The Big Warning Signs about “BOGO” Hearing Aids | Mississauga Doctor of Audiology Reveals the Truth

 I’m not sure about you, but every time I go on Facebook, my newsfeed is full of advertisements and promotions sharing special offers on hearing aids. 

Most notably, I’m seeing an increase in groups and practices offering BOGO (buy one, get one free) sales on hearing aids. 

As a Doctor of Audiology, I find this approach somewhat frustrating, as we should be prioritizing a hearing healthcare approach with the patient at the centre, not the hearing aid. Here’s why I believe you should see these ads as a very a big red flag if you’re looking to achieve better hearing. 

In this article, I’ll explain why some groups adopt this sales-focused approach and why the patient is often the one picking up the pieces post-sale. 

Firstly, We Need to Understand the Big Misconception 

There remains a misconception that the solution to a hearing loss is simply a set of hearing aids. Yet if you ask anybody who has successfully treated their hearing loss and achieved better hearing, they’ll swiftly tell you that the more important component is partnering with the right hearing care professional. 

Hearing aids are very much the vehicle to deliver better hearing, but it’s a long-haul journey, not a destination. Like any long-haul journey, it’s important to ensure the GPS is set, you have somebody that you can trust behind the wheel, and you feel comfortable regardless of the bumps you’ll undoubtedly hit. 

This is why partnering with a trusted hearing care professional on this journey is always the recommended approach. The investment into hearing care/treatment is predominately for the time, attention and expertise of the Clinician that will be spending hours working with you to ensure you’re getting the short-term benefits of better hearing in the areas that matter and that your long-term hearing health is correctly cared for and monitored. Only a contribution of the investment is to cover the hearing devices themselves. 

Yet the misconception that hearing aids deliver better hearing is what many transactional-focused groups are using when offering significant discounts/savings on devices or offers like BOGO. 

So, Why Do Groups Offer BOGOF? 

There are three likely reasons: 

• 1. They’re very transactional focused and looking to solely sell hearing aids with limited focus on hearing care. Unless you’ve been a highly experienced hearing aid wearer and can program/clean/care for your devices competently, then this approach is likely to result in frustration and returns.  
• 2. They’re trying to clear old stock. With hearing technology regularly updating and progressing, they may have old hearing aid models in their stock that they’re trying to quickly sell. 
• 3. They’re trying to meet sales targets set by their big corporate offices by running short-term focused promotions/sales, which naturally is never in your best interest. Unfortunately, we see groups do this all the time, and the patient is the one picking up the pieces post-sale. 

My Professional Advice to You

The fact that you’re reading this suggests that you’re somebody who wants to be educated on a subject before making any form of decision. Special offers on the devices are a short-term approach, focused on the misconception, where the only winner is the group selling the devices.