[split] Mask Supply Issues

[SuperSleeper]

So sure buy an extra. But not half a dozen.

I disagree.  If someone wants to buy half a dozen, that's their free choice, and neither you nor I (nor government) should prevent them from doing so, as long as they can find someone willing to supply that product.

What would you suggest?  The government enforcing an arbitrary limit to individual consumers?  What would that limit be in your opinion?  And what if your idea of a reasonable limit is 2 items, and yet the government says, "Sorry, only one".  Because that's the only way to enforce it.  Government rationing of supplies is what you seem to be suggesting.

What about having the free market (individual consumers) decide the demand, and allowing the individual companies creating the supply to meet that demand?  If the demand increases, then companies who want to make money will increase their supply to the markets.


General consumer markets should be free from governmental interventions into the demand or supply of products.  Rationing and/or price-fixing never works as intended.  Ask Richard Nixon when he tried to have a wage and price freeze in the U.S. to control inflation, or when gasoline was rationed here in the U.S.  It was a mess, and it made the problem worse.

Price controls, wage controls, rationing and central planning applied to the entire country are what communist nations attempt to implement.  And it never works well.  Even Russia and China have been forced to back-track from such extremes and have integrated more free market techniques into their supply chains.  But we seem to be moving in the opposite direction.

Why is it that the first knee-jerk reaction for some is "the government has to do something about it"?  What about allowing the free market to do what it does best - balance both supply and demand and allowing prices to stabilize based upon that?

This trend towards government-controlled economies is very bad.  But when inflation comes and supply chain issues come, the socialists will be among the first to insist that the only solution is rationing, price controls and further restrictions upon the free market.

I'd suggest that y'all read some books on basic economics -- supply and demand issues specifically.  But not the more "modern" economics books written by socialists that are now popular in our public universities.  

[jpsantell]

I'm going to have to say I resemble the remarks. When the pandemic started in Washington state I knew what was coming because I had been watching the news in China. As soon as it started to get out of control in the nursing homes in Washington state I went shopping with my wife and filled up my larder with canned and dry food, bought tons of toilet paper, paper towels, lysol and masks, I think I spent 600 dollars. When Russia was threatening Ukraine I stocked up on stuff and topped off the cars and snowblower gas can and kept them topped off. I'm retired and still have 3 dollar gas in my tanks. This silicone thing I saw on Youtube and verified it here and decided to buy extra supplies so I now have enough to last me 15 months even without restock. Why should I wait to buy new Wisp pillows for when I need them and have to hunt and pay a lot more because the vendors have raised the prices? Some might call it hoarding but I like to call it being informed and staying ahead of the crowd. Am I a Hoarder? Probably. But I didn't have to wait 2 hours in line to get gas, or search all over the county for toilet paper and hand sanitizer and I won't have to spend time looking for wisp mask parts because they'll be in the drawer next to my bed.

[btreger]

Potential CPAP Supply Shortages:

Over the past several days I have been reading all the posts regarding this topic. I am not going to agree or disagree with any of them, everyone has a right to do what they believe is the right thing and to back their arguments to support their individual beliefs.

The one thing that did stick out to me, is that at numerous other times in this thread if a number of posts like this came out a Board Member would interject themselves and remind us that it was meant as a Recall Thread and that another thread should be used for this discussion. The difference is that Board Members have been part of this particular discussion. 

Over the past several weeks I have been getting e-mails and phone calls from my DME reminding me it is time to reorder. Today I decided to answer the phone. I re-ordered a new mask that included a headband and pillows, heating tubing, filters, and a water reservoir. I asked if they were seeing any shortages or delays in these supplies and the answer was no. My order will arrive in about 10 days.

[Crimson Nape]

This is to provide you a partial answer to your observation. Everybody here is entitled to have an opinion. This thread has matured to a size that, if war doesn't break out among members, I just leave it alone. If it has to do with Philips, then I figure it's fair game.

- Red

[WakeUpTime]

it was meant as a Recall Thread and that another thread should be used for this discussion. 

That's a really good point.  If there are supply or significant price changes related to Philips masks or other supplies, those really should be in separate threads.  It was so easy to get pulled into this off-topic discussion just because it had the Philips name in it.  You realized the fallout of this thread becoming a diluted catch-all for "Everything Philips".  Thanks for that.

On another note, I wonder what the recourse will be for those that don't get a replacement/fix from Philips.  It's my guess that a sizable group of Recalled device owners still haven't received a replacement/fix and may not get one either by September or the end of 2022.

Has, or will, the FDA put in place a method of tracking those outstanding unresolved faulty product claims?

Trying to get a credible response from Philips' contracted third party call center will likely produce answers like "you should have received one", "you don't qualify", "you have to keep waiting", "there are supply shortages", etc.  It'll be interesting to see when Philips feels that the Recall campaign is 'complete' and they begin selling the DreamStation 2 devices again.

[Crimson Nape]

btreger -  You do realize that you are complaining about yourself?  You initiated the topic slide in your post:  [Link to post here].  Up until that post, no other mention of the mask shortage was made.

Please advise a thread title that you would like the posts moved to, and I will try to accommodate you.
- Red

[ST Dog]

What would you suggest?  The government enforcing an arbitrary limit to individual consumers? 

Certainly not government intervention. And I'm against so called "anti gouging" laws.
Supply, demand and market forces.


Just saying not to encourage panic buying. Reduced supplies for a few months, fine grab an extra.

But stock up and get several years worth? All that will do exacerbate the problem.


I'm still trying to get more info on the issue. A FB post showed a letter from Phillips regarding CE mark requirements taking effect April.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...459&type=3

That suggest limited area of impact and not a general production halt. If so there is zero reason for US customers to be concerned.

[SuperSleeper]

Nothing has changed in our forum rules.  Also, if you have a question about the rules or the way in which staff members handle things, those questions should be communicated via PMs, not in an active thread.

Everyone agreed to our rules before joining the forum, and rule number 8 states this:

8.  Staff members' instructions and decisions are to be followed. They are human volunteers trying to keep Apnea Board operating smoothly; please be patient and respectful. If you disagree with their decisions, please discuss the issue via the Private Message (PM) system.

Posts that question or challenge either our forum rules or staff actions in this (or any thread) will be deleted and the member instructed to take it to PMs instead of cluttering threads with their objections.

Our rules are not up for a vote.  Neither are staff actions taken to enforce those rules.  Those who do not like this policy are free to leave the forum, of course.

Consider this post as a friendly warning.  

EDIT:  Also, this thread discussing the CPAP mask supply issues has been split off from the huge Philips Recall thread.