CPAP Equipment Websites: Which Ones to Trust?
You may be one of the many CPAP patients relying on your local Durable Medical Equipment (or DME) provider to refresh your CPAP supplies. Did you know that most local DMEs mark up the sales price up to 40% more than the online suppliers?
Lets be clear: buying online can be a lot more convenient and cost much less. And some online providers, like MySleepMask.com and CPAPusa.com, have better customer service than most local DMEs. (MySleepMask even provides expert CPAP coaches to their customers.)
Before buying your CPAP equipment online you will need to educate yourself on the best online providers with the highest standards to avoid making costly mistakes. Being scammed out of your money is the least of your worries compared to using equipment that doesn’t work to treat your sleep apnea.
The number one most common risk is that you dont buy from an authorized dealer. Which means the website doesnt buy CPAP equipment machine directly from the manufacturer. Result? The manufacturer will probably not honor the warranty when there is a problem. (Which you should plan on happening, at least sometimes).
The biggest health risk is that you buy from a website that is an unauthorized dealer who buys inventory from shady middlemen who often refurbish used equipment as new. The website has no way of knowing if the equipment is new or refurbished. And refurbished equipment that is not properly sterilized puts you at risk of respiratory infection.
With these helpful rules you can avoid the online scams:
1. Beware of any dealer pushing cheaper brands that you’ve never heard of. Stick with your doctor’s recommendation. Most professional organizations, including the National Apnea Association, only recommend 3 brands: ResMed, Fisher & Paykel, or Respironics.
2. Dont risk losing the manufacturers warranty. Only buy from an authorized dealer. One way to spot an authorized dealer is to look for the ResMed Preferred Internet Provider blue circle. Or you can visit the National Apnea Associations website for recommended dealers.
3. Avoid used or refurbished CPAP equipment. Many used CPAP machines come from sick people who died in the hospital or a nursing home. The risk of respiratory infection simply is not worth saving a few bucks.
4. Look for CPAP websites that are recommended by professional organizations. The National Apnea Association has a list of websites that we recommend.