prices

bill2 · Post by **bill2** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:07 pm

What's with the price difference on the web and with the local companies? What a ripoff!

seniorsam67 · Post by **seniorsam67** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 2:02 pm

Boy, I'm with you! The internet pricing is so LOW-I bet they are used machines, not new. Couldn't be new at those prices. I can't imagine an insurance company pays that much to the local place!! Those local guys must be driving Cadilacs!

Senior Sam67

imacpappro · Post by **imacpappro** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:49 pm

The net is the best way for anyone to save money when it comes to cpap. There are those who need special, face to face interaction, with someone at a DME. However, most DME companies don't even know what they are selling. Honestly, if you can read and are willing to use a cpap then all you need comes with the equipment. If problems arise, we all have great boards like this to discuss it on and seek help. I could go on and on, like not having a say in what equipment you get and.........

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:22 am

could this be the resuly of a search on price and posting their spam link?

Looks like this is a pattern.

Also looks like the spam zapper has taken a lunch break. He will be back soon and resume his life of zapping spam.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:29 am

bill2 wrote:What's with the price difference on the web and with the local companies? What a ripoff!

It's the difference between insurance and cash. With a local DME company, the Insurance Company sets the price that is paid for a piece of equipment. Medicare (And most Insurance Companies) have requirements that forbid a DME company from charging a lower price to anyone, even if they pay cash, so no matter what you cannot get a lower price from a DME company.
With places that do not bill any insurance companies (like this website) they are able to charge much less since they can set the price.
It's also why when this website has a seperate company to bill insurance, and why that company charges the same amount as your local DME even though you are still using the internet.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:56 am

There's a much better chance that your local DME will give you a used machine, unlike cpap.com which will sell you a new one.

Krelvin · Post by **Krelvin** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:50 am

seniorsam67 wrote:Boy, I'm with you! The internet pricing is so LOW-I bet they are used machines, not new. Couldn't be new at those prices.

To sell a product as brand new when it is in fact used is illlegal. The advertised product by Cpap.com and other Internet companies are for brand new products unless they advertise them as refurbished.

The prices are low because that is what they really cost. The prices by normal DME suppliers are much higher because the insurance companies will pay that.

Each time I see what my insurance company is billed by my DME I cringe, even though it is covered 100% meaning I pay nothing. It is a ripoff which the insurance companies apparently don't care about.

There may even be an issue with selling refurbished medical equipment.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, DME

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:06 pm

greyhound wrote:There's a much better chance that your local DME will give you a used machine, unlike cpap.com which will sell you a new one.

If your insurance company rents equipment, then yes it stands to reason that you very well may get a used machine. When you rent a car they don't give you a brand new car each time you go. When you stay at a hotel they don't give you brand new sheets each time you go to bed.
If your insurance purchases your equipment to start off with, you won't get a used machine.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:18 pm

Corporations lack a human conscious and yet have the same legal rights as we do but they also have "political capital" ... and they spend it on our government representatives to write laws that make it legal for:

... insurance companies to pay above market prices ... cuz they know they can charge the premiums to maintain their profits.

... DMEs to sell used machines as new so they can optimize their profits ... apparently it is legal to sell a machine with less than 40 hours on it as new.

We as individuals have lost our "political capital" because most Americans do not vote ... quite likely because we feel our government officals do little on our behalf.

The cycle perpetuates itself and we grow weaker as corporations grow stronger.

- roberto

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:43 pm

In a free society, prices are determined by the supply and demand lmarket place dynamics.

Any transaction in the world is by a buyer agreeing to a price asked by the seller.

It gets a bit fuzzy from here and depends on a lot of factors.
If a seller has pricing power and the buyer lacks sophistication then the buyer will either say yes or no.

Many sellers rely on ignorant consumers to agree with their asking price and will get a certain number to agree without question because they are convincing in their presentation. (anyone buy a car lately?) (DME??)

Those consumers who question this by educating themselves and being assertive can tilt the balance in their favor.

The choice and advantage is always with the person with the MONEY, not the one wanting it.

It is amusing how many people call when their air conditioning goes out and accepts the terms of the seller. Or tires or tune ups or home repairs or DME ad infinitum.

Your money, your choice.
There is no law against being stupid.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:27 pm

If your insurance purchases your equipment to start off with, you won't get a used machine.

I don't think the insurance companies purchase your equipment "to start off with", they usually wait to see if the patient is even going to actually use the CPAP equipment first. Mine, like most, was 'rent to own', and the evil DME gave me a used machine with 3600+ hours!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:44 am

Vader wrote:
If your insurance purchases your equipment to start off with, you won't get a used machine.

I don't think the insurance companies purchase your equipment "to start off with", they usually wait to see if the patient is even going to actually use the CPAP equipment first. Mine, like most, was 'rent to own', and the evil DME gave me a used machine with 3600+ hours!

If it was a rental, what's wrong with them providing a used piece of equipment? I was lucky that my insurance purchases mine from the start, but if they rented I certainly wouldn't expect a brand new machine. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:15 am

Anonymous Guest wrote:If it was a rental, what's wrong with them providing a used piece of equipment? I was lucky that my insurance purchases mine from the start, but if they rented I certainly wouldn't expect a brand new machine. It just doesn't make sense to me.

My insurance co. was renting to own. Ultmimately, they paid FULL LIST PRICE for a piece of equipment that was showing signs of dimished performance.
I demanded a new machine, and rightly so--I was immediately provided one.
If customers are to be given a used machine, It should only be a very temporary thing.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:21 am

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous Guest wrote:If it was a rental, what's wrong with them providing a used piece of equipment? I was lucky that my insurance purchases mine from the start, but if they rented I certainly wouldn't expect a brand new machine. It just doesn't make sense to me.

VADER : (me) My insurance co. was renting to own. Ultmimately, they paid FULL LIST PRICE for a piece of equipment that was showing signs of dimished performance.
I demanded a new machine, and rightly so--I was immediately provided one.
If customers are to be given a used machine, It should only be a very temporary thing.

OOPS! That was just me replying to "Anonymous Guest" (forgot to sign in)

MaskedMechanic · Post by **MaskedMechanic** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:10 am

Dear "Guest"

What is wrong with providing used equipment on a convert to purchase deal is that the patient, once informed, will likely move to the better deal the Internet retailers offer. It is business 101.

prices

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Cheaper on the net for sure.

spam

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