CPAPtalk.com

retrodave15 wrote: . . . they are not charged for returned masks due to the agreement they have with the suppliers. . . .

The CPAPtalk Wiki thingy wrote:The major mask manufacturers offer DMEs a 30-day return policy. If the DME fits you with a mask that you can't make work at home (i.e., it's painful, it leaks, it just doesn't fit you well enough), you can return it to the DME within 30 days and then try a different mask. -- wiki/index.php/DME

Doesn't cpap.com (the owners of this website) have a storefront in Houston? Wonder if they have masks to try on. You could call them and ask. Not sure how that would work with your insurance, though.

SleepingUgly wrote:Doesn't cpap.com (the owners of this website) have a storefront in Houston? Wonder if they have masks to try on. You could call them and ask. Not sure how that would work with your insurance, though.

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-store-location.php

. . . 10101 Stafford Centre Dr. / Suite B / Stafford, Texas 77477
From this location you can pick up orders placed online, place an order or shop for machines, masks and accessories in person. Our store front is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. . . .

It's a personal policy of mine to try to be helpful to all young ladies who are armed, aiming, and triple-dog-daring.

AbbyNormal wrote:Smart man, good policy! Now where's your photo? *taps foot*

I have a note from my doctor exempting me due to my chronic shyness and acute ugliness.

[* Ducks behind nearest cactus, then runs for his life . . . *]

This thread is a scream! And it's nice to see we're all (mostly) normal people! And yes, I know my headgear is messed up, that's what happens when you take your own picture.

Hey cherylgrrl

Glad to finally see another Sleepweaver wearer. It is the only mask that I think I could tolerate.

And since it works so well for me, I just don't understand why it isn't the mask of choice for everyone! ;-)

Rock on with your bad self!!

LOL "only engineers change their settings" - yes, pushing buttons is HARD!

My experience in trying over 15 masks is that ones which fit seal well, ones which don't never seal well, except when they're very, very tight. Therefore, the ones which fit best tend to be the only comfortable ones. You may have to try on a lot to find the right one.

Also, for nasal pillows, I think people tend to try and use pillow sizes that are too small. Then they jam them in there to seal them, but they won't seal well because they dislodge easily. It's helpful to try a size bigger usually. On my LT, I tried medium for a long time, which worked OK, but the large size just seals a lot better, allowing me to wear it more loosely.

Xney wrote: It's helpful to try a size bigger usually. On my LT, I tried medium for a long time, which worked OK, but the large size just seals a lot better, allowing me to wear it more loosely.

Hmmm, I hadn't considered this before, Xney. Mostly because I'm sort of ok with medium size. Maybe it's time to walk on the wild side and go large. Now all I have to do is find somebody who's willing to trade a 'large' Swift FX nasal pillow for a small or x-small?!?

retrodave15 wrote:

AbbyNormal wrote: My DME only carries SEVEN masks I found out yesterday. She said all the others were being returned and these were the only seven to consistently be used without a high return rate.

Interesting - My DME told me that they are not charged for returned masks due to the agreement they have with the suppliers. This may be due to the fact that they are part of a large hospital system and there is enough volume to toss the returns since they are all single pt use items, or they are just eating the cost.

My understanding is the DME has to do some paperwork for each returned mask to not get billed for it. Plus they have to handle them, track inventory, etc. They may have to pack and ship back to the distributor or destroy the returned masks. Even if there's no money to the manufacturer, there's the labor involved of handling returns and dispensing a new mask.

I suspect the "all masks but these 7 are bad" bit is a lie or self serving delusion to justify stocking fewer masks. Stocking a lot of items is good customer service but does cost money. Merchants usually tell you that the things they don't stock or sell are inferior.

archangle wrote: My understanding is the DME has to do some paperwork for each returned mask to not get billed for it. Plus they have to handle them, track inventory, etc. They may have to pack and ship back to the distributor or destroy the returned masks. Even if there's no money to the manufacturer, there's the labor involved of handling returns and dispensing a new mask.

My RT told me, that if they get a patient comfortable and compliant, they will have a customer for life. If the patient gets frustrated, they will quit and sell the machine on Craigslist, and they will not get sell you supplies. I call it the razor blade theory - give the handle away and you will make a fortune on the refills. If every DME realized that if they took care of the patient, they would reap the benefit of return sales for supplies.

I wonder if they handle the returns like we used to handle unsold magazines - we cut off the bar codes and sent them back to the manufacturer for credit. While I was finding a good fit on the mask when I tried a different mask - they NEVER asked for the old on back. I even asked them, and they told me to just throw it away, as that is what they would have to do. I have a nice little box going of old mask parts.