why are strips on ebay cheap?

[yanki01]

does anyone know how sellers on eBay get the testing strips so cheap and sell them cheap? ive been buying them on eBay because i have to meet my deductible before my insurance will cover them. i only use One Touch meters so i buy the strips for it. I usually get them for $40 for a box of 100 count on eBay. I was at the pharmacy getting my Humalog insulin and saw they have them for $115 for 100 count!!!! I just wanted to know if anyone knew how they got them so cheap? thanks!

[fenagle]

I am going to guess that there are at least two reasons.
1- Someone in the family who was a diabetic has passed away. I got about 500 syringes after my sister passed away.
2- Someone is getting more than they need and insurance is paying for them and they are now making some money on them. I know how many I have left when I am able to order them every three months.
Another reason could be that they are from New Jersey and they have "fallen" off one of those infamous trucks from the Sopranos.

I would be curious as to how long after the expiration date the strips are still accurate. I know I have seen some on Ebay that were either expired or real close to it.

[Supermario]

I switched to a different brand of glucose meter a while back (doc wanted me using something I could download to a computer) and was able to sell some old strips for about half the retail price.

[imac]

It is a bit of a worry, there was a guy on ebay (aust.) selling accu-chek performa meters(aviva in the US) for $15 each. They were brand new and he had 10 listed. Fell off the back of a truck?

[augoldminer]

You have to watch the expiration date.
A few week ago my ReliOn meter started to show a error (E7)
i looked on the internet and found my strips were out of date.
the meter sets a date when you calabrate a new batch of strips and shows a error after a set time.
Likely there is no problem with the strips just that they hit that set cutoff date.

To fix the problem i just set back the date on my meter and the error went away.

strips have a expiration date set with a factor for bad storage like the strips getting hot or other environmental factors.
so if you have been keeping your strips in a cool dry place they should be good long after the expiration date.

[yanki01]

The first thing I do before buying them is check the expiration date. All is good there. It just seems odd that they sell them at least 60% cheaper than retail. I wish I could get in on how they get them if it's legal?

[notme]

There are those few that get those items for free when the offers are made by the meter companies themselves and then they sell them online. Also a few people go and ask people for help with supplies on boards like ours, stating they can't afford the strips and need them. They do that in enough places and they have a supply to sell on ebay.

I have purchased a few items on eBay and I can understand why you may need to. Just be careful to check dates and check feedback.

[cyberus]

I used to buy them off ebay myself and I can say most were insurance overruns, people that get far more than they need and sell the surplus.

[poodlebone]

I know that Lifescan has two different types of packaging for their strips. When I got my strips through my pharmacy/drug benefits, I got blue boxes of 100 strips (4 vials), the same exact ones you'd see if you walked into any drugstore. Last year I switched to getting my strips covered as DME and now go through Edgepark. The boxes are grey and are always in quantities of 50 strips. They even say something like "this box is for mail order only". So, if you buy strips on eBay and end up with grey boxes, it's safe to assume the person selling them is just asking for way more than they need through insurance and are selling the excess. My insurance just put a cap of 200 strips/month earlier this year, probably because of people like those eBay sellers.

Retail theft is another problem. A year or two ago I read a story about how all of the pharmacies here in NYC had to lock up test strips or keep them all behind the pharmacy counter because they were all getting stolen and sold on eBay. I think that's probably standard everywhere now.

[freebie]

I was not aware that ebay sold test strips I have been pricing them out at stores and now will check it out. Though I should not be surprised that they sell them. Thank you for your post.:eek:

[yanki01]

I just got a great deal on a set of 200 One Touch Ultra test strips (the new blue strip) for $80 shipped! :D

[KatGirl]

I use to work in management at a large retail drug store. People would steal large quantities of not only test stripes but also OTC drugs, tobacco, etc. One night after someone ripped us off, I asked the police why on earth someone would steal such large quantities of these kinds of items and they simply said that they resell these items online and use the money to buy drugs.

I'm not saying that everything on ebay was ripped off but it was very interesting to hear how some people get their drug money.

[TomT127]

I use to work in management at a large retail drug store. People would steal large quantities of not only test stripes but also OTC drugs, tobacco, etc. One night after someone ripped us off, I asked the police why on earth someone would steal such large quantities of these kinds of items and they simply said that they resell these items online and use the money to buy drugs.

I'm not saying that everything on ebay was ripped off but it was very interesting to hear how some people get their drug money.

My drugstore is the ripoff. Thank god for ebay.

[foxl]

I use to work in management at a large retail drug store. People would steal large quantities of not only test stripes but also OTC drugs, tobacco, etc. One night after someone ripped us off, I asked the police why on earth someone would steal such large quantities of these kinds of items and they simply said that they resell these items online and use the money to buy drugs.

I'm not saying that everything on ebay was ripped off but it was very interesting to hear how some people get their drug money.

My husband had a land survey total station stolen from him when he was working! A surveyor out of town found it on EBay, and the seller had NO IDEA what they had (about $20,000 piece of equipment!). They sent police to investigate a local pawn shop ... sheesh!

I bought strips via Amazon mktplace once. Hopefully will not do it again.

[CarrieJett]

Am I understanding it is legal to sell my excess supllies on Ebay?

[poodlebone]

Am I understanding it is legal to sell my excess supllies on Ebay?

Certain things can be sold - things that do not require a prescription. Test strips & meters are acceptable. Insulin and pump supplies are not. Sometimes a listing will slip through but eBay usually catches it later and pulls it.

[cyberus]

Am I understanding it is legal to sell my excess supllies on Ebay?

I believe its considered insurance fraud to sell items that the insurance company has paid for for your personal use

[aokusman]

I believe its considered insurance fraud to sell items that the insurance company has paid for for your personal use

So you would prefer for the item be thrown out?

[cyberus]

So you would prefer for the item be thrown out?

I said nor believe no such thing, don't put words in my post.

I answered the question, nothing more.

[Josselyn]

Am I understanding it is legal to sell my excess supllies on Ebay?

It depends on what you're describing as "excess supplies."

It would make sense that it would be legal to donate or sell items you no longer use, and will not need, on eBay...even if paid for by one's insurance. These are NOT recurring items you happen to have extra of, and will receive more of - but items you will no longer need at all and will, otherwise, go to waste.

But to intentionally obtain and collect excess supplies via one's insurance or social agency or theft - for the express purpose of profiting from its sale would be illegal.
My humble opinion only. I see a big distinction.

And I've been known to buy strips on eBay... :o
Now in addition to cost, expiration date, shipping fees, and seller rating - I have to determine where the infernal strips CAME FROM before I can buy again with a clear conscience. (sigh)

[aokusman]

I said nor believe no such thing, don't put words in my post.

I answered the question, nothing more.

I did not intend to put words in your mouth, but your answer was too broad and did not distinguish the different circumstances that could lead one to sell strips that were obtained via insurance on eBay.

[fgummett]

So you would prefer for the item be thrown out?As an alternative, they might be donated to a charitable cause... assuming of course, no medical/legal/ethical reason not to do so ;)

The reason prescription items should not be sold on may not be just financial, there could be safety concerns as well.

[retired60]

I was not aware that ebay sold test strips I have been pricing them out at stores and now will check it out. Though I should not be surprised that they sell them. Thank you for your post.:eek:
If you don't trust ebay.......then I would suggest American Diabetes Supply, which is where I buy all my supplies. They are very fast at getting your supplies to you........take insurance if you are one of the luck ones and are the overall cheapest that I have found.

[worm]

The truth is if the drug companies made the meds cheap enough to buy no one would need to buy on EBAY.

[Granny Shanny]

If you don't trust ebay.......then I would suggest American Diabetes Supply, which is where I buy all my supplies. They are very fast at getting your supplies to you........take insurance if you are one of the luck ones and are the overall cheapest that I have found.

You have to be enrolled by their agent? Do they accept people with NO insurance?

[zakksmom]

My drugstore is the ripoff. Thank god for ebay.
My drugstore is a rip off to... hmm is there a trend going on with our wonderful pharmacies?

[EeyoreButterfly]

I used to buy them off ebay myself and I can say most were insurance overruns, people that get far more than they need and sell the surplus.

This really burns my toast. Despite the fact my insurance will pay for it, I can't get my doc to agree to enough strips to test regularly, and here these people are getting way more than they need and making money off of it? That's really backwards.