Resmed price fixing

MandoJohnny wrote:

Price fixing, price increasing - you say potato, I say po-tatt-o (phonetic, please)...the bottom line is, rape is illegal no matter how you look at it; and this is what Resmed is trying to do to the end users, us.

I feel so much better that "Guest" has pointed out that legally, in his/her eyes, it's not "price fixing." Don't you???

Now it's RAPE? And you called me "bitter?" Wow...

Again,,, what is the difference between an online cpap retailer and the manufacturer just selling DIRECT????

In addition to what Ric wrote, I would say "SIZE". At CPAP.COM (for example), the chances of talking to the same person on the phone (or through e-mails) would be pretty good. Imagine the chances of trying to get into a phone bank at ResMed and get to talk to the same person about an ongoing situation......probably slim and none (and "slim" is outta town).
You can talk about the "history" that a DME has with a manufacturer, but there's also a relationship that customers (end-users) and sellers build.....whether it be with a local DME or online entity. That would be impossible for customers (end-users) dealing directly with a company like ResMed.

If you noticed, I didn't say anything derogatory about DMEs. There ARE good ones, too.

Den

And I was laughing as I typed it...

And I was laughing as I read it! I don't need deep breaths, I love this stuff. I keep about four message boards, on different topics, stirred up like hornet's nests all the time. It alleviates the boredom when I can't play the mandolin. So hit me with your best shot. On message boards, I am "flame resistant." Just brace yourself for the come-back!

Again,,, what is the difference between an online cpap retailer and the manufacturer just selling DIRECT????

OOPS! I overlooked the MOST obvious difference......"VARIETY"!
Try buying a Respironics mask directly from ResMed......or any of the many other products that CPAP.COM sells, that doesn't have a ResMed name on it.
Online purchasing is extremely convenient to be able to get what you need to get going with your therapy.

One-stop shopping.

Den

MandoJohnny wrote:

And I was laughing as I typed it...

And I was laughing as I read it! I don't need deep breaths, I love this stuff. I keep about four message boards, on different topics, stirred up like hornet's nests all the time. It alleviates the boredom when I can't play the mandolin. So hit me with your best shot. On message boards, I am "flame resistant." Just brace yourself for the come-back!

I'm glad to read that. None of us should get TOO caught up in this. Unfortunately most of us have bigger problems than things like this to worry about. That's why this helps to break up the reality a little bit. NOT THAT THESE MATTERS AREN'T IMPORTANT, but just so we don't let them get to us too much.

[quote="MandoJohnny"]It is true people are rarely prosecuted for price fixing. That does not change the fact that it's not right, and just possibly even illegal, to accuse someone of a serious crime when you have no evidence whatsoever to support the claim..

MandoJohnny wrote:It is true people are rarely prosecuted for price fixing. That does not change the fact that it's not right, and just possibly even illegal, to accuse someone of a serious crime when you have no evidence whatsoever to support the claim..

Hmm . . ., I can't resist it . . .

MandoJohnny is absolutely correct in saying that prosecutions for price-fixing are rare, but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

For example, in my corner of the universe we have blatant price-fixing by the gasoline dealers. I never know what the price of gasoline is going to be when I'm on the road in the morning, but I do know that the price will be exactly the same at any of the hundreds of service stations in the area. I look at it as a service provided to me as a consumer which makes my life easier . . . just one less decision to make . . . don't even have to think about driving around town to find a little better price . . .

ResMed, in its own way, is merely attempting to service us properly . . ., (no, wait, there's that rape thing again . . .) Well, at least they're trying to make our lives less complicated.

Regards,
Bill

Everyone on this site always complains. The bottom line is this. If you were trying to run a business, wouldn't you want to make the most profit you can?
Isn't Resmed a business? Is that not what they are trying to do? If any of the people on this site owned a company I bet they wished they thought of a great idea like this to. They are trying to kill all the online retailers and I hope the rest of the companies follow suite and raise their prices to. And as for the DME threads everyone always rights. I heard crying helps. Everyone on this site always crys their eyes out every time they don't get what they want when they want. Lifes tuff, grow up. Most places will take a while to get most products in, every were you go you have to wait for something.

Gentlemen or ladies,

A definition of price fixing from a prominent dictionary:

Establishing the price of a product or service, rather than allowing it to be determined naturally through free market forces.

I do not believe that I accused anyone of an illegal act, certainlty an unsavory act toward consumers, but not illegal.

A definition of liberal from the same dictionary:

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

As for being liberal - by definition, guilty as charged.

As I said previously, MOST folks seem to prefer the market to determine pricing for products, not a manufacturer. Don't MOST people prefer not to pay the manufacturer's suggested retail price for products?

I suspect the internet and on-line vendors are here to stay. I believe that future generations of people needing durable medical supplies will be internet literate. Some statistics suggest that fewer and fewer people have and will have insurance.

Wonder where the market share will grow?



DMW

From Resmed

For the nine months ended March 31, 2006, revenue from sales of flow generators increased by 56% compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2005-48% in North and Latin America and 62% internationally. Revenue from sales of mask systems, motors and other accessories increased by 35%-49% in North and Latin America and 15% internationally-for the nine months ended March 31, 2006 compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2005. We believe these increases primarily reflect growth in the overall sleep-disordered breathing market, contributions from our recent acquisitions and strong sales from our new products, particularly the Mirage Swift mask and S8 flow generator.

Note, this 56% increase in revenue from cpap sales occurred for the 9 months ending March 31,2006. We are on notice they are raising their prices by 40-60% for online retailers as of September 4th.

That price increase can't come soon enough. Resmed is really floundering. I hope they'll be able to stay in business until then.

There is trying to maximize profit, and then there is rape. This is rape.

I think Ric nailed it. ResMed is playing hardball with the internet stores, in order to increase their (ResMed's) market share with the biggest cpap customer base of all...the bricks and mortar DME stores. ResMed is out to make the Aprias, the Lincares, and all the local DMEs from every chain right down to the mom-and-pop stores happy. Make them happy, and they'll shove the competitors cpap stuff aside to make more room for ResMed's products.

Sadly, I think ResMed's gambit will work. As more and more local DMEs tell the Respironics reps who call on them, "Hey, we're stocking ResMed now because they're helping us fight off internet pricing. What are you guys doing to help our business?" what do you think Respironics will do? I think Respironics will do the exact same thing to online stores sooner or later -- require them to "price our products at no less than this amount or we won't let you have ANYthing to sell." That will be the way to demonstrate to the local DMEs that a manufacturer is DME friendly.

The day I read ResMed's statement about mandating minimum pricing policy for internet stores, to take effect in September, 2006, I made up my mind to never buy another ResMed product, ever again. Even if other manufacturers eventually do the same thing, it's ResMed's stuff I'll never buy. Because they started it.

Rested Gal, You are 100% correct, I am sure that is the plan, it will end up like feeding time for the sharks, and we are the feed. I don't have any Resmed product, I was going to get a mask off them, it wouldn't cost me any more because I have ins, but it won't happen, because I won't be responsible for them getting one dollar of my money, not even through my ins company. Your right, no matter what happen they started it, I'll hold their feet to the fire. Jim

P.S, I think you lightened up some, or maybe my eyes got better, I don't think my monitor has.

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

rested gal wrote:I think Ric nailed it. ResMed is playing hardball with the internet stores, in order to increase their (ResMed's) market share with the biggest cpap customer base of all...the bricks and mortar DME stores. ResMed is out to make the Aprias, the Lincares, and all the local DMEs from every chain right down to the mom-and-pop stores happy. Make them happy, and they'll shove the competitors cpap stuff aside to make more room for ResMed's products.

Sadly, I think ResMed's gambit will work. As more and more local DMEs tell the Respironics reps who call on them, "Hey, we're stocking ResMed now because they're helping us fight off internet pricing. What are you guys doing to help our business?" what do you think Respironics will do? I think Respironics will do the exact same thing to online stores sooner or later -- require them to "price our products at no less than this amount or we won't let you have ANYthing to sell." That will be the way to demonstrate to the local DMEs that a manufacturer is DME friendly.

The day I read ResMed's statement about mandating minimum pricing policy for internet stores, to take effect in September, 2006, I made up my mind to never buy another ResMed product, ever again. Even if other manufacturers eventually do the same thing, it's ResMed's stuff I'll never buy. Because they started it.

my sentiments exactly. good thing the activa i just got was given to me. i just wish other companies would start making some masks as good or better than the activa. resmed will never get 1 penny from me, ever.

(Guest should hit the Economics textbooks and look up the definition of Capitalism and Free Market system, which is supposed to be the Conservative basis of this country.)


"A review of history will show that our country was founded on (at the time) Liberal Principals. That is Classical Liberal not our modern Liberalism which had been taken over by socialists who are power hungry and want to control everything. I see nothing liberal about our modern day political Liberals"





(The bottom Line is this. If you were trying to run a business, wouldn't you want to make the most profit you can?)


"In my opinion, the purpose of business is to satisfy the needs and/or desires of their customers. ResMed must not see us as their customers only the end users of their products. Their customers must be the third party payers of our socialist medical delivery system. If all businesses only looked to make the most money possible, they all would be selling drugs and women, if they were moral they would all be selling popcorn."

OH! one more thing!!!!

I think rested gal hit the nail square on the head.