Audiologist to retain fee if hearing aids are returned during trial period

Welcome Foursmiths,
Phonak or the audiologist? My audiological practice charges me $250 for their time if I return aids during the trial period, which I think is fair, because they put in a lot of time and don’t work for free.

MDB Central California

I don’t know the percentage of practices that work this way, but it’s certainly one of the ways things are done and it makes sense. However a lot of people won’t buy unless they get a “free” trial.

pathurley

You know, I keep hearing about these free trials but I have never seen one. Mind you when I was doing hearing aids the nearest Costco was 3 hours away so I never even knew they carried hearing aids.

In NY, state regulations mandate a minimum 45 day trial period, and I never saw anyone offer longer. But what that meant is that you paid for the aids and could return them for a refund less a fee of up to 10%, unsurprisingly everyone charged the full 10%.

There may have been free trials somewhere, but this was how every provider I dealt with or contacted handled things.

janofh

If the audi charged a fee to return without getting anything I would understand, although not my preference. However I would expect that if you got other hearing aids from that audi they would waive any fees. One thing I like about costco - 100% return.

MDB Central California

In reply to @pathurley

I can confirm that free trials definitely exist. I was able to trial an Oticon OPN and Phonak Marvel for a couple of weeks each a little over a year ago from Kaiser. Funny. I was all set to buy until I did the trial at which time I decided it wasn’t worth it.

In all my years of buying hearing aids I have never ever paid anything to trial aids. And I trial each aid for 2 or 3 weeks at a time one aid after another. But I also consider myself very fortunate that my audiologist allows me to do that

cinlo1988

I had to sign papers today in order to place an order for my new hearing aids to trial, indicating a $175 return fee. It appears that I could try another brand of aid if needed though.

MDB Central California

The key thing about fees is to be aware of what to expect ahead of time. Best to have things in writing.

A professional hearing expert tests your hearing and comes up with a prescription to correct your hearing deficit. You decide not to fill the Rx. You owe nothing? I think $250 is unreasonable for the evaluation but if your primary care physician did a physical exam, diagnosed you with pneumonia, and wrote you a prescription would you expect not to pay him if you chose not to pick up the Rx at the pharmacy? As MDB stated above, the fees involved should be delineated clearly up front. Then you can agree or walk. You are entitled to copies of all your test results.

Oct 5, 2021Edited

The thing that scares me the most is when they set an additional fee for each aid I trial. I have never purchased an aid based on one trial. Not with my loss. But if I’m being charged 150 each aid I could see me ending the trial early and possibly accepting an aid that may not be best for me. I can’t keep shelling out money and then pay the astronomical fee they charge to buy the aids. Then people say that later they’re charged for further adjustment to the same aids. No wonder so many people feel the way they do. Oh and since I’ve trialed phonak aids in the past, they’re clearly marked demo, and have never been charged anything, I question that this is a fee originated by phonak

Oct 5, 2021Edited

It seems that people are lumping various services and charges together leading to confusion. The first thing that happens when you see an audiologist should be an assessment that involves them taking a history of your hearing problems including what difficulties you have and in what types of situations. The second thing that happens is they perform a physical exam of your auditory system and hearing tests. Then they recommend a hearing aid for your particular type of hearing loss. I believe it is appropriate for a one time charge for this assessment of your hearing loss regardless of whether you purchase a hearing aid or not. Considering that you could get a thorough evaluation from a Board Certified for less that $250, the amount suggested above seems excessive and meant to coerce you into purchasing the hearing aid there. In reference to fees associated with the fitting of each hearing aid, that should be clearly spelled out by the provider as to whether there is a separate charge or is included in the price of the aids. You should make yourself aware of the provider’s fee structure before your exam and judge accordingly.

MDB Central California

There’s just a lot of variability in how different practices handle things. Many include “free” testing, exam and initial hearing aid fit for “free.” It’s basically a marketing expense for them. I assume they hope to make up for it in increased hearing aid sales. Others charge for what they do, which is perfectly reasonable. I associate the charge for what you do model more with high rent districts, but don’t have any data to back up that assumption.

In my experience, nothing is free. If there is no upfront fee, it’s likely priced into the aids. Costco being a membership club with multiple revenue streams has a different model.

Don’t pay for cleaning. Don’t pay for new tubing. Don’t pay for new hooks. Don’t pay for extras of either. I walk in and walk out. All after I’ve bought the aids. So he must be passing off the expense to somebody else. And this has been for over 30 years. And his price for aids is comparable to what I see everyone else charging. Have also trialed over the years around 10 aids and never been charged and I know he does it for other clients. But every place is different

@hass5744 said:

And this has been for over 30 years.

That may be your answer. Some people’s business model is to make as many sales as they can get for as much as the trade will allow. I don’t care if they come back. Some people work on a service model that keeps people returning for repeat business rather than constantly churning new patients. It also may depend on overhead such as do they own the building or rent.

Well I’m not going to argue the point. I’m just telling you my personal experience and that I consider myself fortunate. Over the years I’ve watched the number of customer files grow and grow and grow. Maybe there’s a reason for that

Neville

Oct 6, 2021

What do you guys think an audiologist’s hourly fee for service SHOULD be, out of curiosity? Maybe consider, before you answer, what you pay your dentists, physiotherapists or optometrists?

(Or worse, your naturopaths or your chiropractors?)

adambullock

Oct 6, 2021

personally, between the time it takes to administer a hearing test, talk through everything with a new patient, program a set of demo aids (or brand new ones that you’ll take back), etc., I think $250 is more than fair. I wouldn’t do it for less than that if I were an audiologist.