Starkey WI 110 is this ethical?

[qsg123]

I paid for this instrument ($6400) and tried it for 10 days when it turned out that it was not a new, but a refurbished one.
Since this was my first HA, and also my first try out, I did not have too much to compare it with, all in all it was not difficult to get used to the Quick Fix Setting, nothing was programmed in. At that point the audi left for 10 days, and I was on my own.

For any telephone calls from day one I had to remove the hearing aid, since I did not hear anything WITH it, and this problem could not be corrected in the second or third week.
It seemes to me that the dispenser (or whatever he is) only buys Starkey when he is running a half true half false advertisement for the 30 day trial.
I am not sure how much if at all he knows about the Starkey programing.

The second appointment, he called up Starkey twice, and I spent 2 hours there, the outcome was loud and disturbing background noise, hissing TV, and I could really comfortably wear it in the quiet of my room, listening to CD's. It worked perfect then:-)))) The moment background noise was added, it overpowered eveything else to the point of causing headaches, and complete bewiderment.
The telephone clicked the HA into some action, namely going dead,

3rd appointment a week later: the telephone problem the next 2 hours "programing" still did not work, and 40 minutes with a Starkey audiologist(?) who tried everything, from factory resetting to program "telephone mode" into one of the 4 setting, my dispenser graciously offered to order a new one.

By then I was fairly done with him, and I decided to get a refund, and shop elsewhere. Of course he does not want to loose me as a paying customer, so offers a new HA with 4 years of warranty and more if I wish......

However, and here comes the funny part of our Saga: he said in an email, that once I returned the HA, have a report and signed proof of return he will submit this to the manufacturer and I will receive a refund within 30 days.

Does all this sound like the way it should be? What does the manufacturer have to do with this. Why 30 days?

At the same time, I would not mind to try out a new i110, I am also looking Widex Clear 440, and Oticon Intiga, and........ and I think I need plenty of advise, so I am reading this forum every chance I have.
My hearing loss is mild to moderate.

[seb]

First of all why are you paying full price for a refurbished HA? This should have been red flag number 1. Second, read your contract and see what it says about returning the HA's, if it says you will receive your money within 30 days of getting verification from the manufacturer, fine, if it does not say this you get the money when you return the HA. Finally, it almost sounds like he wants you to send the HA into Starkey, if I'm not mistaken that is his job and more than likely he will never send it in and just sell it to the next person who comes in. I think if I were you I would contact Starkey and let them know about this guy. Good luck!

[qsg123]

Of course at the time I picked up the HA, I did not know that it was refurbished.

The red flag started to kick in, when I was thinking how he ran the promotion, and when he gave me no the box, no paperwork that came with it. In the 10 days while he was on vacation, I had plenty fo time to think everything through, and something did not seemed right, I had a bad, gut feeling. Upon his return, I also had a hard time how to phrase my question as not to hurt his integrity:-))))))) Above all, I
think I wanted to trust him.

I am just looking at the signed agreement, and it says:...."or promptly refund the total amount paid". There is no 30 days here.

[Doc Jake]

are you sure they are refurbished? were they listed on your contract as a refurbished? this "or promptly refund the total amount paid" seems to be pretty clear. I would go directly to Starkey. if you used a credit card call them and contest the charge and they will withhold payment.

[qsg123]

The second week, I asked him if it was new, and he said after some hesitation, that it was not. When I told him, I should not pay the full amount, he said he already lowered the price for me by a $1000, as if the price was $7,400 to begin with. (Indeed that was the price that was quoted to me for a 4 year warranty, and we bought the 2 year warranty for $6,4000.)

At that point nothing made a lot of sense, he asked ME what would be fair to me and seemed rather upset saying I am cutting into his profit now. Like this.

I pointed out, that I am the buyer, he should tell me the price for the refurbished HA, I would have no idea what is fair for me.

At that point, I pretty much knew I am not going to deal with him for long, and will return the HA before the 30 days is over, However, I did want to try it out.
As I said, that did not work out since the second and the third appointment, when he was supposed to program it did not work.

In other words, I only tried the first 10 days, with the Quick Fix.

The contract does not say it is refurbished. That is why I thought, and think that this was not ethical, if I would not have asked after his return from vacation, if the HA was new, he would not have told me ever.

Granted, once I asked, he admitted, but does that make it ethical then? Isn't there a law against this?

[srsearle]

qsg123, This sounds just like the guy i dealt with here in Utah.
By any chance, are your from Utah? Just wondering if it's the same guy or not. This is so similiar to my experience.
Scott

[seb]

Turn the HA's in and run from this guy. Sounds like if he wasn't selling hearing aids he would be working out the kinks in a ponzi scheme.

[qsg123]

No, not Utah, but if your experience is the same, maybe this is a common scheme.

[seb]

It's called being unethical and dishonest and you wonder how many times he's done it to others. It might be worth contacting the licensing board and find out if there are any complaints against him.

[iceman0486]

Originally Posted by seb

It's called being unethical and dishonest and you wonder how many times he's done it to others. It might be worth contacting the licensing board and find out if there are any complaints against him.

This. And if there aren't any, or even if there are go ahead and file one. It is this kind of crap that makes the rest of us specialists and audis look bad.