At the Alaska Sleep Clinic we are asked that very question all the time Why are items online cheaper and Why cant I purchase my supplies online
The answer is you can The choice is yours to make however we want to point out a few pros and cons to purchasing your sleep apnea masks and other CPAP supplies online
6 PROS of purchasing CPAP Equipment and Supplies Online
Save money
Isnt this the biggest reason we shop online to save a few bucks Normally these larger onlinewarehouse stores buy machines and products in bulk Bulk buying allows for them to receive discounted rates which they can normally pass on to the customer
Save time and gas
Because when you live in a large city who wants to drive around to different locations looking for the perfect mask or tubing Especially driving in our treacherous Alaskan winters By shopping online you save money on gas and commuting time
Convenient around the clock ordering
Who doesnt love the convenience of 24 hour online shopping You can order supplies at 300 am on a Tuesday morning in your sweat pants I rest my case
Larger selection
The downfall of brick and mortar stores are the limited sizes and inventory of what they have on hand When you shop for supplies online you can search through endless amounts of brands prices specific needs etc
Customer reviews
A lot of online stores have customer reviews where other customers can rate products andor post pictures of their products they have order Its really nice to see what other customers think about certain products I probably wouldnt by a cheaper mask that falls apart in two weeks if the most expensive mask lasts longer and has better customer reviews
Ability to price compare
If you are searching for something you know to be fairly popular item a lot of times you can look a product up and compare prices for at different DME websites before purchasing
6 CONS of purchasing CPAP Equipment and Suppliesn Online
Shipping costs
I have had instances where I will place an order online receive my confirmation number and then the next day get a phone call or an email stating they cant even ship my item to Alaska What Or if they can ship it costs almost as much as the product Im buying
Make sure you read the fine print regarding shipping products to Alaska A website might say Free Shipping on orders over $9999 but be careful as that could be only for the contiguous or lower 48 states
Sorry Alaska and Hawaii
Wait time
If you are like me and have little to no patience when you want something brick and mortar shopping is the way to go Online shopping cannot give you instant gratification
Also
Lets say you are a lucky shopper who scores a great deal on shipping to Alaska That doesnt mean that great price equals speed Most cost effective shipping methods are via GROUND shipping on a truck driving up the Alcan Highway not air Which can take weeks to get to Alaska
Cant Try it onThis is probably THE biggest con of online shopping You cant physically touch the products to see how they feel fit and look If I have to spend 7 8 hours in this sleep apnea mask I want to make sure it is as comfortable as possible Ive been blessed with a small head and larger nose finding a comfortable mask online is almost impossible for me I have to try them on
Personable customer service
Its great that I can chat with a customer service rep online but when it has to do with my health I want to know the person who is helping me is trained to deal with health questions and medical equipment I would prefer someone who lives eats and breathes CPAP equipment versus someone 4 time zones away assisting me to place my order online
Compliance Follow upPatient Education
Compliance is key to successful CPAP Therapy If you dont have the correct supplies you arent going to wear them and this whole process is null and void Make sure you get the correct mask and that you are using it Compliance is also important to your insurance company Most insurance companies will not pay for the machine or the supplies if you are not using them regularly A brick and mortar store will remember who you are and have certain notes on your account to help you more the next time you come in
Wont work with insurance companies
The majority of CPAP suppliers online do not participate with Medicare Medicaid or other insurance carriers and the purchases are private pay This means the cheap rate you found online is almost always paid by you completely upfront You can submit your claim to your insurance company but that doesnt mean your insurance will cover it
At The Alaska Sleep Clinic our goal is to help you get the treatment you need for your sleep disorder That includes working closely with our technicians to find you the perfect CPAP supplies you can wear and use every single night
Click the link below for more information regarding CPAP machines and supplies
