| In every profession there are, unfortunately, people | | | | incredible deal they are offering "today only.If you |
| who will try to take advantage and rip you off. While | | | | come back to them in a couple weeks, they would |
| the vast majority of the professionals in the hearing | | | | probably offer the same deal! They are not going to |
| aid world are fantastic, there are always exceptions | | | | turn down the sale just because you want to think |
| to the rule. Below are five ways that you can do so | | | | about it! Unfortunately, high-pressure sales is only |
| that you can avoid getting ripped off: | | | | about one thing: making money, not helping you hear |
| 1) Overpaying. This is probably the most common | | | | well. |
| mistake. We have heard the horror stories of people | | | | 5) Sales Gimmicks - Hearing aid trade-ins (no such |
| paying $8,000 or more for a pair of hearing aids. One | | | | thing! Have you ever seen a used hearing aid store?), |
| of the ways you can avoid this, is to simply tell the | | | | factory authorized sales, and most other discount |
| specialist that you want to think about hearing aids | | | | offers are gimmicks designed to trick you into |
| before you buy them and then go shopping around. | | | | thinking you are getting a great deal. Sometimes the |
| They shouldn't have a problem with you doing that. | | | | hearing aids are marked up so they can be |
| Ask them for how much they will sell you the aid and | | | | discounted to the regular price. If the coupon is real |
| what's included such as warranty, return privilege, | | | | you should be able to present it to them after they |
| return fees, loss and damage fees, service fees, etc. | | | | quote the price. If a coupon says you must present |
| Be specific as to the make and model so you can | | | | it before they see you, it's probably a gimmick. |
| make certain you're comparing apples to apples. | | | | Trade-ins are always not real. None of the |
| 2) Buying More Hearing Aid Than Necessary - Some | | | | manufacturers offer any discount to the dealer for a |
| offices only seem to tell you about the latest, most | | | | trade-in. There is no trade-in program for hearing aids. |
| advanced hearing devices on the market. They don't | | | | I have never seen one... and I bet you haven't either? |
| mention that in many cases these products are more | | | | If you have old hearing aids there's no reason they |
| hearing instrument technology than you really need. | | | | should take them from you. You should hang on to |
| Sometimes your lifestyle or hearing loss is such that | | | | them as a back-up. |
| you will not benefit any more from the most | | | | Be especially cautious of anyone advertising that |
| advanced hearing aid circuitry than something less | | | | they want you to take part in a new technology trial |
| advanced. Most offices allow trial periods on hearing | | | | and get your opinion. The biggest problem with this |
| devices. Unless you just know you want the top of | | | | marketing ploy is that if you lose the hearing aid while |
| the line, try hearing aids a step or two down first. | | | | participating in the trial, you have to pay for it! |
| Then, if you feel you still need more help, you can | | | | Programs such as this are just another way to get |
| upgrade. Make sure they give you a new trial period! | | | | you to try new hearing aids and sell them to you. |
| 3) Not Buying a Good Enough Hearing Aid - Just as | | | | Usually they will tell you the regular price is some |
| buying top of line is not always best, buying a | | | | crazy amount like $6000 per hearing aid, but because |
| bottom of line hearing aid can also be a mistake. | | | | you participated in the trial you can buy it at 1/2 off. |
| Often it would be well worth a couple of hundred | | | | If you shopped around you would likely find the |
| dollars extra to buy a hearing aid more suitable to | | | | same hearing aid for less without all the deception. |
| your needs. It will make your hearing aid experience, | | | | Sometimes manufacturers do offer trials on their |
| and your life, much better. | | | | products, but they organize these research trials at |
| 4) Buying Under Pressure - No one should buy a | | | | their manufacturing plants where they can monitor all |
| hearing aid under pressure, yet many people are | | | | of the results! |
| pushed into the purchase by slick salespeople or | | | | Follow these steps and find a good local professional |
| "Factory Representatives". The salesperson tells you | | | | and you will be on the road to good hearing! |
| that if you don't act now you will miss out on the | | | | |