Re: question about HA -- finding lower prices

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/1/2004 7:45:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

janajama@... writes:

Ouch! There is quite a range of prices floating out there for the same

aids....Anyone have any tips on shopping around? We are happy with our

audiologist, but I'm not sure it is worth the hundreds of dollars of

differnce when it comes time to buy new aids!

__________________________

We did shop around and found that we could get Ian's 2nd aide for $500 less

than the audi had charged for the first one. I don't know if the rate reflects

a mark-up or simply a low sales volume. We bought his 2nd aide from the local

Communication Disorders place attached to the local hospaital. It is the only

facility like it in the area, so my guess is that they do a much higher volume

on sales than our audi.

And, no, I never spoke with the audi about the higher price. We really like

this audi and that was just too awkward a conversation. I simply told him we'd

ordered the aide locally -- he is almost an hour's drive away from us.

--Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/1/2004 7:45:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

janajama@... writes:

Ouch! There is quite a range of prices floating out there for the same

aids....Anyone have any tips on shopping around? We are happy with our

audiologist, but I'm not sure it is worth the hundreds of dollars of

differnce when it comes time to buy new aids!

__________________________

We did shop around and found that we could get Ian's 2nd aide for $500 less

than the audi had charged for the first one. I don't know if the rate reflects

a mark-up or simply a low sales volume. We bought his 2nd aide from the local

Communication Disorders place attached to the local hospaital. It is the only

facility like it in the area, so my guess is that they do a much higher volume

on sales than our audi.

And, no, I never spoke with the audi about the higher price. We really like

this audi and that was just too awkward a conversation. I simply told him we'd

ordered the aide locally -- he is almost an hour's drive away from us.

--Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/1/2004 7:45:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

janajama@... writes:

Ouch! There is quite a range of prices floating out there for the same

aids....Anyone have any tips on shopping around? We are happy with our

audiologist, but I'm not sure it is worth the hundreds of dollars of

differnce when it comes time to buy new aids!

__________________________

We did shop around and found that we could get Ian's 2nd aide for $500 less

than the audi had charged for the first one. I don't know if the rate reflects

a mark-up or simply a low sales volume. We bought his 2nd aide from the local

Communication Disorders place attached to the local hospaital. It is the only

facility like it in the area, so my guess is that they do a much higher volume

on sales than our audi.

And, no, I never spoke with the audi about the higher price. We really like

this audi and that was just too awkward a conversation. I simply told him we'd

ordered the aide locally -- he is almost an hour's drive away from us.

--Jill

[Guest guest]

<< We are happy with our

audiologist, but I'm not sure it is worth the hundreds of dollars of

differnce when it comes time to buy new aids!>>

We've shopped around for both our hearing aids and our new Lexis FM system.

Each time, I found them for a few hundred dollars less than through our audi at

Children's Hospital but if we purchased them from the other sources, we'd be

paying each time we went in for adjustments as well as for the first set of

earmolds ($90) and a fitting fee that was about $300. If we bought through

Children's, everything was covered. For us, it was better to pay the extra. As

it happens, we haven't needed to go in much for changes or adustments but then

again, it's nice to never have to think about it--or hesitate to make an

appointment because we just don't have the extra money right then.

Don't get me wrong...I still think hearing aid prices are appalling and it's

even more appalling that insurance doesn't cover them. I guess I'm just saying

that you should check into the other services offered and extra charges you may

have to pay if you " outsource " .

Carol - mom to , 7.10, mod to profound, LVAS