In the last two weeks, I have had two patients come in with items that they purchased used off of ebay.
Neither turned out well.
My first patient bought a bluetooth device to use with his hearing aids. It was three years old and had a rechargeable battery. Rechargeable batteries don’t last forever and three years is getting kind of old. This could have been a big problem. The bigger problem was it would not work with his hearing aids without additional equipment. There was also no warranty and the company did not recognize the serial number. Because the device could not be recognized, the company would never service the device. He wasted his money.
The second patient bought a pair of hearing aids off of ebay. She thought she had done her homework. The aids were newer and the price was very reasonable. When I checked the serial numbers with the manufacturer, I was told that those aids had been sent in for replacement and were the property of the manufacturer. I have no idea how they ended up for sale on ebay. They were the property of the manufacturer and could never be sent in for repair.
Another thing to keep in mind is, as soon as the hearing aids change hands, the warranty is void. You may think you have a great price, but you don’t. Those hearing aids have to be reprogrammed and should be reconditioned before use. You will be charged for that.
Would you put someone else’s dentures in your mouth? Probably no. Why would you put something in your ear that was in someone else’s ears. Yuck! There are always better choices, even on a limited budget.
If you or a family member is having any difficulties with hearing or hearing aids, please give us a call at 727-323-2471 and set up an appointment.
We can help you.
Susan E. Terry, Au.D., F-AAA, F-NAP
Doctor of Audiology
Board Certified
P.S. We are here to help if you have any questions about your hearing, feel free to give us a call at 727-323-2471