHING BUT A RESMED product. Plus it's so convenient, no trip across town, no contributing to air pollution, no DME double-talk, no two-week wait to see if they can get what I'm asking for, no multiple phone calls and getting put on hold, no stupid lies about what my insurance will or won't cover, no callbacks telling me that what I asked for "doesn't exist", no double-billing for "special" unidentified services that were never provided. And importantly, NO ARTIFICIALLY HIGH PRICE-FIXING / GOUGING !!!

For the record I am NOT planning to boycott Resmed or Resmed products. I just don't intend to buy any more Resmed products now or in the future. (assuming they follow through on their price-gouging scheme). Am I talking your language?

(See, I can be in a good mood too!)

-Ric

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:05 pm

Anonymous wrote:Stop in your local DME to pick up a mask.

Not in a million years! (And especially if it has "ResMed" on it.)

Den

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:22 pm

omg, dying laughing here...snork, ric, and yes, even guest...so funny!!!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:28 pm

wouldn't the impact be the same if the US just imposed a 40% tariff on aussie equipment?

we could pay down our deficit

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:06 pm

Snoredog wrote:wouldn't the impact be the same if the US just imposed a 40% tariff on aussie equipment?

we could pay down our deficit

Don't count on that...... (paying down the debt)
They would just move the manufacturing to southeast Asia, Mexico or the great Wal-Mart supplier....CHINA.

Den

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:45 pm

My understanding is that Resmed manufactures the masks in the USA. Not so sure about the xPAP units though. As far as picking up a mask at a local DME - when pigs fly in a hell that is frozen over .

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:00 pm

As I have been following these threads about the ResMed price increases, I've often thought, "What a way to do business!"
Upon reading these posts, my feelings now are, "What a way to not do business!"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:24 am

For the last time....they ARENT price increases!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's Resmed telling internet "companies" to quit bargain-basement pricing their products which does nothing more than dilute Resmed's original distribution map (which, rightfully, uses brick-and-mortar DMEs to sell its products)

The internet retailers started this. They could have provided the same good service, quality personnel, chat boards, etc., WITHOUT selling medical devices at such low-ball prices. Use your head. I can't wait until Resmed just starts selling directly to patients over the internet. What's the diff?

DMW · Post by **DMW** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:30 am

Guest,

You are absolutely right. It is not a price increase, it is PRICE FIXING. Some of us would prefer that merchants maintain their prices based on business costs and fair profit margins RATHER than dictatorial vendors. Most folks seem to be in favor of FREE ENTERPRISE!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:46 am

you sound like a Liberal! What the *&*&% is a "fair" margin?!?!?!? PLEASE tell us!

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:58 am

I don't represent ResMed and I don't care about them one way or another, even though my DME chose ResMed equipment for me. I just hate to see libelous accusations thrown around carelessly.

Price fixing is a felony in the US (and probably in Australia also) and its elements are clearly defined. Price fixing is when companies get together and all agree up front what prices will be and they all raise thier prices. If you do not have evidence this has happened, then it is not price fixing. If ResMed just decides to raise prices and others follow suit, that is that is just a market adjustment.

Look, nobody likes it when prices go up. But ResMed is free to set thier prices however they like. They are betting it will result in increased profits, which is what they are in business to do. They are a for-profit company, not a welfare organization. This decision could just as easily result in lower profits and then their shareholders will say they screwed up. Only time will tell. But there is no conspiracy or crime here.

Also, with all the other manufacturers and models out there, there are plenty of other choices. ResMed does not have a monopoly. And one company in a competitive market raising prices does not necessarily result in others raising prices. Prices will go up if other companies think the market will bear it and prices will not go up if other companies think the market will not bear it. So it is us in the market that ultimately determines that, not ResMed. A good company will not let a competitor determine thier strategy, they will set thier own.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, DME

Resmed price fixing

Resmed price fixing

I concede - Guest is Correct