The Absurdity of Shopping for CPAP Equipment

Goofproof wrote:It's a medical device, it's costly, do you want to pay even more to cover the cost of wasted products. I don't need to Road test Bedpans, I can read, and see the products. Most DME's only carry a few overpriced products and brands, they are there to make money, carrying everything would be costly, and opened product would not be sanitary or resellable as new. Jim

+1

Many people here don't have a clue about basic economics.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

Goofproof wrote:It's a medical device, it's costly, do you want to pay even more to cover the cost of wasted products. I don't need to Road test Bedpans, I can read, and see the products. Most DME's only carry a few overpriced products and brands, they are there to make money, carrying everything would be costly, and opened product would not be sanitary or resellable as new. Jim

+1

Many people here don't have a clue about basic economics.

Amazing how many people using Other Peoples Money, think it's Free! Jim

sptrout wrote:<snip> It was very helpful seeing XPAP machinces side-by-side when I bought my ResMed machine. A picture may be worth a 1,000 words, but actually seeing what you are buying is worth so much more.

WTH?? You choose a CPAP machine based on its appearance??

AMESS wrote: There are some people on this board that self treat. I am not one of them. I believe medical supervision is necessary

You need medical supervision.

Some of us are still dinosaurs, like me. I like to see, touch and smell everything before I buy. I am lucky to live in a major city and have access to many businesses selling Xpap equipment. I can browse and go to a DME and shop online.

What do businesses with mask return policies do with their returned masks? That has got to be expensive too.

To the OP do you live or visit a major city? You might be able to find places that display equipment. Try searching home health care businesses and cpap equipment, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Cpapian wrote:Some of us are still dinosaurs, like me. I like to see, touch and smell everything before I buy. I am lucky to live in a major city and have access to many businesses selling Xpap equipment. I can browse and go to a DME and shop online.

What do businesses with mask return policies do with their returned masks? That has got to be expensive too.

To the OP do you live or visit a major city? You might be able to find places that display equipment. Try searching home health care businesses and cpap equipment, you might be pleasantly surprised.

I was taught at age 4, not to play with the toys. If you don't buy it first don't finger it. Got two whippings from it in a 5 and dime, once in the store, and again at home.
I wasn't a slow learner, lesson learned, not to say I didn't need a lot of lessons, never for the same thing. Jim

Well here I am three weeks into CPAP and on my 4th mask. I have medicare plus Mut. of Omahau as a suppliment. This is the benefit of good ins. I never post anything that is false. Who ever underlined my post in red--you can remove it. I do not think you are supposed to mess with some one elses post. Can someone back me up on messing with a post other than your own?

Manufacturers provide DME's with sample masks just for the purpose of fitting people or letting them try them before committing to purchasing a mask. But there was rampant selling of the sample masks out the back door--when CPAP auction was alive that was the source of most of the masks, plus you'd see them on eBay and Craigslist (and probably still do). I think that samples are still being sold--DME's are reluctant to let people try before they buy because they can't pocket the extra money.

There's still a program where manufacturers will credit DME's for a mask that doesn't work out, permitting the DME to provide you with another mask. But it's a lot of paperwork, and most DME's don't want to spend the time.

The mask is the "make it or break it" part of newbie success with CPAP. If you can't get a comfortable and well-fitting mask you can sleep in, you won't use CPAP. So getting a good mask is vitally important, and few DME's know how to fit them properly. To add to the frustration, most mask packages are "fit packs" with multiple sized cushions (especially nasal pillow masks), but DME's will take out all but one size of cushion and re-sell the others for pure profit.

AMORON wrote:Well here I am three weeks into CPAP and on my 4th mask. I have medicare plus Mut. of Omahau as a suppliment(sp). This is the benefit of good ins. I never post anything that is false. (Look again). Who ever underlined my post in red--you can remove it. I do not think you are supposed to mess with some one elses post (SOP-happens when bull appears)
Can someone back me up on messing with a post other than your own?

This happens all the time--especially when someone identifies a statement as PURE BULL.

Chunky Frog:; You have no right to underline my post in red. And for those of you out there re who claim to know but dont ---listen up. I am very well insured. I pay nothing-- only to medicare and my supplement. I am on my 4th mask in 3 weeks. I am allowed 5 in the first month when starting up. After the first month I can probably change again if necessary. I will be honest and let you know if/when I change. Thats how it is. I am sorry for those who attempt to treat themselves and and run into trouble. Sleep apnea needs medical assistance . BTW I do NOT make false statements.

Because you chose to use your computer on a forum, doesn't make what you post "Yours", this is a privately owned forum, that you are allow to use and post on, by the owner of the forum, as a courtesy, they set the rules. After you press send, it becomes a part of their Forum, forever. You may Delete or Edit your post, and I guess Whine if you must, only it's considered in poor taste.

What you post is yours, but since you posted it on a forum, it also is subject to the thoughts of others. We have been known to respond to the thoughts of others. Jim

AMESS wrote:This is a medical problem. Go to a sleep dr/pulmonologist. If after a sleep lab test, if you are found to have sleep apnea, you wil be sent with a prescription for sleep apmea equipment to a medical supply place. Along with a respitory therapist you can choose a mask. If you dont like it you can get a different one. I believe u can do this 5 times a month. All this is possible only IF you have insurance or pay out of pocket. Otherwise you are on your own to fumble around trying to figure out if you really have sleep apena and where to go to buy some equipment. This is how it works. There are some people on this board that self treat. I am not one of them. I believe medical supervision is necessary

Maybe you need to add a disclamer: What I say only applies to me, therefore please feel free to take it with a "Grain of Salt".

I believe for every every drop of Rain that Flows, "A Flower Grown", and a Misquito Breeds! Jim

elmunc wrote:I spend about a third of the hours of my life with a CPAP mask on. So do millions of others. And yet there is nowhere a person can go to examine the dozens of different mask models -- pick them up, look at them, listen to them, try them on.

Personally, I don't want to be trying on masks that have been on 100 other people's faces. No, I am not a germaphobe, I never sanitize my shopping cart and don't understand people who do. Unless you're planning to lick your hands after shopping, what's the point?

However, I don't want to be breathing in an pathogens from someone else. Plus, if the display model for some reason caused someone to become ill or die, guess who gets sued? Does the provider have to maintain hospital quality sanitation to show $100 masks? How long do you think those masks would be "only" $100?

How many people would try before they buy if it was lollipops? Pre-moistened by who knows who. Even if they were "sanitized" in between lickings?

As someone said before Do shut up xxyz

MaxINTJ wrote:

elmunc wrote:I spend about a third of the hours of my life with a CPAP mask on. So do millions of others. And yet there is nowhere a person can go to examine the dozens of different mask models -- pick them up, look at them, listen to them, try them on.

Personally, I don't want to be trying on masks that have been on 100 other people's faces. No, I am not a germaphobe, I never sanitize my shopping cart and don't understand people who do. Unless you're planning to lick your hands after shopping, what's the point?

However, I don't want to be breathing in an pathogens from someone else. Plus, if the display model for some reason caused someone to become ill or die, guess who gets sued? Does the provider have to maintain hospital quality sanitation to show $100 masks? How long do you think those masks would be "only" $100?

How many people would try before they buy if it was lollipops? Pre-moistened by who knows who. Even if they were "sanitized" in between lickings?

I think that's taking it to the extreme. You seem to forget that most masks come with removable and replaceable straps, gel pads and hoses. If I'm using this in a medical environment and I plan to have users try on the device, you best bet that I'm going to have multiples in rotation, with many of the devices being sanitized and heated to kill/remove any possible bacterium. I'm not expecting them to "lick and taste" the masks they're wearing. If they do, well, they have other issues besides sleep breathing disorders.