Edgar (aka MrConsumer) – Page 176

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Spiriva – Half the Medicine Provided is Wasted

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

This is a strange one.

Thomas A. wrote to Mouse Print* about Spiriva — an inhalation therapy drug for people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The medicine comes in a metal canister that slips into an inhaler.

What caught Thomas’ attention was the net contents statement on two different inhaler boxes — the small size (for two weeks of use) and the large size (for four weeks of use).

*MOUSE PRINT:

Both contain exactly the same amount of medicine — four grams — but one canister provides 28 doses and the other 60. How could this be?

We called the company and spoke to a nurse there to try to understand how this was possible. She directed us to the patient information sheet packed in each box.

*MOUSE PRINT:

The SPIRIVA RESPIMAT cartridge for each strength has a net fill weight of 4 grams and when used with the SPIRIVA RESPIMAT inhaler, is designed to deliver the labeled number of metered actuations (60 or 28) …

It seems the company manufactures only one size of canister but sells two different inhaler mechanisms. One delivers two-weeks-worth of medicine (28 puffs) and the other four-weeks-worth (60 puffs). So basically, the two week version is overfilled, and half the medicine goes to waste.

Now, couldn’t a smart consumer who has to use this stuff on an ongoing basis just buy the two week version and use it for a month? Or if the inhalers really are different, first get a prescription for the four week size, and then subsequently refill it with a two-week canister and get four weeks of medicine out of it for half the price?

Nope. The company is not stupid.

*MOUSE PRINT:

When the labeled number of actuations (60 or 28) has been dispensed from the inhaler, the RESPIMAT locking mechanism will be engaged and no more actuations can be dispensed.

The cash price for a month’s supply of Spiriva is enough to take your breath away — about $400. The two week version is generally only available in hospitals or as a doctor’s sample.

If the company can afford to overfill the two week cartridges, that suggests the actual cost of the medicine must be minimal.

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Diamonds in Mattresses! Cool?

June 10, 2016January 18, 2016 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

Every company looks for something unique about their product to tout in advertising. And that even applies to beds. Take the case of some Simmons Beautyrest mattresses.

They claim that they have infused diamond dust into a layer of their high-end memory foam mattresses in order to draw heat away from the bed, as explained in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=M9J83rOGZJ0

And a famed local furniture seller in the Boston area is even doing a commercial touting the amazing benefits of this mattress:

In a Q&A meant for dealers, the company says that diamond-dust-infused memory foam does not breath better than their regular memory foam:

Does Micro Diamond Infused AirCool Memory Foam breathe better or help regulate temperature better than regular AirCool Memory Foam?

While it does not breathe better, it performs better in the overall regulation of temperature. It conducts heat away from the body providing for a more comfortable sleep environment. The thermal conductivity of diamonds tops that of even the best conductors, like copper. In fact, a diamond’s ability as a thermal conductor is four times better than copper. Therefore, more and more diamonds are being used in applications to extract heat. One great example is with electronic devices, which allows them to be even smaller and more powerful.

The company says they put up to 500 carats of diamond dust in certain mattresses. That is the equivalent of just 3.5 ounces. To put that small amount of powder into perspective, a Beautyrest queen mattress is about 143 pounds according to Sears.

But where exactly do they put this diamond dust? It is in one of the memory foam layers, but the company refused to tell us where that layer was located within the mattress. Most mattresses today are made up of many layers of different materials, such as this generic Beautyrest Black cutaway illustration:

MrConsumer is no scientist, but if the diamond-dust-infused layer is not on top, it seems that it would be incapable of sucking heat out of your body and then moving it away from the surface on which you are lying. And since you are not lying on a sheet of solid diamonds, it is inexplicable how flecks of diamonds, not even touching one another, can conduct heat away from anything.

We asked the company to provide us with a copy of any research tests they conducted that would substantiate their claims, what the temperature difference is with and without diamond dust in the mattress, and as mentioned above, where exactly is the diamond-dust-infused layer located.

*MOUSE PRINT:

A PR person for the company called to say that she could not provide test results for competitive reasons, saying that the information was proprietary.

Without this information, it is impossible to judge whether the company’s claims are true… but MrConsumer has his doubts.

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Can’t I Just Buy One?

January 11, 2016 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

For several years now, supermarkets have tried to get you to buy more with offers like “10 for $10.” Savvy shoppers know when you see offers like that, you are not required to buy 10 units to get the $1 each price. You can buy as few as you want and only pay the mathematical equivalent of that number.

Drug stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid have gotten a bit more clever by advertising “2-fer” or “3-fer” offers like 2 for $10 or 3 for $2, but then in small print indicate if you only want one, you will pay more, sometimes significantly more.

*MOUSE PRINT:

In this case, if you just want one pack of gum it is 99 cents — 50% more than the sale price.

Not wanting to be left out of being able to charge more if you just want one sale item, supermarkets are beginning to mimic drug store pricing policies on some items. Here are some examples of supermarkets requiring the purchase of multiple items in order to take advantage of the sale price:

*MOUSE PRINT:

3 for $9

buy 3 shoprite

Sometimes it is clearly stated that you must buy the advertised quantity to get the advertised price. Other times, the disclosure is not conspicuous, and they don’t always tell you how much one will cost you if that is all you want.

Stores may be counting on the fact that most shoppers don’t scrutinize ads or their sales receipts with many items on it, and won’t catch the higher price if they only buy one of the advertised items.