Amazon.com is the biggest store in the world. Their selection of products is unmatched, and the ease of shopping is amazing. Their database of reviews also makes it a great place to benefit from the ‘wisdom of the crowd’. Unfortunately, some products are better compared with reviews than others. Below, we will discuss why you should never buy hearing amplifiers based on reviews on Amazon.
Links in this article pointing to another website might be affiliate links. If you purchase something on those websites, I could receive a small commission. This doesn’t affect your price nor my review.
How Amazon reviews should work
Amazon started out as a book platform. Reviews for books work great; you browse a book genre, and the books with better reviews in that genre will be more appealing to people who look comparable books. There’s a small risk you might not enjoy a certain book, but the system generally works.
When a book in a particular genre gets positive reviews, you can safely assume that the reviewers know about the genre. You can even assume you’ve read some of the same books in the same genre, and have similar expectations of a new book as the reviewers.
When Amazon reviews don’t work
The system hinges on that experience, and that’s why it’s so poorly suited for buying hearing aids. After all, would you trust a book review from someone who’s read one book in their entire life?
People who review hearing amplifiers have one particular thing in common: they’ve had hearing loss and tried a product that improved their hearing. Compare it to reading a review about the world’s worst car from someone who’s used to walking 9 miles to work every day. Of course it’s an improvement, but if you had the choice, wouldn’t you just buy a better car?
To me, hearing amplifiers are a big purchase, even if you find a great deal. You want to make sure you’re spending your money wisely. Reading Amazon reviews as a part of your research helps you make a better buying decision, especially when weeding out the bad ones.
A great review does not equal a great product
But when it comes to positive reviews, things are more complicated. A great review for a certain model hearing amplifier is most likely an indication that someone’s hearing has improved. That’s not necessarily the same as buying a great product. You can improve your hearing by cupping a hand behind your ear, but you wouldn’t pay a dime for it.
Another problem with reviews that is especially pressing when comparing hearing amplifiers is that products can get outdated, but reviews never do. Because of changing technologies, a newer $100 hearing amplifier is much better than a five-year old model at the same price. The old model will have more positive reviews than the newer model, but be a worse product.
Putting hearing amplifiers in perspective
My experience with different models hearing amplifier helps me to have a clear expectation of what a hearing amplifier should do at a certain price point. In other words, I put each model in perspective. I look past the reviews and weigh each model to its unique strengths and weaknesses, compared to models in a similar price range. I recognize and dismiss fancy marketing phrases, while exploring the actual pros and cons of each model. You can read this in written reviews, comparison posts, and even the 30-second visual reviews, which give you a snapshot overview of pros and cons for each model.
Aside from that, I write articles to help you better understand what to look for when buying a hearing amplifier. It is my goal to help you buy the hearing amplifier that helps you the most.
Would you like to make better-informed buying decisions? Sign up to our newsletter below and get personalized buying advice, information about life with hearing loss, and the latest information directly to your email.