Is Resmed Backing Off Some?

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:55 am

Resmed Delays Price Increase To Internet Buyers

Resmed has pushed back the launch date of a plan to put a 40% price increase into effect for their products sold on the internet. Initially, Resmed informed online CPAP Retailers that their plan would go into effect September 4th 2006 for those who applied and were accepted as Resmed Authorized Internet Retailers.

sidesleeper · Post by **sidesleeper** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:57 pm

no.
just a delay probably because their stock is headed south.
Their goodwill is shot over this and the uninsured will not soon forget.

completelyhosed · Post by **completelyhosed** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:39 pm

The chairman of Resmed said 8/17 at the earnings meeting "We do not think that internet sales are a good thing". The delay is no doubt related to a pathetic effort to cage the unleashed internet truth machine. Good luck Resmed.

Is it not just amazing that CPAP.com with the best overall CPAP service of ANY dealer is being shot at for being among the worst? And prices need to go up so that internet dealers can provide adequate services. Wow! It is really getting deep. Resmed needs a shipment of shovels and a front end loader to clear all the nonsense they have publicly stated lately. Nobody believes them. Not the Docs, DMEs, competition, CMS, patients, or even Wall Street. Should they back down? Absolutely, but they are damaged goods to some extent already. It takes a life time to build a reputation and only a moment to loose it.

It is not too late. Perhaps they may change course. They do know what they are doing and they know it has nothing to do with patient compliance. If it was, some of the biggest Brick and Mortar DMEs would be the ones under attack.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:44 pm

At the very least. they need to ship all their customers, smell filters to put on their equiptment, it has gotten quite strong, stay upwind if you can. Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:45 am

I'll bet Respironics is thrilled about all the damage ResMed is doing to themselves over this decision... decisions like this only work if your company is a monopoly. If there's a high-quality competitor with machines of roughly equal or greater quality, it's a horrible idea. You're just driving customer traffic to your competitor. And with the Internet, it's rather hard to "contain" the news of what's happening.

Still happily using my Respironics REMstar Pro M-Series... certainly no need to switch now...

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:17 pm

Word on the street is Remed has gotten complaints from patients at "awake" meetings. As far as I know they're still going forward with their plan but if enough people complain, they may not.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:29 pm

Hmmmmm. Makes one wonder if the hoseheads should let them hang themselves or try to save them from their own stupidity......

Maybe I should buy some Respironics stock.

Den

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:41 pm

Respironics dramatically raised prices to one of my local distributors. They're being punished for selling Resprionics products for a low price.

[quote="Wulfman"]Hmmmmm. Makes one wonder if the hoseheads should let them hang themselves or try to save them from their own stupidity......

Maybe I should buy some Respironics stock.

Den

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:44 pm

DME_Guy wrote:Respironics dramatically raised prices to one of my local distributors. They're being punished for selling Resprionics products for a low price.

?

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:29 am

rested gal wrote:
DME_Guy wrote:Respironics dramatically raised prices to one of my local distributors. They're being punished for selling Resprionics products for a low price.
?

Yep, Respironics became upset because they were selling their product for too low of a price. This is to DMEs but the idea is the similar to what Resmed is doing. Now the distributor actually pays more for Respironics products than many DMEs do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:03 am

Here is the scoop on the "distributor" thing. For the purpose of this post, a "distributor" is a dealer that sells to other dealers, not to end users.

Resmed and Respironics have large sales forces and they sell directly to providers. There are some "distributors" that have found a way to use volume sales to actually undercut the prices smaller dealers pay for product direct from the manufacturer. Resmed has put in place a policy that prohibits any dealer from selling to another dealer. This effectively is killing middlemen. Respironics is raising prices to distributors to get the same thing down.

Things get much more complicated when dealers band together in "buying groups". That is for another day.

completelyhosed · Post by **completelyhosed** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:43 am

DME_Guy, If we speak to our doctors and at sleep disorder support groups about the real damage Resmed is planning for internet and uninsured cpap patients, we can stop Resmed. I was glad to hear from your post that hoseheads are taking the action that will bring about positive change. It would be great to hear more news from the front.

Resmed can be made to back down. Doctor/DME supported groups are Resmed's home turf. We must continue to speak up until Resmed backs down. We must press them until they do. They have called for a big price increase with the intent to stop internet sales. Their Chairman has said so publicly as is documented on an audio file posted elsewhere. Let us change his mind.

kingshootr · Post by **kingshootr** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 4:54 pm

I will never understand why some manufacturers want to penalize internet providers, especially ones that do a great job.

I've probably been with apnea for 2 years before getting diagnosed and chomping at the bit to get my prescription and machine. Being self-insured, cost is an issue after paying doctors, sleep study, etc.

In my small town, you set an appt. to get measured, wait for the machine to come in, pay 40% more for it, set another appt. to pick it up, etc.

I was able to place an order online on a Thursday evening after getting my prescription, fax in the Px the next morning, and pay way less even with overnight Saturday delivery!

The online guidelines for measuring were perfect, as the mask fits great (especially after reading tons of users comments on various websites to narrow down the field) the machine is programmed and ready to go, and I can't wait to get my first good sleep in years tonite!!!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Prescription

Artwood · Post by **Artwood** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 9:36 pm

The only way to stop RESMED is to not buy their products and tell everyone who MIGHT want to buy anything from them NOT TO BUY!

Money Talks...everything else is...well you know!

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:50 am

I agree. It's useless to pay 40-60% more for an item because it has the Resmed name on it. You can buy an equally good item from a different manufacturer at 60% less? Not even good math for Albert. So, 2 items that work equally as well, one is priced 60% higher than the other, compare $1000 to $1600 or $2000 to $3200 and it could be more than that amount. Which to buy? Actually, I have a Respironics Bipap Auto machine and Resmed has nothing to match it. Bottom line is to go to other manufacturers for your needs. For the sake of competive competition I hope Resmed backs off and attempts to limit the damage already done. Once you know, you Cpap.com.

Machine

Additional Comments: Resmed AirCurve 10 VAuto BiLevel with HumidAir

Mask