free Accu-Check meters?

CountYourselfIn · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:51 AM

Like I know they're pretty throw-away, but, I just collected on a free Aviva Nano offer - free w/ 100 strips.

I just checked the receipt... they cost $4.99 to just buy one.

lol.

Some offer.

Are they any good? Cheap doesn't always mean ****, but, $4.99 doesn't exactly scream top shelf. But I spose it's the strips that matter, right?

Is Accu-Chek renowned for their consistency/accuracy?

I'm still holding out for my brushed steel touch screen Lifescan meter with a calf skin case. <3

MCS · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 07:04 AM

Cue me in on where you found the meter and 100 strips for $4.99.

I am using the side kick from Home diagnostics, meter and 50 strips $20. The meter will only test 53 times then toss it away and buy a new one.

DCaplinger · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:07 AM

Those strips are $100 - $120 at a pharmacy for 100. Are you sure there are 100, and not just 10? Those usually ship with 10 strips in them.

The Aviva Nano is an upgraded Aviva. My Aviva and I worked well together, I just decided I needed more from my meter than Accu-Chek offered.

Regards,

D

DeusXM · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:09 AM

Monitors are always priced cheaply, largely because they're very cheap to make and they're a way of ensnaring you to purchase the far more expensive strips. A bit like inkjet printers and cartridges.

The dirty secret is that every monitor and its accessories are free. Ring up any company that makes one and tell them you're looking for a new monitor and would like to try out [insert monitor name here] and just brazenly say they can post it to you. If the mook at the end of the phone umms and aahs, just say that in that case you won't be using their products or interested in using their test strips in future and you'll go with a different brand. They'll change their tune pretty quickly and you can be outrageously cheeky and ransom them for the cables and software as well.

So back to the original point

I wouldn't read anything into the shelf price of a meter, it's essentially a meaningless token figure that bears no relationship whatsoever to the quality of the meter. Test it against your current meter. At the very least you've got 100 tests for $4.99, which is an absolute bargain.

ant hill · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:13 AM

Accu - Check has done the same in Australia!!!! I have the proforma and 20 strips Free!!!! WOOT!!!

CountYourselfIn · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusXM

Monitors are always priced cheaply, largely because they're very cheap to make and they're a way of ensnaring you to purchase the far more expensive strips. A bit like inkjet printers and cartridges.

The dirty secret is that every monitor and its accessories are free. Ring up any company that makes one and tell them you're looking for a new monitor and would like to try out [insert monitor name here] and just brazenly say they can post it to you. If the mook at the end of the phone umms and aahs, just say that in that case you won't be using their products or interested in using their test strips in future and you'll go with a different brand. They'll change their tune pretty quickly and you can be outrageously cheeky and ransom them for the cables and software as well.

So back to the original point

I wouldn't read anything into the shelf price of a meter, it's essentially a meaningless token figure that bears no relationship whatsoever to the quality of the meter. Test it against your current meter. At the very least you've got 100 tests for $4.99, which is an absolute bargain.

No no. The strips were full price (which cost me about $16). If 100 strips only cost $4.99 that'd be the bargain of the century, but instead of telling me my BG in mmol/l, it'd read "salad".

I didn't know you could leverage some freebies from the companies tho.

I'm going to call tomorrow and see how much free cr*p I can get in a day.

eliza0104 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:11 PM

I just got a free Accu Check at the pharmacy from a coupon in the Sunday paper. Problem now is, it didn't come with any strips, not even 10. So I have a meter with no strips. Guess I need to go look on ebay. I have a RX for Contour strips.

MCS · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:19 PM

And the thing is, is the strips cost them pennies to make. You are paying for the technology that goes into them.

HuskerMychal · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:12 PM

My Aviva was free from the company and they threw in 100 strips. I called and told them my advantage was to old and slow and starting to have errors

CountYourselfIn · #10 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eliza0104

I just got a free Accu Check at the pharmacy from a coupon in the Sunday paper. Problem now is, it didn't come with any strips, not even 10. So I have a meter with no strips. Guess I need to go look on ebay. I have a RX for Contour strips.

Up here it doesn't matter what brand you buy so long as you have the RX for strips. I thought I was bound to One Touch for a long time... turns out I'm not. = O

Call the pharmacy and ask.

In fact, I thought I Was bound to using crappy Solostar pens too, but they were more than happy to give me penfill cartridges upon request, change needle size, etc.

You should definitely look into it.

DeusXM · #11 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

I'm going to call tomorrow and see how much free cr*p I can get in a day.

Do it, I was bored at work one afternoon and ended up with 5 different monitors and enough data cables to reach the moon.

slwood321 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:39 AM

Since nobody has asked yet, I am. Where did you get this great deal? I used an aviva and love it, but for that price I would buy it as a spare.

CountYourselfIn · #13 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwood321

Since nobody has asked yet, I am. Where did you get this great deal? I used an aviva and love it, but for that price I would buy it as a spare.

For free. TV offer. The retail price is $4.99 at, I'm assuming, all pharmacies. If you're in the Vancouver area, I got it at London Drugs.

SpacyTracy · #14 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 04:18 PM

I tried to upgrade to the One Touch UltraSmart meter (using DEUSXM's method). It failed. I called the customer service number and asked for the rep in my area...no go. No rep for individuals, I explained that I wanted to try the meter...no go. "They aren't suppliers. There are coupons in the Sunday paper, use them." I don't take the paper... "call the pharmacy they may have some." So I did. The pharmacist laughed and said "why should we have coupons, the companies just give those away as long as you have a prescription for the test strips and you do. Call the company and ask again." So I did. This time I went through the 'promotions' department. May I try your meter, I have a prescription for the test strips. "We aren't suppliers, you need to call your pharmacist." I told the representative that it was my pharmacist who told me to call them! Utter failure. Any advice? Or rep telephone numbers?