| I think one big key that most forget when it comes to pump prices is the benefits recieved by that company. Pump companies truely do bend over backwords for most (at least Animas has for me.) Take the following items as an example...
1) Loaner pumps - If you go on a trip I've yet to find a pump company that will not send you a spare pump out. Obviously the cost of them sending it to you and you sending it back is not free. Remember, these items have to be insured at up to $6000 (or whatever they deem the actual pump price) and most send them out overnight.
2) Unlimited free replacements - In my time with ANimas I think I've had 5 replacement pumps (most stupid cracks around the battery cap on my current one.) They have to recover those feels for next day air shipping along with the cost of the replacement. That's all figured into the initial price.
3) 24/7 AMERICAN Tech Support - At least with Animas, they are in America. They have to pay some people to staff the phones 24/7 and since they don't outsource that job (I asked the person one time where they were and they said West Chester, PA) they have to include that cost in the pump.
4) R&D - Pump design is not easy. Ijust wish they'd work on the software better, but you do have to be impressed how you can get so much in a pump. Remember, a AA or AAA battery and the insulin cartridge take up I'd say more than 50% of the space in a pump.
5) Startup Training - I think this can vary greatly with pump companies. Everytime I've been training by Animas it was by someone from or contracting with ANimas. It was not done by the doctor's office. Therefore they have to pay that person for a training that takes a couple of hours. And if it's the initial first time pumper training, then they have to add that you may call the trainer off hours at home, which I'm sure they get paid for somehow.
The benefits you recieve for using that companies pump are one reason it's so high. How many home electronics do you own with a 4 year standard warranty? I can't name any in my place. I'm sure they could charge $1000 less and make it a 1 year warranty. At which point we'd all be getting new pumps all the time.
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●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
●Animas pumper since December of 2002
~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2005)
~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - ?)
●LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone. | 
