Affordable Hearing Aids | Are They Worth Buying Online vs In-Store?

When it comes to great questions, that’s a winner. And at Injoy, we believe in answering it honestly and openly. 

In order to know if affordable hearing aids are worth buying online vs. in-store, your comfort zones will come into play. As will your wallet/purse/piggybank/smart-and-firm financial grip. But we’ll get to that.

No matter what, you can contact us at Injoy with your questions or concerns. Our years of experience will come in handy for your understanding of hearing aid functionality and cost. And Injoy’s licensed specialists are dedicated to 100% customer satisfaction and to making the process fun!

To answer your question, let’s start with a question. 

Why are you thinking about affordable hearing aids? 

You may have noticed these issues starting to crop up in your life:

• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Impaired memory
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Social withdrawal

Guess what? These can all be symptoms of hearing loss (and not just from your fantasy sports brackets going down the tubes).

If you have sudden hearing loss, rather than a recently-noticed gradual decline in hearing, you should seek immediate medical attention. This is especially important if that sudden hearing loss is mostly in one ear.

What causes hearing loss?

There are several culprits that can cause your hearing to degrade.

Damaged Hair Cells in Your Ears 

Most of us are born with around 16,000 hair cells in our cochlea. These cells turn sound waves into electrical impulse, which is how your brain detects sounds. 

The trouble is, up to 30% to 50% of hair cells can be damaged or destroyed before changes in your hearing can be measured. By the time you notice hearing loss, many hair cells have been destroyed and cannot be repaired.

What can destroy cochlear hair cells?

Bet you haven’t asked that question at the PTA meeting. Those precious, non-replacing hair cells can be affected by a very loud event, such as a concert or football game. Ever noticed after a concert, a loud movie with lots of explosions, or maybe attending a football game at the loudest stadium in the U.S. (we’re looking at you, Kansas City), you don’t hear as well as before. 

After this high-decibel occasion, you might not hear whispers, sound might seem muffled, or you may hear ringing in your ears. Normal hearing usually returns within a few hours to a few days. How? Those hair cells work similar to blades of grass, bending more if the sound is louder, but straightening again after a recovery period.

Here’s where you lose that hearing forever. If too many of the hair cells are severely damaged, some of them will die. Repeated exposures to loud noises will over time destroy many hair cells, reducing your ability to understand speech in noisy places. That’s sensorineural hearing loss, and the only thing that can help it is amplification.

Aging

It’s an unfortunate fact of the aging process that cochlear hair cells die. As they do not replace themselves, the process inflicts permanent hearing loss. 

How can you tell? Higher-pitched tones may start to sound muffled. It may become difficult for you to pick out words against background noise. “Huh?” becomes one of your most common responses—not because it’s cool, but because you simply can’t hear.

Other hearing loss causes

An ear infection and/or abnormal bone growths or tumors in the outer or middle ear can cause hearing loss. These will require medical attention from your doctor. 

Next is one of the more painful culprits on our list: a ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation). Loud blasts of noise, sudden changes in pressure, infection, or even poking your eardrum with an object can cause your eardrum to rupture and affect your hearing. 

Most of the time, a ruptured eardrum will heal on its own. However, in cases of significant damage, your doctor may recommend a tympanoplasty. This surgical procedure involves grafting some of your skin onto the hold in your eardrum—like a patch—to help the hole close.

Getting affordable hearing aids is up to you

Hearing loss sucks, no matter what the cause. Your health and quality of life can greatly benefit from hearing aids if you start to notice the signs of hearing loss.

 You can go to a brick and mortar store and get your hearing aids there, or do it online. Which of these choices best suits you? Let’s look at how you prefer assistance and how you like to hit up your bank account.

Why purchase in-store?

We think there are legit reasons that some people don’t shop online. You gotta’ be you, you know? And yes, some folks have reasons they prefer driving to a store for their purchases.

Fear of the unknown

The online buying process can seem unfamiliar. Where’s the check-out person? How do I know it went through? Why can’t I get some gum, a pen light, and lottery tickets while I’m checking out?? Online buying aversion speaks to a fear of the unknown, which is an understandable retail insecurity. 

You can save a lot of money purchasing online—money that you could spend on other necessities, or maybe even donuts (we’re not judging because who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned??). But if that purchasing method makes you feel anxiety, and doubling the cost causes less consternation, you might feel better about visiting a storefront.

That’s a decision you’ll have to make on your own, and we won’t tell you how to live (even though you probably know our opinion on it. #welovehalfprice #savingmoneyrocks #bringonthedonuts).

A friendly face to reassure you

Most online purchases are “faceless.” You rarely see anyone (unless you purchase affordable hearing aids online from Injoy). For some people, the online process is too impersonal. 

In-store shoppers seem to like the reassurance that a physical salesperson gives them. That person might tell them what a great buy it is, or give them a friendly smile as the shopper hands over their hard-earned cash. Nothing wrong with purchasing a little social interaction along with your goods.

Physically touch the product before purchase

When you buy something off of, say, Amazon—do you always go to a brick and mortar store first to touch it, get tactile with it, and familiarize yourself with its very essence? Some folks do. And then some only go in-store, because they won’t buy it if they can’t touch it.

This really makes sense for folks who require specific sizes of clothing, or those who have very specific tastes in textures/colors and don’t trust the web for exactitude. 

Plus, some less-than-reputable sites might sell you a 2X shirt, but instead send you an article of clothing that wouldn’t fit a broomstick even if it was on a diet. Not that that’s ever happened here. With the coolest Hawaiian shirt ever. #stillbitteraboutthat

Worried about returns

If the product doesn’t work the way you want it to, how hard is it to take back? For the brick and mortar, you just pack it in the passenger seat and it’s off to the service desk. 

But for online stores, you might have to repackage everything and mail it back. That means a longer wait for your money to be refunded because of the time it takes for the product to arrive back to the seller. 

So are you brick-and-mortarfied?

If all of the above makes you nod more than a bobble-head glued to a monster truck dashboard—and if you prefer paying twice the price for your hearing aids—you might want to go the in-store route. 

However, if you would like to save thousands of dollars and still get top-of-the-line, customized hearing aids, read on to learn how to get affordable hearing aids online. We’ll show you why it’s worth buying online vs in-store.

 

What to expect when buying affordable hearing aids online

Two things affect the online purchase of affordable hearing aids: the service offered by the online seller and the quality of the product. 

First, let’s go over what you should expect, nay, demand, from that online hearing aid seller. Our motto is, if they don’t supply it, you shouldn’t try it.

Ok, we just made that up. But it applies to the following.

Contact from a real human being 

Buying affordable hearing aids online doesn’t have to mean going it alone.

You should be able to talk to a person, discuss your situation, and ask questions. This process is all about you. At Injoy, a consultation with one of our licensed hearing specialists is the first step—not the last. 

We’re a group of industry veterans excited about the ability to do our jobs in a tele-hearing/remote care model. We have a passion for not only helping people, but making our process as easy as possible. 

We’ll talk with you about your situation openly and honestly. Anyone selling hearing aids should do this, and be willing to say whether or not hearing aids sound like the right choice. Service first, sales second.

Be sure to ask if the person is licensed to provide service. They need to be qualified in order to give you both the best care and the best outcome. 

A real hearing test 

A hearing aid is too important to your life, so you shouldn’t rely solely on customer-provided tests or online tests that are less accurate. 

The company should offer a hearing test completed by a licensed professional during the activation process. This “in-situ” hearing test should be used to custom program your affordable hearing aids so that they perform specifically for your needs.

Full functionality from the start

Brick and mortar stores frequently charge additional fees for the “extras” already built into your hearing aids. They have to “turn on” the functionality. The reality is that those extras are already there. Turning them is meaningless. 

The hearing aids you get from your online provider should have full functionality already included in the price. Your hearing test will help decide which of those functions you want or need.

No factory presets

Online retailers must be able to customize your settings while you’re wearing the hearing aids—period-end-of-story.

Any true hearing professional will agree: a factory setting on a hearing aid is not right for your situation. Your retailer must customize the settings for your specific needs—while the hearing aids are in your ears. There’s no low price worth compromising on that point. 

If your prospective online retailer only sends the hearing aid with presets that they can’t or won’t adjust, keep scrolling. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

 

Visual contact with your licensed professional

Not expecting this point, were you? The fact is that you should be able to see your licensed hearing specialist as you work with them to adjust your new, fabulous hearing aids. Visual cues and your specific answers aid the specialist along as they customize your settings.

Together, face-to-face in a virtual consultation, you should be able to walk through putting in the hearing aids, the fitment, and then explore all the settings and functions. You don’t have to figure it out alone. If you do, then that’s not the right online company. Make sure the one you choose actually helps you through every step of the process. Go “buy the numbers” in our hearing aids cost blog!

Fast shipping

No online store should take more than 2 to 3 days for your hearing aid to arrive at your door. Will they require a week’s shipping? 2 weeks? No, thank you. You haven’t gone through the whole process just to be forced to wait even longer. 

You are important. Your hearing is important. The online retailer needs to show they understand this by getting you your hearing aids asap, tyvm (thank you very much)!

Plenty of time for returns

To put it honestly, some hearing aids may just not work well for you. That’s ok—it’s not you. It’s the hearing aid. 

Most brick and mortar stores have a very limited time for you to “test run” your hearing aids. Online stores should give you at least 100 days, so that there’s zero risk for you. 

And the refund? 100% of what you paid. No “restocking fee” or “return fee” or “we want $$ so you won’t return what you don’t want” fee. You should get your money back if that hearing aid doesn’t satisfy your needs.

Again, the online buying experience shouldn’t just be about saving thousands of dollars on your affordable hearing aids. It should be about your hearing health, and about regaining that quality of life you lost because of hearing issues.

Payment options

Your online source should offer helpful ways to finance the purchase. And those methods shouldn’t rob you. For example, Injoy uses Bread PayTM. 

Bread PayTM offers eligible Injoy customers payment plans that meet their lifestyles and financial needs. Pay for your order in 12 months for as low as 0% APR*. Or, at competitive rates of 18 or 24 months*. 

*Subject to approval of credit application. Rates range from 0% to 29.99% APR, resulting in, for example, 18 monthly payments of $60.05 at 9.99% APR, per $1,000 borrowed. APRs will vary depending on credit qualifications, loan amount, and term. Bread PayTM plans are loans made by Comenity Capital Bank.

The whole enchilada should be easy

When you shop online, the choices should be easy. Personal assistance should be available. The service should be courteous and immediate. Then, the product should excel at delivering everything you expected. And if there are issues, it should be easy to make them right.

We all like “easy.” That’s what online shopping is all about, really. You don’t have to get dressed up, you can shop whenever you want, and what you need arrives at your doorstep. Hello, it doesn’t get any better! Well, maybe if there were those old-fashioned donuts we mentioned…but we digress.

One other easy thing…

You should get your hearing aids for 1/2 the price (or less) of brick and mortar!!

Get the best, for less. A lot less. 

The average price of hearing aids is 5 grand or above. If you’re considering hearing aids, we’re sorry we had to break it to you like that. But those higher prices exist at your brick and mortar locations. When you go in-store, you pay more.

At Injoy, we literally refuse to charge that much. It’s absurd. 

That’s why we want you to check out our Injoy hearing aids. The price is right there, upfront. So is the 3 year warranty, 3 years of support, at-home adjustments, and a bunch of other eye-brow-raising yada-yada that makes us proud. 

These are top-of-the-line, multifunctional behind the ear hearing aids. State-of-the-art tech meets the state of your wallet pricing to give you the best value for your dollar. And that price saving is important—because insurance doesn’t usually help.

Many insurance companies do not cover the cost of hearing aids. They see this health assistance as “elective” rather than necessary. It’s not fair, but it’s the way it is right now. 

That’s why it’s so important to find cost-effective hearing aids. But also—make sure that what you’re purchasing actually are hearing aids. 

Are PSAP/OTC aids the same as hearing aids?

Are affordable hearing aids worth buying online vs. in-store? Absolutely, but only if what you’re buying actually is a hearing aid. Let’s look at two pieces of tech that sometimes claim to be hearing aids…but aren’t.

PSAP

PSAP, short for “personal sound amplification products”, is a device that works to boost sound volume. They are not designed for people with hearing loss.

For example, hunters use PSAP devices so that they can boost the ambient sounds in the forest and listen for movement. So, a PSAP can aid in hearing—but it is definitely not a hearing aid.

Why you shouldn’t use a PSAP for your hearing loss 

Hearing aids should be tuneable to specific frequencies, rather than turning up the entire spectrum. If you have high-frequency hearing loss, you shouldn’t boost the lower frequencies too. That could cause damage to your hearing from that unnecessarily amplified audio.

OTC

OTC stands for “over the counter.” These devices also amplify audio, but usually have limited self adjusted controls only – they aren’t tuneable to your hearing loss. And when purchasing this “over-the-counter” hearing helper, you miss out on the professional assistance that ensures they’re perfectly suited to your needs. 

Technically, OTC hearing aids are not meant for people with severe hearing loss—as they may not have the capability to provide proper amplification for the required frequencies.

 

How comfortable are you with saving lots of money?

Injoy doesn’t want to have your business. We want to earn your business. What we want most is the chance to show you how great your experience will be; all at half the cost of in-store purchases. Feel free to compare us to in-store or online retailers and their products. We truly think you’ll “Injoy” our advantages. 

Still, we understand there are comfort zones. Buying your hearing aids in-store gives you:

• A real face to look at
• Service that can feel comforting
• Familiar processes
• Something to touch before it arrives at your house

But if buying hearing aids online allows you to have

• • Tests that are immediately available whenever you are
  • Licensed hearing specialists who respond quickly
  • Delivery in 2 to 3 days
  • Super-simple processes
  • One-on-one help via face-to-face virtual consultations

• 2300 or more dollars back in your pocket

• 100 days to try it out
• Zero risk returns

Uhm…just how my-favorite-slippers old-flannel-jammies super-comfortable is that? Inexpensive, affordable hearing aids don’t have to be scary. Not when the online seller makes you their first priority. 

Buy Injoy. Activate Injoy. Enjoy Injoy.

We know that losing your hearing wasn’t part of life’s plan, and neither was buying hearing aids. Our team makes things simple and helps you find a long-term hearing solution!

Injoy creates custom hearing solutions based on the unique needs of our clients. Our team is the best in the business—having helped people across the country find hearing solutions for several years. Improve your hearing and improve your life today by contacting Injoy!Are affordable hearing aids are worth buying online vs. in-store? Your comfort zones tell the story. Read our blog to compare and save!