is 1800CPAP.com a legit buyer of APAP machines?

Hi guys, long time lurker here. Finally made an account to ask this question. I started out with Severe OSA diagnosed via sleep study and was given a CPAP. I, like a lot of you here, found it really hard to stay compliant and on my followup I was given an APAP Resmed airsense 10 autoset with humidifier. I still was not able to make it work as the mask ended up off of me when I woke up. So I boxed it away and thankfully I have now lost enough weight where my O2 SATS only would drop down to 94% a couple times a night and I now don't need my APAP anymore. A colleague of mine suggested I sell it to online liquidators. I did some researching and the only one thats replied to my inquiries is a company called 1800CPAP. They quoted me $230 which doesn't seem too high to where red flags would go off in my mind that they are scamming me but also seems on the lower end. I wanted to get the opinion you yall to see if they are legit and that I should go through. I'm hesitant to go through with it as I don't want to get scammed if they are not legit and be out the cost of the APAP plus they are putting the cost on me to ship it. Has anyone delt with this company. Am I being potentially ripped off?

They buy at wholesale price points and sell at retail. It's the American way.
There is also some other stuff involved that increases their cost in the machine like cleaning and servicing and providing some sort of warranty on the machines they buy used and sell to people.

I have never dealt with them so I know nothing about them other than what they are doing is pretty much the way it is for these used machines from places that will buy and resell used cpap machines.

Hey pugsy thanks for the reply and insight. That makes sense I didn’t consider the cleanup and warranty. I did a search on the forum and someone suggested selling off of craigslist. Do you recommend this? Im in the Atlanta area and notice theres about 10 CPAPs for sale and definitely higher price then $230 (and even $600 for this model) but I’m unaware if people are actually buying them. Wonder if you or any other members can provide insight on selling through either channel.

Kind regards

You would get more money for your machine if you sold off craigslist and yes, people buy off craigslist all the time. I have bought several machines off craigslist. If you sell local and meet the person just make sure you meet in a public place...coffee shops come to mind as they usually have power available for the buyer to test the machine.

Depending on hours of use you could probably get more money selling it here on the forum. Not a lot more but some more.
Forum members here are notorious tightwads...myself included.

As for craigslist prices sometimes on these machines...not much chance of someone getting $600 (pie in the sky pricing) for a used machine that I can go buy on Amazon brand new for between $400 and $500 but people tend to think that the machine is "worth" what their insurance got billed or what the DME charged and that's not how it works out in the private market.
I saw someone on my local craigslist with a machine that was 2 models older and they wanted more than I would have to pay for the latest model of that brand and theirs was used.
Craigslist sellers often have no clue what they have or how much it is really worth or what they will end up actually getting offered for their machine.

Bear in mind if you do want to try to sell it here on the forum you will get quizzed by the people who want to talk you into trying to use the machine again....it's what we do here on this forum...help people use their cpap stuff.
They mean well but just a warning that you would likely face them if you offer your machine here on the forum.

You would likely be able to get more for it from a craigslist ad than you would from a forum member here...so just fair warning about that.
Most of us here already have a machine and aren't desperate and the only reason we might be interested would be to have it as a back up or a cheap way to upgrade to a newer model and not have DME or insurance to have to deal with. We can afford to be picky and wait for killer hot deals to pop up. Plus we know the models and the general value in terms of what sells here on this forum. Pie in the sky craigslist pricing doesn't fly too well here.

Should you decide to offer it here be prepared to show pictures of the model and the run hours (not therapy hours) as proof of what it is and past usage. Chances of a forum member being local to you is going to be slim so be prepared to ship.
Also be sure to state status of the machine coming from a household with pets or not or smokers or not. For some people it won't matter but for some people it is of critical importance.

Good luck whatever you do. I won't got trying to talk you into trying the machine again...I tend to try to just answer the questions put forth and if someone wants to sell something vs help using something...that's what I offer.
If you were retested after the weight loss and you no longer need the machine...that's wonderful but make sure you keep that weight off because we all know that those lost pounds have a tendency to be found again.

Just a little thought. I've seen so many people gain and lose weight. O2 stats are just one part of a big complicated puzzle called apnea. Do yourself a favor and discuss dumping the machine with your doctor and get re-tested if you must. I hate seeing you almost giving it away and then having to buy it at an even higher price a couple years later out of your pocket when your only choice could be to us it.

Like Pugsy, i don't really care if you use it or not. just be aware of future health implications of not using it. Good Luck !

1800cpap is perfectly legit. As mentioned, they have to clean and test the machine in order to provide a warranty.

If you want to sell via Craigslist, a lot of people consider that a hassle and it is. When I sold my last cpap, I had 3 no shows, someone who was just kept asking questions (but never came) and a guy who called and came 30 minutes later to buy it. Explain what you have, provide lots of photos including photos showing the machine hours. Mention if you have a smoke free machine and/or whether you had pets in your home. My machine was listed maybe 2 weeks before sale by asking a reasonable price based on usage (it was an S9 with 400 hours). Most people listing their machines ask way more than they are worth. That's why they sit on Craigslist week after week.

To add to Pugsy's good advise, I would add the following:

In evaluating where to sell the unit, first decide what you value most:
1) Total amount received
2) Your time, privacy
3) The ultimate benefit to the buyer

Craigslist may give the highest 1 but takes away 2 - 3 is an unknown. When you list on CL, you have to decide how you want to communicate with potential buyers - phone lowers the bar to access, but also opens the gates to intrusion. Texting does somewhat the same but also slows down the process. Email is an obstacle in that it is the most demanding of the common forms for CL. The more information you provide, it seems the less the potential buyer actually reads or retains - you end up answering a lot of redundant questions over and over again. The market watershed is small and if already heavily populated by similar offerings, the pricing is negatively impacted. Finally, tire-kickers are found in abundance and their real interest is unknown.
Listing on hereand, as Pugsy pointed out, lowers 1, neutralizes 2, and increases 3 substantially. 2 is by-and-large neutralized by the knowledge density of the audience and the fact that if you are providing information in open forum, duplication of questions/answers is somewhat minimized. It is unlikely anyone without a need or an interest will be on the topic for very long. However, those who are serious about their need or interest will stick with it as long as your pricing and procedures are realistic. The relationship between 1 and 3 is directly and inversely connected: the more you lower 1, the higher 3 is likely to be, you pick according to your values.
Selling to a wholesaler like 1800CPAP or SecondWind results in the lowest 1, the highest 2, and an unknown 3. They will ask specific questions about model and run hours, but little else. They won't want to know how many filters you include or what masks or mask parts are included - those things are just detritus to be gotten rid of - just as a used car dealer doesn't care that you just changed the oil. 2 is highest because once they say yes and give you a price they will pay, there will be no more negotiation - either you take it or leave it is up to you, they will not be "sweetening the deal." They will provide shipping instructions (typically, they will pay for shipping) and away it goes. You will get payment once the have it and confirm it is as represented.
So, you pick and prepare.