"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "dsi1" > wrote in message
> ...
> On Sunday, December 21, 2014 8:24:38 PM UTC-10, Cheri wrote:
>> "dsi1" <> wrote in message
>> ...
>> On Sunday, December 21, 2014 2:35:42 PM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> > On 12/21/2014 5:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>> >
>> > >
>> > > This would be true of hearing aids. I sat in with a real slick
>> > > salesguy
>> > > explaining hearing aids to a youngish type prospective buyer. The
>> > > aids
>> > > cam in different levels - entry, mid-level, and high end. Prices were
>> > > $4000, $6000, and $7500, per pair. The guy he was pitching to looked
>> > > to
>> > > be a little strapped for cash but he chose the high end model. That
>> > > was
>> > > surprising. The salesguy told me that when given the choice, people
>> > > would always chose the most expensive aid. That was sure an
>> > > eye-opener
>> > > for me. Amazing!
>> > >
>> >
>> > Given the price of electronics today, I cannot imagine why hearing aids
>> > would sell at those prices. Markup must be huge.
>>
>> One of the reasons for these prices is because hearing aids are
>> classified
>> as medical devices and you need a license to sell them. Other factors
>> are...
>> oh wait a minute... that's the only reason. All that has to be done is
>> change the laws slightly and prices would drop way down. My guess is that
>> the sweet spot in the market would be around $200 per ear.
>>
>> ======
>>
>> Which is still high considering what goes into them.
>>
>> Cheri
>
> I couldn't tell you if this is true. Modern hearing aids are typically
> full blown computers that digitally process audio and are able to
> communicate with each other and other devices. They do this while
> operating on a tiny 1.4V cell with a drain of around 1.2 mA. I think
> that's fairly amazing.
>
> OTOH, I have no idea what would be a fair price, all I know is what I'd be
> willing to spend. I'll leave it up to you to decide that one for yourself.
> :-)
>
> ---
>
> I don't know what all goes into them but I know that it was a long, drawn
> out procedure every time my dad had to have his fitted.

Certainly not long and drawn out here, pretty quick. I've dealt with hearing
aids for 50 years now since my oldest daughter is profoundly deaf, and it
was long and drawn out even back then when they wore a harness that held the
unit with cords to running to the ear molds.

Cheri