[Equipment] Looking to purchase APAP from US (based in Ireland)

[alo10]

Hi All,

Ok so I was recently diagnosed and am currently renting a System One REMstar Auto @  €98 $110 dollars a month - Health Insurance in Ireland will not cover it

This was fine for a while while I got used to it all.  Now I'm looking at purchasing a machine - as it make much more financial sense.

So I've narrowed it down to a few AirSense 10  / PR DreamStation  / F&P ICON+ Auto maybe even a System One REMstar Auto 60

One thing that seems unusual is many of the suppliers are listing the F&P ICON+ Auto  at 50%+ discount


So my questions
 - Anyone know why such a discount  ? - is it to get more market share - get more people using F&P?    promotional ?   quality issues ?   etc

 - Anyone here import a CPAP/APAP into Ireland ?  Any idea what % import/customs/vat you had to pay ?


Thanks

[Crimson Nape]

I quickly checked and suppliers 1,2, and 4 will ship to you.  The link to these suppliers is located at the top of the page.  I'm sure more of them will ship international but, due to time constraints, I was unable to check their site.  I'm am guessing on the F&P discount but knowing the two main CPAP manufacturers are Resmed and Philips-Respironics, F&P may be trying to "get their foot in the door", or suppliers are trying to move their inventory.  F&P makes very good products,  I love their Simplus and Brevida masks.   The F&P won't win any style awards when compared to the Resmed and Philips models but they are very effective functionally.  

One word of advice, make sure that the model you select is full data compatible with some analytical software.  The lower end models pnly provide summary data and will not provide you with the detailed information required to fine tune your therapy.

Here is a link to a CPAP database to look at the different models capabilities.:
https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

Good luck in making a choice.

[holden4th]

Alo10



To answer part of your question, I started with an F&P and it didn't make too much difference and my AHIs ranged between 7 and 24 with the ICON Auto. A switch to a Resmed (S9) bought about an instant and massive improvement. Both Resmed and Respironics are reputable companies that make excellent machines. Either would be suitable. I've used both and was happy with both.

[CB91710]

Alo10

Can I suggest that you ignore the comments in the previous post as they are not correct.

I think Holden4th is referring to a post that was deleted overnight, not Crimson Nape's post

We had someone log in last night that began flooding the forum with cut-and-paste posts critical of Resmed.

[Sleeprider]

Try Supplier #2. Easy to work with, good prices and they will honor a warranty, even with overseas shipping.

[Sleepster]

I've bought used machines on craigslist with great success.

[tedgreen]

I've bought used machines on craigslist with great success.

Yes, but not from a foreign country. Craigslist is very much a US site, and I wouldn't advise to buy something expensive on such site, to be shipped abroad.

[zonk]

Both Supplier #10 and #2 ship outside US, quite popular with Aussies especially the ones without private insurance 
Recently, I've ordered some supplies from #10 and arrived in a matter of few days, that's what you call, a good service
As for a machine choice, everyone have a favourite and ResMed machines are mine,  started with S9 AutoSet when first diagnosed and last year acquired A10 AutoSet, liked it much and got another one as a spare
I like the simplicity of ResMed machines and the additional data displayed on the screen sleep report, none of the other machines comes close. Here is a guide might helps in machine choice http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ne_Choices