Finally Today

Siemens hearing aids purchased over internet, excellent price. Now whenever I want to have my hearing aids?

adjusted at a local hearing aid business, they want to charge me an arm and a leg. I can return aids to place purchased but I just have to mail them in and be without my hearing aids for a few days. Any other suggestions?

Public Comments

1. Get another website or store don't just buy ones for a huge price. I heard of a place called "discover hearing" but I don't know what it is. I saw a guy with hearing aids for the logo though.
2. Buying aids over the internet is like buying an artificial knee online and then getting mad that you have to pay a surgeon separately to operate to insert it in you. You found out the hard way that aids are only as good as the person fitting them in many cases. They are not commodities like cars that are the same wherever you get them. Most dispensers charge what they charge because they are including their services in your purchase price. If you got an "excellent price" it is because you got the device but no service, and your local dispenser has every right to charge for their expertise and time. I don't even see how the place you got them expects to adjust them to your satisfaction by having you mail them in without you being there--it's really absurd and quite unethical on the dispenser's part to even offer to do that. My advice is to return them and start over locally where you can be serviced properly. Otherwise you will end up with aids you don't want to wear--and no matter how good of a price you paid it will be a waste.
3. molls mom is correct. The excellent price is for hearing aid only. The reason aids are so expensive is because most places "bundle" the price of there service for the aids in with the cost. When you buy the aid from an audiologist you get the aid and an unlimited number of visits. You will not be charged a copay or office visit charge after you purchase the aids. You may be charged if you want to extend the warranty past the one or two years initially provided. Or for repairs needed after warranty expires. But you can usually go into the office for adjustments as much as needed. And you generally are seen several times right off the bat. You get a hearing test. You have an appointment to decide on what hearing aid you want and make ear impressions if necessary. You have an inital fitting appointment. Then you have 30 days to try the aids and make sure you are satisfied with them. During that 30 days I usually see patients 2 or 3 times for follow up visits to see how they are doing if they want any changes and to go over how to use and care for the aids and answer any questions that have arrived. So that already is a total of 5 or 6 appointments. Then most people need a hearing test and hearing aid check appointment (may be copay for hearing test) every year. Some people come in for just a hearing aid check every 6 months. And then in between if needed if something goes wrong or they have a question, or want a change made to sound. From an audiologists point of view it is actually almost unethical to fit an aid someone purchased over the internet. When I choose an aid for someone I know it is appropriate for their hearing loss. What you buy over the internet may not be. Also you bought a siemens hearing aid. Okay that is a very popular and well known brand. However, at my current job we don't dispense siemens so I am not familiar with their current product line. So yes I could fit you with the aid, but I am not very familiar with their brand so I may not do the best job. Which if you bought an aid from me I would choose an aid I am familiar with and is appropriate for your hearing loss. The best thing is really to find an audiologist you are comfortable with and like (you are going to see them many times over the years) and purchase the aid from them. Return the aid bought on the internet.