Published Jun 22, 2004
studentnurse74, LPN, LVN
550 Posts
I've heard great things about this site, so purchased all my supplies there. I did get a nice Littmann at a good price, but the bandage scissors are so cheap. They hurt my hands, and they're hard to work. I ordered a bp cuff, and have to return it, too. I need a latex free one. The description didn't say, but the box says it has latex. I can't even find one to exchange it for b/c none of them say. So I have to pay to ship those back, which means I'm losing any money I might've saved there. I got a really cool penlight, but the clear thing that keeps the light from going off had an allheart bar code sticker right on it. I pulled it off, and now my cover is really sticky. :angryfire I guess I'll be driving all over to find a uniform stuff where I can see what I'm getting. That's my 2 cents.
#1rnstudent
157 Posts
Have you tried rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid to remove the adhesive from the penlight?
chris_at_lucas_RN, RN
1,895 Posts
Invest in a bottle of "goo gone." You can get it at WalMart for about $2.00. It lasts forever, and it is great for getting all that stickum off stuff.
As for allheart, I'm sorry to hear that you had those problems. I would encourage you to express your disappointment to them and see if you can't get a credit for the return postage. (Worst they can say is no, right?)
I'd be very specific with them about a latex free BP cuff as well. They can look at what they've got and tell you if they have one.
I've always had quick response from them when I emailed with a question or concern--within a day or two....
Good luck--and enjoy school!
CNMtobe2012
88 Posts
I'M sorry to hear about your experience with allheart.com. Which I guess is bad news for me as well. I will be starting my clinicals in the fall and just order all of the required nursing equipment (stetho, BP cuff, scissors etc.) from them last Thursday. Have not received it yet but was looking forward to playing with all my new things. I think I will be a bit heated if I have to send items back too.:uhoh21:
RNNoMore
113 Posts
I used them for my uniforms and had very good service.
Paint.
RedSox33RN
1,483 Posts
I got a good price on my Littmann stethoscope there, and the penlight also. I didn't recall the sticker (or maybe just haven't pulled it out yet), but I agree with the Goo Gone. We've had a bottle for years, and it comes in so handy. Just a few dabs and all that sticker mess comes off of anything.
If you're an eBayer, there are quite a few big sellers of latex-free b/p cuffs and stethoscopes there. Strange that your b/p cuff has to be latex-free, but not the stethoscope.
We didn't need b/p cuffs for nursing school, but I got a set off of eBay for practice. Brand new, in a case, with a new stethoscope also, for $15 plus shipping.
I agree that you should complain to Allheart about your experience. They may offer return shipping or a discount or something.
Ari RN, BSN, RN
2,029 Posts
Sorry to hear your story. I recently bought a Littmann Steth and it's great. I also bought a pen light though the darn thing came with a loose piece of metal. I really don't know what the piece is for. Oh well.......
JimmyMallo
73 Posts
The GooGone will work to get the adhesive off, I have used it many times with great results. Personally, I am waiting for my order right now. They had a great price on my steth (cheapest I found anywhere, and I looked:) I also ordered some dickies scrubs which were the same ones I bought locally for about $8 more per set. So far I have been happy with their service and their prices are GREAT, but as for things like Latex-free BP cuff, you really should inquire before ordering this kind of thing site unseen. Like they always say "hindsight is 20-20"
IamRN
303 Posts
Don't know if this has been suggested, but have you considered selling any supplies you are not happy with (others may be OK w/it). You would save on shipping charges...thinking that you would sell them locally.
Good luck!
KristinWW
465 Posts
Nothing new, unfortunately. I had a bad experience with them as well. Items that they promised to send immediately never even came in to them, had to call long distance several times to resolve my order, etc. I ended up cancelling everything. Never again.
You can actually get a good quality BP cuff (with attached stethoscope, although that can be removed easily) for about $17 at Walmart. I got my penlight at an auto parts store--the ones at the school were junky and cost about $5. I paid a little less than a dollor, it came with a lanyard (now that's a word you don't hear much anymore!) to hang it around my neck (don't use it though).
If you get creative and think outside the box, you can do very well. My school offered an optional plastic clipboard with lab values and other norms on it, and a calculator on the top, for about $17. I found the clipboard with calculator for about $2 at Big Lots, and put the lab values and norms on a page which I just clipped to the clipboard! Never used that info and eventually discarded the sheet.
I'm surprised to read about so many disappointing allheart experiences. I've never had a single problem....
Good luck with school, all of you!
EyesForward
221 Posts
My sister bought me a Tycos Harvey Elite steth from Allheart, and it came late, with parts missing. They were completely unresponsive to emails to resolve the problem, and eventually the Tycos company themselves came through to send me the missing accessories. I will never order from them again, as I do a lot of internet shopping and have had very few bad experiences. BTW, the steth is an excellent value for those wanting a superior steth, and I highly recommend it, but don't get it from Allheart.com.