I think the OTC hearing aides must be hurting places like Beltone

[Siwsan]

I keep getting junk mail from them enclosed in very deceptive envelopes. This one was printed with 'Record Division', 'First Notice/Time Sensitive Important Document Enclosed' (all in bold/red)

Their letter starts with 'Our records indicate you have not visited our Beltone location for a hearing screening.' The topper is their coupon deal for an $800 pair of rechargeable hearing aids. I have zero doubt they would apply some high pressure to buy a more expensive pair.

I feel like mailing it back to them with the question "What's your point?' written across the letter.

These are as bad as the 'Your Car's Warranty Has Expired'. No $hit. My car is 22 years old.

I'll use this letter to help start a fire in the fireplace, this weekend.

[spooky3]

1. Aren't they ridiculous? The prior owner of my house

(Over 25 years ago) still gets solicitations like that.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. And the truth of the matter is that these OTC hearing aids may help some people, but I imagine that they wouldn't

help a lot of people either, their hearing loss being too great etc. And you're probably right in that they'll apply high pressure for you to buy a pair of hearing aids that don't truly address your needs, they are too powerful (your loss doesn't warrant it), etc. Too much hearing aids for your loss, try to get you to overspend.

And from my personal perspective, being a long-time hearing aid person, do they offer services such as warranties, and if the aids need to be (one or both of them) serviced, what sort of back up aids do they offer you? What other sort of services do they offer you? What about cleaning the aids regularly? I am wrestling w/ cleaning one of my hearing aids (ear wax), which is a recurring issue, so do they offer cleaning svcs?

And of course, the top issue, is to wear the damn things. I nagged my Dad for the longest time (bless his heart, he's gone now), to wear his damn aids, he wouldn't, and I know it takes time to get used to wearing them. And it does take getting used to. Start out by wearing them a little bit, such as in quiet venues. Don't wear them at a rock concert (just kidding). And if they bother you, turn them off. You got to wean yourself into wearing them, let people know too, around you. In my case, I was hard of hearing since day 1, so I picked up lip reading, which is my life saver.

I can take out my hearing aids and the quiet is so blissful, and I'm still catching most of the conversations too. See if your local community offers such help as lip reading school (believe it or not, there is such a thing). The lip reading will also go a long way towards helping you.

And yes, the OTC will hurt these established hearing aid places, for they (not all of them) are sometimes themselves high pressure, every time I went to my former hearing aid place, they high-pressured me. I didn't like. I can't afford a $5,000 pair (minimum cost too) of hearing aids every time I went into his office). I got pissed off, still haven't been back.

[ShazzieB]

3. I havent gotten anything like that in quite a while.

Just bushels and bushels of letters from insurance companies hawking Medicare advantage plans (also in deceptive envelopes). I'm sure those would also work for starting a fire. Since I don't have a fireplace, they go straight into the recycling bin.

Between those and all the pleas for contributions to various charities that land in the mailbox this time of year, I feel like half the world is trying to get hold of my nonexistent money! I don't begrudge the (legit) charities, of course, but I just have very little to give these days, and the sheer amount of this stuff is overwhelming sometimes.

[XanaDUer2]

4. When I was a kid

I'd see these ads for a sample fake hearing aid, so I ordered one. Poor salesman comes by when I'm at school and meets my confused, unwelcoming grandmother. I feel bad now

[Mr.Bill]

5. In 2005 my wife and I bought a brand new Corvette.

We had a house with a wood burning stove and I seriously considered heating my home by burning catalogs mailed to me by companies that sell Corvette accessories.

[Siwsan]

6. The Corvette was 'born' in my home town of Flint, MI

I've only got one experience riding in one. I have to admit it wasn't the most comfortable car.

[Mr.Bill]

7. And it was born one month before I was born,

in 1953. What year was the Corvette you rode in? Mine was a C6. I also owned a '57 Corvette about 50 years ago. It's not a car for everyone, that's for sure.

[Siwsan]

8. It was a more contemporary model

Something from the 70's.

[Mr.Bill]

9. That would have been a C3.

You are dating yourself if you call that "contemporary" . They had notoriusly uncomfortable seats. My '57 (a C1) was even worse. But then in those days that was part of being a sports car. My '57 also had no sun visors. Not even as an option. Quite spartan.