Philips-Respironics Pricing Policy

[SuperSleeper]

Thought this was an interesting read...

It's a PDF of Philips-Respironics' Pricing Policy for DMEs. Contains info such as:

• US minimum advertised pricing policy (MAP Policy)
  
• US advertising policy
  
• End-user only sales policy for US
  

Link to PDF:

http://www.healthcare.philips.com/pwc_hc...Policy.pdf

[JJJ]

Very interesting.

Price fixing is basically illegal in the U.S. (and everywhere else as well), but there a several loopholes. It appears that Philips Respironics found every one.

[racprops]

Well they are good at filling holes....

[zonk]

Any chance, they fix prices in Australia too

REMstar Auto A-Flex with SD card, with humidifier DS560HS .... $828
I like that better local rip-off prices

[eddie willers]

Clicked on your link.

The PDF is dated March 3, 2015, so I guess it was updated but still uses the same link.

I noticed that the "Comfort Gel Blue" mask etc. were not listed.
I wonder if they have been discontinued or aren't under a MAP agreement?

[PoolQ]

This is very standard and any company that has the resources to offer these types of products to market has the same type of agreement, actually any large company selling any products does the same.

[big_dave]

Clicked on your link.

The PDF is dated March 3, 2015, so I guess it was updated but still uses the same link.

I noticed that the "Comfort Gel Blue" mask etc. were not listed.
I wonder if they have been discontinued or aren't under a MAP agreement?

I believe the Comfort Gel Blue is no longer under a MAP agreement. Supplier no. 1 is advertising it for $59.50. The February 1, 2013 version of the same document lists the MAP for the Comfort Gel Blue as $109. The 2013 document lists 11 masks that are not listed in the 2015 document, and only one that is listed in 2015, the Amara. The 2015 document lists 4 masks that are not listed in the 2013 document. Apparently, the MAP only matters for the newest masks. Also, humidifier chambers, filters, and non-heated tubing were under MAP in 2013 and are no longer under MAP today.

[DocWils]

Uh, call me dumb, but where is the controversy in this? Manufacturers always suggest a minimum price for advertising purposes, in every field - this isn't price fixing, JJJ - as Philips says in the first page - retailers are free to sell the devices below that price - this only refers to what they put in their advertising and nothing else. The idea is to level the playing field amongst the retailers. This is common practice in the US and most of the West. And just to let you know, the distributors in Switzerland charge well over double those prices, because they can. Nothing to do with Philips HQ. The excuse is shipping and import tariffs, plus the usual waffle about the high wages and office rental, etc in Switzerland, all of which has been shown to be rubbish by our ombudsman, but every attempt in the Swiss Parliament to force change on this common pricing ploy has shattered (it is across the board, not just for CPAP, but everything, even Swiss produced products - I can buy Swiss made vitamins for half the price in Germany than I do in the country of origin). While the document is interesting as good general price guide of what you should expect each thing to cost, it is hardly scandalous, in fact, rather helpful. Thanks for posting it.