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Is Libre Reader Worth £22.95?

Alexandra100

Alexandra100

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,794
Location
West Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Abbott have just emailed me to offer me a "free" Libre Reader if I buy at least one sensor @ £57.95. Since I can buy sensors from Superdrug @£35, if I order one sensor from Abbott the reader will be costing me £22.95. I already bought a smartphone which is NFC capable, should I go for the Reader as well? Any advice appreciated.
 
I actually prefer using the reader most of the time, mainly because its smaller than my phone (modern phones are getting bigger and bigger) so a lot more discrete to use (for example in a meeting at work), also I find it a lot faster to use, and I don't need to get the reader as close as the phone, the phone needs to basically be within 5-10mm to read it, the reader can be about 5cm away. I do make sure I still scan with the phone every 8 hours though so it has all the data. (as the reader and phone can't talk to each other).
23 quid is cheaper than I got it for - I got it in a starter pack deal that had 2 sensors and the reader - but can't remember the price.
 
Hi Alexandra,

I have received an invitation too after waiting for several month. Now i don't wanna order from the website anymore, £57 is a rip off, there is no option for VAT exemption on their website. I haven't got a reader, i'm using my mobile but i would say it's not worth it. :-(
 
Alexandra100 said:
Abbott have just emailed me to offer me a "free" Libre Reader if I buy at least one sensor @ £57.95. Since I can buy sensors from Superdrug @£35, if I order one sensor from Abbott the reader will be costing me £22.95. I already bought a smartphone which is NFC capable, should I go for the Reader as well? Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...
I see that the prices Abbott are charging include VAT. I can see no option to change this, although they do mention that some people may be able to avoid paying VAT.
 
One advantage of the reader is that it is also a finger prick reader.
So if you want to check your Libre swipe, you don't have to carry two readers around with you.
And it is useful to have as a spare.

I can't say how much it is worth because I was given mine free when I had a Libre trial.
 
enzina said:
Hi Alexandra,

I have received an invitation too after waiting for several month. Now i don't wanna order from the website anymore, £57 is a rip off, there is no option for VAT exemption on their website. I haven't got a reader, i'm using my mobile but i would say it's not worth it. :-(
Click to expand...
Thanks @enzina, I'm inclined to agree with you, especially about the VAT. I get very cross when firms drag their feet about that. Abbott seem to be a very old-fashioned outfit. When I filled in their registration form I was obliged to choose to call myself "Mrs" as there is no "Ms" option. It must be decades since I was last called "Mrs". It is almost as irritating as being called "Alexander", which happens to me more often than it should.
 
helensaramay said:
One advantage of the reader is that it is also a finger prick reader.
So if you want to check your Libre swipe, you don't have to carry two readers around with you.
And it is useful to have as a spare.

I can't say how much it is worth because I was given mine free when I had a Libre trial.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but aren't the strips very dear?
 
Alexandra100 said:
I see that the prices Abbott are charging include VAT. I can see no option to change this, although they do mention that some people may be able to avoid paying VAT.
Click to expand...

I know when I go onto their site to order, I can still fill in an exemption form to get it VAT free - it's part of the checkout process though so maybe you just haven't got to that point yet in the process.
 
Rokaab said:
I actually prefer using the reader most of the time, mainly because its smaller than my phone (modern phones are getting bigger and bigger) so a lot more discrete to use (for example in a meeting at work), also I find it a lot faster to use, and I don't need to get the reader as close as the phone, the phone needs to basically be within 5-10mm to read it, the reader can be about 5cm away. I do make sure I still scan with the phone every 8 hours though so it has all the data. (as the reader and phone can't talk to each other).
23 quid is cheaper than I got it for - I got it in a starter pack deal that had 2 sensors and the reader - but can't remember the price.
Click to expand...
Rokaab said:
I actually prefer using the reader most of the time, mainly because its smaller than my phone (modern phones are getting bigger and bigger) so a lot more discrete to use (for example in a meeting at work), also I find it a lot faster to use, and I don't need to get the reader as close as the phone, the phone needs to basically be within 5-10mm to read it, the reader can be about 5cm away. I do make sure I still scan with the phone every 8 hours though so it has all the data. (as the reader and phone can't talk to each other).
23 quid is cheaper than I got it for - I got it in a starter pack deal that had 2 sensors and the reader - but can't remember the price.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Rokaab, did you pay VAT?
 
Alexandra100 said:
Thanks @Rokaab, did you pay VAT?
Click to expand...
Nope, didn't pay VAT, and I can still fill in the VAT exemption form as I said in my second post (which was at about the same time as you posted) - as I just checked on their site - though admittedly I now get my sensors from Asda instead (cheaper - though not as cheap as Superdrug and more convenient)
 
The reader is £57.95. So I would say so AND you have a spare just in case something happens to your phone.
I always start my sensor with the reader then use my phone all the time. My reader is in the bedroom so my girlfriend can scan me when I am sleeping
 
I havnt ordered direct from Abbot for a while as its cheaper via some pharmacies. When I did order from Abbot, the vat was able to be removed before checking out the order and the vat exemption remained on record for future orders - bought the price down to around £48
 
Last edited:
Alexandra100 said:
I see that the prices Abbott are charging include VAT. I can see no option to change this, although they do mention that some people may be able to avoid paying VAT.
Click to expand...

They know perfectly well not SOME but ALL of their customers are VAT exempt.
 
If I recall, when odering from Abbott, the customer journey quotes VAT included, until the point of checkout when one is asked to confirm the diabetes status.

I cannot imagine Abbott have begun charging VAT to those who qualify for the exemption.

I have ALWAYS had the opportunity to make the VAT declaration
 
I just did myself a dummy order for 2 sensors and at the checkout process this is revealed:

upload_2018-7-19_14-51-39.png

Once you have confirmed if you arre ordering for yourself or a minor, over 4, that removes the VAT.

I hope that helps.
 
DCUKMod said:
I just did myself a dummy order for 2 sensors and at the checkout process this is revealed:

View attachment 27648

Once you have confirmed if you arre ordering for yourself or a minor, over 4, that removes the VAT.

I hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Yes, i have just done one as well and found it! I'm very surprised because i have done one as soo as i got the email and could have sworn there was none.
 
enzina said:
Yes, i have just done one as well and found it! I'm very surprised because i have done one as soo as i got the email and could have sworn there was none.
Click to expand...

You probably didn't go quite far enough, but no matter, you got there in the end.
 
Rokaab said:
I actually prefer using the reader most of the time, mainly because its smaller than my phone (modern phones are getting bigger and bigger) so a lot more discrete to use (for example in a meeting at work), also I find it a lot faster to use, and I don't need to get the reader as close as the phone, the phone needs to basically be within 5-10mm to read it, the reader can be about 5cm away. I do make sure I still scan with the phone every 8 hours though so it has all the data. (as the reader and phone can't talk to each other).
23 quid is cheaper than I got it for - I got it in a starter pack deal that had 2 sensors and the reader - but can't remember the price.
Click to expand...
I got mine too as part of a starter pack with the two sensors for around £150 with VAT deducted. For me it's been worthe very penny as I don't have a mobile phone. You can use the reader as a normal meter too and check both glucose and ketone levels.

Robbity
 
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