CPAPtalk.com

Uncle_Bob wrote:Interesting how the web site the OP mentioned sells the PR System One and humidifier for just $649 whereas cpcp.com is $949

Also notice that the 1st 3 posts are between strangers to cpaptalk - only registered in the past 10 days or so - Hmmmmmmm

DSM

dsm wrote:

Uncle_Bob wrote:Interesting how the web site the OP mentioned sells the PR System One and humidifier for just $649 whereas cpcp.com is $949

Also notice that the 1st 3 posts are between strangers to cpaptalk - only registered in the past 10 days or so - Hmmmmmmm

DSM

Hmmmmm indeed

johnnygoodman wrote: Unfortunately for us, our rates have been arrived at only through a painful learning curve. They will stay right where they are. Johnny

Johnny, you are such the gentleman.

Graciously letting the spam dogs come feed at the forum.
Stating the criteria for running your successful business.

Always the accommodating light in the darkness,
as the OSA refugees find their way here.....
and the path to a new life.

You are truly a class act.
You will always have my business.

I got a mask from cpap.com too. Much cheaper then buying it in Canada and it was here in 3 days. I liked their service, they didn't make me feel like I was a total "user" because I reversed the numbers on my credit card.

I frequently send packages from the US to Switzerland, and agree the charges are outrages. I spent $97 in postage to send my daughters 2 small packages. Since 9/11 everything has to be shipped by air or else sent in a crate, which is impossible for the average person. If you have ever sent anything overseas, you would see the massive amount of paperwork that has to be filled out- even if it's a gift. If it is merchandise there is even more work. And, it gets there when it gets there, with no guarantees on the recipient ever getting it and no way to check if it is delivered other than from the recipient. A box holding a cpap machine would easily be $200, and that is without any kind of insurance. UPS will at least give you a way to track it, and insure delivery, although unfortunately it is more expensive.

johnnygoodman wrote:Greetings,

Our prices to some countries are high but not ridiculous. Each is carefully considered. The duty structure of some countries is nuts and forces us to only ship US Mail there as a result. Another nuts thing is that 25%+ of packages shipped to certain countries go missing. We'll still ship there, but we will not do so at a loss, and YOU must cover the financial result of this state of affairs.

Other CPAP companies may ship there today, and you should take advantage of their generosity if they do, but if they look at their profit and loss statements after packages go missing and delinquent duties and taxes end up being passed back through UPS and charged to them, they will find our rates are in line with reality.

Unfortunately for us, our rates have been arrived at only through a painful learning curve. They will stay right where they are.

I also want to stress that the majority of countries have reasonable rates due to their reasonable policies and flow fraud.

Johnny

I am not sure what point is being made by some of the other "Hmmmmmmm" type responses that allude to my recent membership of the forum... I assume they are inferring that I am a troll of some kind.

Let me assure you that I am not.

I have been ordering stuff (of all descriptions) from the US for years. Some of the items are also much heavier than CPAP machines or card readers.

Let me state for a fact, with regards to Australia:

1) we are a very low (comparatively) fraud country;
2) there is NO duty payable for private importations of unrestricted merchandise under $1,000;
3) Duty is paid by the receiver, not the sender - so there should be no allowance for same in any calculation of a postage charge;
4) I have NEVER had a USPS parcel that is sent either USPS Express or Priority go lost or missing - I choose to pay the extra for express, with tracking and insurance. When it is insured, the seller is protected from a claim by a purchaser, when the purchaser has recourse to insurance. That is why most sellers disclaim responsibility for any loss to those who choose not to take out insurance. Legally, it works.

With greatest respect, anyone that says it costs $200 bucks to post a card reader and some tube covers is quite simply, mis-stating the reality.

If (as just two examples) Amazon can send me a bunch of heavy books that are packed well and protected for less than $50, or even sensitive and delicate electronic equipment costing upwards of $2000 such as a projector for $100 or less, then there is somethging wrong with the assertion that the reason for a $200+ postage charge is not to lose money.

Don't get me wrong, I would dearly love to support CPAP.COM, as there is great expense involved in supporting resources such as these and to keep up knowledge and support. I would be willing to pay over the odds for that. However, I will not be "raped" in paying $200+ for something that would cost less than $50 in actual charges to post.

As for fraud, there are ways of overcoming this - try for example, clearing a payment for 7-14 days before shipping. I would be OK with this, as I have never scammed anyone in my life. The scammers will not be OK with such a mechanism and would be deterred from ordering.

It is unfair to place such countries as Australia in the same category as Nigeria and the like...

You guys in the US are spoilt - and good luck to you. I am envious and look forward to the day when we are not treated like we are on another planet. It can be done in such a way as to balance safety and security for the sender, which is of primary importance for a sustainable business.

Others are doing it, so it is not an unreasonable expectation for CPAP.COM to reconsider its position.

Those of you who disagree are entitled to your opinions as I am to mine. That's the beauty of freedom.

Just one other thing - here's a hint for a less problematic courier situation: forget UPS, try Fedex instead (no, I don't work for them).

Take a poll of courier dramas and issues, and I will bet my house that UPS would top that list.

I'd be happy to hear the experiences of others in a similar situation.

Dog Tired wrote: I would dearly love to support CPAP.COM,

Sorry, I haven't followed the thread and have read only your last two posts. But let me ask what seems like an obvious question. Australia is the home of CPAP, so why does it make sense to purchase from the U.S. and not locally?

Good question and another reason to get our blood boiling.

Resmed's factory is in Sydney - yet it costs someone in Sydney $2300 for an Autoset S8 with humidifier, when they purchase from Resmed (it's where I got mine).

You can purchase at a discount from a local CPAP store for about $1500.

The short answer is that we subsidise the cost, to allow the units to be sent across to the US and then sold for less than a grand.

Seem fair?

Dog Tired wrote:Good question and another reason to get our blood boiling.

Resmed's factory is in Sydney - yet it costs someone in Sydney $2300 for an Autoset S8 with humidifier, when they purchase from Resmed (it's where I got mine).

You can purchase at a discount from a local CPAP store for about $1500.

The short answer is that we subsidise the cost, to allow the units to be sent across to the US and then sold for less than a grand.

Seem fair?

When I see such disparities in markets, I always suspect government intervention. I am just wondering if you have local regulations which discourage medical equipment suppliers from importing equipment and creating competition for ResMed.

rooster wrote:

Dog Tired wrote:Good question and another reason to get our blood boiling.

Resmed's factory is in Sydney - yet it costs someone in Sydney $2300 for an Autoset S8 with humidifier, when they purchase from Resmed (it's where I got mine).

You can purchase at a discount from a local CPAP store for about $1500.

The short answer is that we subsidise the cost, to allow the units to be sent across to the US and then sold for less than a grand.

Seem fair?

When I see such disparities in markets, I always suspect government intervention. I am just wondering if you have local regulations which discourage medical equipment suppliers from importing equipment and creating competition for ResMed.

Good point. Who knows? Could well be...

Dog Tired wrote:yet it costs someone in Sydney $2300 for an Autoset S8 with humidifier

If you look at the available retail price spread in Australia, you will see that you paid top dollar for it.... that's your choice, but you can get an Resmed S8II Platinum Series AutoSet™ Spirit with humidifier for a LOT less (~A$1665) in Australia without much effort, see http://www.cpapaustralia.com.au/shoppin ... ifier.html. That's about US$1460 at today's exchange rate

Dog Tired wrote:The short answer is that we subsidise the cost.....:

No, we don't.

Simple supply and demand economics is more than adequate to explain the price differences, such as they really are, between a small market (Autralia) and one that is over 1500% larger (USA).

Cheers,

Bill

rooster wrote:I am just wondering if you have local regulations which discourage medical equipment suppliers from importing equipment and creating competition for ResMed.

No.

billbolton wrote:

Dog Tired wrote:The short answer is that we subsidise the cost.....:

No, we don't.

Simple supply and demand economics is more than adequate to explain the price differences between a small market (Autralia) and one that is over 1500% larger (USA).

Cheers,

Bill

G'day Bill.

Not sure how "simple supply and demand economics" works in that case.

Cost of manufacture (in Australia) + distribution cost must be lower in Aus than in the US.

I would have thought that the profit margin, as a result, was far greater in Aus, whereas they're prepared to do it in the US on a lower margin on account of the higher volumes.

I'd be happy to stand corrected though...

Dog Tired wrote:Not sure how "simple supply and demand economics" works in that case

The cost to homologate a product to get it into a market is fixed and must be spread across all the units sold into that market. For Therapeutic products, homologation costs are substantial in all "Western" countries.

For Australia the homologation cost is spread over a much smaller market than in the US, as noted previously, therefore the homologation cost for each unit sold is much higher in Australia than for the US.

Cheers,

Bill