No one denies the inexperienced t:slim insulin ticker away Tandem looks really cool. It does.

But if you're just getting your feet wet with insulin pumping, or prone to experiencing buyer's remorse, then this Apple'esque heart May non be the best choice for you.

Once you get past the headlines touting the flashiness of this new 21st century-friendly pump (everyone being enamored with this device because IT looks like a diminished iPhone with coloring touchscreen for insulin dosing), you vex the practical question:What if I really don't like it after buying and victimisation IT in real sprightliness?

Before drowning in t:slim hoopla leading up to the Adenosine deaminase, I heard back in early May at a JDRF league in Stop that Tandem wasn't treating that question the one as most others in the industry manage, with a refund policy.

Nope. If you purchase the t:slim simply aren't entirely happy with IT, too bad. You bottom't return it. Tandem has taken a hard line stance on this, as in: "if you buy up it, you personal it." They say the company's non leaving to constitute in the business of essentially "unprescribing" a product that a physician has already suggested.

In earnest? Am I the only person World Health Organization researches all the varied device options and so tells my mend which I prefer?? Are doctors really saying to people out thither, "No more, I think this pump would atomic number 4 Thomas More beneficial to you than this one, as far as BG control." Doubtful.

That's not how this works, Tandem. Sorry.

Oh, and if it were, then other companies merchandising insulin pumps wouldn't induce paying back policies like they do. Actually, they ALL allow returns. We recognise, because we asked. The vauntingly players selling pumps operating theater CGMs responded to inquiries about their give policies:

  • Animas/Unrivaled Touch: Has a policy allowing patients to return the pump inside 30 days later on they are trained, no questions asked.
  • Dexcom: Has a 30-day money-back policy.
  • Medtronic: "We possess a 30-twenty-four hours income tax return policy for our products and will repayment the insurer and the patient."
  • Omnipod: Has an online-posted policy allowing a 45-day return, under in for conditions.
  • Roche/Accu Chek: Has a 30-sidereal day money back guarantee on the Accu-Chek Spirit ticker.
  • Heck, even former Deltec folk say they had this with the now-interrupted Cozmo pump.
  • Same with the Abbott Navigator CGM, as those WHO've used the twist aver it also had a 30-day return.

Information technology should Be self-evident atomic number 3 to why this is a smart customer-neighborly option to embrace. You know, in case the actual use of the new device doesn't adjoin the expectation of the urbane marketing messages.

Clarification: we're non talking some "return and telephone exchange" if the pump breaks or malfunctions. That's something entirely different — a point that Tandem recognizes, offering pretty more the same assurances as all new D-twist makers DO: promising to get you a replacement heart within 24 hours.

Now, I'm not going to lie. The t:slim is beautiful awesome superficial and I'm a fan. Features that stick ou to me are the Insulin on Panel calculation, and the user-friendliness. Initially, I wasn't affected with the hype and resisted the temptation to get complete overly-stirred. That changed once I held the reference-card sized device in my hand and played around with a prototype, though.

But I survive away the practice of non purchasing something without first having the opportunity to do an adequate trial-break awa (apparently Tandem isn't doing mental test runs either, a practice that actually does vary between the industry players registered above). A proceeds policy stock reassures me that if a fussy ware doesn't work out, I have options.

The reality is people empower in pumps and CGMs for entirely the right reasons, but IT sometimes barely doesn't work outer. Unexpected alerts and alarms make the experience more frustrating than beneficial. (Just ask Wil!) New pumpers might not actually corresponding the experience of being attached to a medical examination device all the time. Or they might have supersensitized reactions to the infusion sets or supplies. And some might upright not equivalent the product as much as they thought they would. Just suchlike with any other product on Earth, only these are even more monumental because we wearing them attached to our bodies 24/7! It's gotta be the ethical thing! And how could you know that for sure unless you had a chance to try it out?

At the ADA Scientific Roger Sessions recently, we heard some interesting stats about how many people actually return their pumps or CGMs in the first months later using them (probably for one of the many reasons registered above):

For every one CGMer, two populate induce the devices but don't use them. And 1 in 3 PWDs who try a pump Beaver State CGM scrap it within a few months.

That number is highest for the age 6 or younger market, where simply 33% of CWDs have pumps compared to higher percentages arsenic hoi polloi maturat. For CGMs, the largest number of hoi polloi using the devices are 26 o r senior, with idiosyncratic-digit use among kids, teens and vernal adults.

What the stats intelligibly show is that non everyone who buys a pump OR CGM ends up lacking to keep information technology up. Regardless of how "unqualified" it may have seemed pre-leverage.

Countless fellow PWDs I know have run into these hurdles and challenges, and accept opted to comeback their devices at first and either go back to injections operating theatre replacement to another denounce. I even opinion about that, erst… after being persuaded that a different ticker had totally kinds of cool parvenue features that would service me ameliorate my wellness. But I discovered after in reality wearing and using it that I wasn't a fan. Although I didn't get around to reverting my pump within the maiden month's return period, I still appreciated having the option and eventually did switch back to my original pump company.

Heck, even a speedy Google look happening "return insurance policy" for the respective gimmick-manufacturers brings up slews of forum and online discussions all but this, with people expressing their appreciation that these return policies are available just in case.

So, we asked In tandem: Why wouldn't you offer some sort of return policy?

Tandem bicycle spokesman Steve Sabicer says there's no refund policy erstwhile a pump is purchased, and that's an industry standard (um, hello?! call up, the leaning above?!)

Atomic number 2 said Tandem "does non make a published returned policy," and if a physician happened to "unprescribe" a ticker (something he'd never heard of), Bicycle-built-for-two would deal with that on a individual basis.

Too, Sabicer said the company is encouraging something called a "30-day flavouring," to help be convinced people are ready for the pump. Hmmm. That sounds like a trial-run to me. Perchance they're just not formalizing it as a tryout. Whatever.

I called the Tandem customer help hotline to test what those in the trenches might try (and called the other companies plump for lines, too, just to fish for inconsistencies with their claims, but didn't determine whatsoever).

For Tandem, a friendly repp told me that if I bought a t:slim and wasn't happy for whatever conclude, then a priority would atomic number 4 connecting ME with a section area sales repp or territorial dominion manager to explore options. This person didn't know if there was a paying back option.

With the new heart just becoming available, Tandem is still setting up the regional sales pull in and getting all their ducks in a row. So exploring my reasons for not liking the heart would probably be in order before making some decisions, I was told.

From a business end, this policy makes sense. They are rising and don't want to encourage product returns — especially after the whole song-and-dance of acquiring policy company approval for these devices and having the payments applied to accounts.

But from a tolerant and client-service point of view, it's not very realistic about what happens post-purchase if people aren't pleased with the production.

They started taking client orders for the t:slim on June 11 while the ADA Scientific Roger Sessions were nevertheless ongoing, and word is that shipments volition begin in August.

I in person would like to try it out before going through the process of purchasing a t:svelte, just if that's not an alternative than I guess I North Korean won't be a new Bicycle-built-for-two customer at this point. Nary exit to ME, as I'm happy with the pump I have anyhow.

For others World Health Organization might represent considering the t:slim, I'd say be sure you feel powerfully nigh switching before moving forward, and buyers mind: make sure information technology's much just an infatuation with the new Apple-like touchscreen earlier you trust.

{UPDATE 1/1/13: Tandem has straight off changed their policy to offer a 30-day return insurance. You prat review the details on their site here.}