08/27/2008
©John M. Adams, III

As in any industry, there are good guys and bad. And sadly, there are bad guys in the hearing health business - individuals who are more interested in collecting your check than checking your hearing.

Some of these scams are common, others specific to hearing aid sales and dispensers. Here’s what to look out for before paying for your new ear amps.

1. The Bait and Switch. The retailer advertises a low, low, LOW price on a high-end unit. So you jump into the Studebaker, rush down to the store only to be told that “we’re all out of that unit, but we have something even better over here.” Yeah, better and twice the price of the “special” you came in for.

If the retailer doesn’t have the advertised special, walk. You’re being scammed.

2. The One-Brand Shop. Some companies only sell one brand of hearing aids - the house brand. Now, this isn’t a scam. You know going in just what to expect, but if the store only sells a limited number of its own store brands, you may not find the perfect model for your hearing needs. Go for outlets that offer a wide variety of brands, styles, types and colors.

3. The “Free” Hearing Test. Ever go in for one of those “free” brake tests and walk out of the store with a $500 bill for new brakes. Of course the technician is going to find a reason to replace your car’s brakes. Same with the free hearing test.

You may have minor hearing loss - even something that you could live with - and still be out $2,000 for hearing aids you don’t need and probably won’t use. Nothing is free. Nothing.

4. Read the extra-fine print. When you buy a hearing aid, you’ll often find the warranty terms written in type so small you need a magnifying glass or microscope to read it. Take the time to read it AND understand it.

And whatever you do, don’t allow the salesperson to “explain” the fine print. S/he just might skip over some important warranty information that can cost you every time you bring your units in for routine maintenance.

Visit the store. Some hearing aid dispensers are “hear” today, long-gone tomorrow. They breeze into town, make a few sales calls, sell a few units of varying degrees of quality and hit the bricks for the next town.

Go with a conveniently located store that has a long-standing reputation for quality within the community. These professionals will protect you and their own reputations. In fact, reputation management is important for any hearing aid dispenser. These men and women are professionals!

Contact the Better Business Bureau. Call your local BBB before you select a hearing health professional. Ask if the business has any unresolved complaints. Don’t cross a dispenser off the list just because the business has a number of complaints. That’s not unusual for a store selling delicate instruments.

What counts is unresolved complaints. If the business is concerned about keeping its reputation in tact and, more importantly, doing the right thing by its clients, then that’s a business that’ll be there when you and your ears need it.

A little research can not only save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, it can also save you a pile of headaches and stress that you just don’t need.

Most hearing professionals are honest. They put the interests of their patients before profit, so don’t view the entire hearing health industry with a skeptical eye. Just be aware that there are bad guys out there, but you should be able to spot the con artists walking up to your front door.