Resmed price fixing

I just finished reading the first half of the posts on this topic. Just got my 1st set of equipment on Weds. of last week. Cost me $907.00 out of my own pocket as I no longer have insurance (and when I did have the insurance it did not cover any of the equipment). It seems that big business is constantly trying to rip me in one way or another and they are often able to get to me because they have the system all twisted to their unscrupulous favor. In this case though I am sooo... happy that I did not order any Resmed products! And I will not ever in the future. It just happened that I chose all Respironics, even though I had not read these threads prior to doing so. The hospital/sleep lab wanted me to buy through them - but their prices, along with the list of referred companies they gave me, were way out of hand. Also the choices were limited, and Respironics was not on the list. I purchased the new Respironics Series:M Auto CPAP with Heated Humidifier and the ComfortLite 2 mask along with an extra pack of filters. I saved a lot, and would have saved a lot more had I chosen to purchase the same equipment that the hospital was trying to sell me on. I am extremely happy with the equipment although I have yet to see any relief (I will be posting for opinions on that issue in the very near future). I chalk this all up to the fact that the internet adds healthy competition to the market - without which we would all be at the mercy of the big business's and corporations that want to completely control the market so they can fleece us at any given opportunity. I also dought that I would have received the literature that I need to set my own pressure and fine tune the machine as needed had I gone through my doctor or another supplier. I would have been locked in to having to pay someone far to much, who in my opinion really doesn't give a damn, to do something that I can and should be able to do myself. BT

WTG, Byron! You've gotten yourself an excellent machine, imho. The mask you've chosen is one of my favorites, too.

Thanks rested gal. So far I am very pleased with it all. I think I was expecting a miracle though. I remember after my sleep study - afterwards that same day I seemed to have an unusual amount of extra energy - and that gave me real hope. But - I was also wondering if it might be psychological due to the fact that I wanted it so badly. Usually I don't get psyched though, I feel what I feel - and my head doesn't seem to be able to sway my physical side no matter how hard it tries. So for 5 years now I have been thinking about and anticipating a big change as soon as I was able to pop for the equipment. I realize now that I was probably wrong and that it will most likely be a more drawn out process than I had hoped. BUT - I'm on board now and at least that's a start. I'm just thankful that todays technology was able to actually pinpoint something physical that was causing my fatigue. Prior to that, and I'm sure that I probably speak for many others, I blamed myself. Thinking myself possibly lazy and unmotivated. I always wondered where these people got all their energy, and craved it - but could never seem to attain it. I honestly can never remember waking up refreshed - always tired. Even as a youth I would fall asleep in morning classes, and as I got older falling asleep while driving. Vivarin was my good friend. Anyway - I'm rattling on again and I already said goodnight to this board 45 mins. ago in another thread! Thanks again ... BT

byront wrote:I realize now that I was probably wrong and that it will most likely be a more drawn out process than I had hoped . . . I always wondered where these people got all their energy, and craved it - but could never seem to attain it.

Byront, keep in mind that xPAP therapy simply stops the destructive process which has been pounding away at your body for years. Healing is slow. You can help that along, of course. I find that light to moderate exercise and attention to nutrition does the trick for me.

Like you I've also wondered where folks got all their energy from. As a kid I remember my father, who was a wall rattling snorer, commenting that some folks just seemed to have lots of energy, but not us. Anyway, I'm still waiting for all the extra energy to kick in. I will say though, that I feel pretty good these days after seven months of xPAP therapy.

Regards,
Bill

byront wrote:(snip)So far I am very pleased with it all. I think I was expecting a miracle though. I remember after my sleep study - afterwards that same day I seemed to have an unusual amount of extra energy - and that gave me real hope. (snip)... BT

I like to say that I experienced a subtle, but significant, difference in my energy level. I now have the ability to think about doing things and then actually do them.

Of course, you seem to have the typical single parent syndrome. That ALONE is exhausting.

It does not seem productive to worry about not spending the money used on xPAP therapy equipment on your boys; if you take good care of yourself, you will be better able to care for them.

As a kid I remember my father, who was a wall rattling snorer

Now, I believe that can be a new subject. How many different kinds of snorers are they?

1. Wall rattling
2. (fill in, etc.)

Just thought I'd bring this to the top again lol!!

This topic makes me sad. I truely love my Rasmed APAP, and wish the company that developed this fine product was more comitted to their customers, regaurdless of where or how we buy our xpaps. My experience with CPAP.COM was wounderful, they helped me though the entire prosess, and were quick to answer all my newbe questions. My sleep doc and the company they wanted me to buy from on the other hand were less than useless. Neither claimed to have even heard of APAP machines. I only hope that when I need a second machine RESMED hasn't priced them selves out of my range.

[quote="Anonymous"]This topic makes me sad. I truely love my Rasmed APAP, and wish the company that developed this fine product was more comitted to their customers, regaurdless of where or how we buy our xpaps. My experience with CPAP.COM was wounderful, they helped me though the entire prosess, and were quick to answer all my newbe questions. My sleep doc and the company they wanted me to buy from on the other hand were less than useless. Neither claimed to have even heard of APAP machines. I only hope that when I need a second machine RESMED hasn't priced them selves out of my range.

Hi Josh,

I'm in complete agreement with you; Resmed makes some truly innovative and quality xPAPs as well as masks. When I saw my sleep Dr./neurologist last week, I asked her which APAP she likes best and without hesitation she said the Resmed Vantage. She feels, and I know other doctors may feel differently, that the Resmed algorithm treats the vast majority of patients better than the other choices. The hospital I go to does have a captive DME as part of their operation, although they don't push it in any way, and this DME also sells Respironics and PB.

I also think that Resmed has made a big mistake in their new pricing program, but I am hopeful that further analysis and market feedback will cause them to reassess their decision. They have a lot going for them and it would be a shame to see them become marginalized in the marketplace due to a poor business decision. To me, what is so ironic about the whole issue is that the internet sites, while being substantially lower priced, also provide superior levels of support through the internet user forums. The best of both worlds. Why mess with that?

Called respironics to find out why I couldn't get the v1.6 update to my v1.4 encore pro software which I bought from a very legitimate supplier that most of you recognize. Get this. The representative says that the FDA says that they can't sell encore pro to somebody that doesn't have an account with them and you can't have an account with them unless you are a sleep doctor or whatever. I told them I didn't want to buy the software, I'd already done that, I just wanted an update. Nope, they can't do that either.

So here's the deal. Respironics sells their software to the usual cpap supply sites who then resell the software to whoever has the $100 but with the proviso that they don't provide support either.

Bottom line, I bought the software (not bootleg) from a legitimate retailer. No support is available from anybody so if you want to update from v1.4 to v1.6 you have to pay another $100. According to Respironics it's all the fault of the FDA.

Just happens to be a pretty good deal for Respironics. They get to profit from selling every update and don't have to bear the cost of service.

Nutz to Respironics.

Bottom line, I bought the software (not bootleg) from a legitimate retailer. No support is available from anybody so if you want to update from v1.4 to v1.6 you have to pay another $100. According to Respironics it's all the fault of the FDA.

I wonder what happened when they put the Encore 1.5 on the internet for free download to anyone? I guess the FDA scorched them on that one. I know they don't offer support for patient end users but some on this forum have said they have called them and got support. I don't understand why if a internet dealer can get the updates he doesn't provide them online for people who have purchased from them as a download like Respironics did? Someone could contact them and receive a download number/code to be able to download, providing they had previously purchased the software. I guess they both make money by charging everytime? I can see it would be difficult for an internet provider to supply support someone else's software. Did you know purchasing Encore software from Respironics, they said it was over $1000?

sthnreb wrote:Did you know purchasing Encore software from Respironics, they said it was over $1000?

Maybe for $1000+ you get ongoing "support".



Fred (fstanmyre),

If you don't have the Bi-PAP Auto or the new M Series machine, your version 1.4 should be just fine. I'm still using 1.4.99.

Best wishes,

Den

Since when does the Food and Drug Administration control software? Software is now a controlled medical device? I am reluctant to believe that software is really controlled by FDA.

I have the 1.4 too, purchased from cpap for $199 with the card reader. I also have purchased an upgraded Respironics Bipap Auto. So, I got the Encore 1.5 when it was available, free, which works with the Auto or Bipap pro. Otherwise, I would be like others having to purchase the software again.
I agree about the FDA controlling software....don't see how. And for $1000 to purchase, you also had to be a dealer/doctor, they don't sell to individuals. Cpap thought I was saying they were selling hijacked software because of their price at one time. I assume they purchase it lots cheaper in volume and who knows, would Respironics lie??
You and I both know all the manufacturers know their software is sold to individuals. Or do internet dealers sell to thousands and thousands of doctors? Stumps me why someone doesn't offer support. (besides cpap forum) Normally if someone wants the 1.5 I would upload it to them because it was at one point free and they missed out, because of the lack of support. Freely I received so why not freely give? I don't feel it was free really because I did pay the $200 for the 1.4 and didn't really realize I was downloading a full version 1.5 until someone pointed it out. I thought it was just and update.