On-line hearing aids or Retail, Costco or otherwise?
I have worked in the hearing aid industry for over 20 years, I've worked for Costco, as well as, numerous other large retail hearing companies and I am one of the owners of
Buy Hearing Aids & Accessories Online | Clearly Hearing, an on-line hearing company.
Seb had some valid points about new hearing aid users and even some experienced hearing aids users not liking their hearing aids set to their full prescription. This is a very true and valid point. When we send out our open-fit hearing aids we send them with 3 programs. The first program is set to 80% of the prescription, the second program is set to 90% of the prescription and the third program is set to 100% of the prescription.
Buying hearing aids online isn't for everybody. Some clients require face-to-face service, or can justify the difference in price between retail and online for the convenience of having a place in their community to take their hearing aids if they require adjustments or service.
Jason, you had mentioned that you can buy Embrace hearing aids online and that someone in your local community will adjust them if need be. This information is likely incorrect. If you purchased hearing aids on-line and came to any hearing clinic I've worked at we would either refuse service or charge a minimum clinic fee of $100.00 per session.
I can tell you from experience that about 15% of customers require reprogramming when they purchase online with us. They ship the hearing aids back to us, we reprogram them and ship them back at no charge. It can mean someone goes without their hearing aids for 2-3 weeks.
It's unusual for a customer to need to have their hearing aids adjusted more than one time in a 1-year period of time. The positive side of buying your hearing aids online. You can purchase hearing aids for a couple of hundred dollars online that have the same technology that retailers sell for $2500 and Costco sells for $1200.00.
For example, our SmartAid Digital Premium Hearing Aid sells for $499.00 and comes with 3 Programs, Adaptive Directional Microphones, Advanced Noise Filters and Advanced Feedback Filters.
Smart Aid Digital Premium | Clearly Hearing
Shop the on-line retailer carefully, the same as you should shop your local hearing clinic carefully. If your still thinking about buying hearing aids online, please visit our site before you make your final decision.