April 11th: My dad emailed me last night to say that he got the refund from Crystal Ear! Which is great! The fact remains that it took four months to give the refund, and the customer service was appalling. But the essential part is, he got his money back.
-------------------
I'm taking a departure from the usual topics to blog about the Crystal Ear company, www.crystalear.com. My dad ordered one of their products in December, and returned it 2 weeks after he received it, for a refund. They have a well-publicized 30 Day Guarantee to return for a refund.
He's called several times, and they haven't sent the refund yet. I called just now, and they wouldn't let me talk to anyone in the actual accounting department where the checks are written, so I could find out anything about what's going on.
I've reported them to the Better Business Bureau but wanted to impress upon them the seriousness of how much they're pissing me off, and how much they suck as a company. Thus I'm posting this, and will periodically be reposting it to keep it fresh, as long as they don't give my dad his refund.
And of course I want to let anyone reading know that the product is probably not that good; my dad didn't like it at all.
If you get angry at things like this and would like to link/trackback to this post, please do.
Anyone have any other suggestions for putting pressure on Crystal Ear, and/or eliciting the refund? Unfortunately, he paid with a check.
Thanks,
Solveig
Hi Solveig,
I think that bad customer service goes hand in hand with bad products. If they are bad at one, there is a good chance that they will be bad at the other.
Good news that they came good in the end though ...
Posted by: Charlie | November 12, 2006 at 02:08 PM
Hi Solveig,
Just ordered your OOo book (one of several thru Amazon, but yours I ordered direct from you!) I'm revisiting digital hearing aids online. My experience with "real" audiologists (and online forum comments of others)gives me the impression that they are a bit "scammy" as well. My wife (60db loss both ears) and I have a wonderful ear doctor/surgeon, but the clinic's "board certified, etc" audiologist is the closest thing to the typical used car salesmen one can get. CDAC in India introduced a body wearable, very advanced, full DSP aid which they think will sell for about $20 in a country with tens of millions of severely hearing impaired people. Probably won't go over well over here (body packs aren't stylin'...)but the technology is available. Why no competition on this? Also, look at Canadian prices on aids. Same thing. Also, Digital (DSP) hearing aids are computer programmed and could be user programmed. ANY newer Win/Mac can easily do this but not much software out there. My background's in audio so this has been an interesting exploration. Wish your dad lots of luck (and with your book I hope to figure out the Base module of OOoV2!!!) rich
Posted by: Richard Johnson | January 17, 2007 at 03:24 PM
I have some really disgusting news concerning Crystal Ear.Tell me if this note from me to you is the way to get this info out to you and I will be glad to share my ongoing woes with Crstal Ear.Do you have an Email address?
Posted by: Ridley Derryberry | April 04, 2007 at 09:43 AM
I have done business with a great internet company for years called www.HearSource.com. They repaired my Beltone hearing aids for me for $99 each.. That is 1/4 the cost that the Beltone shop estimated me. When I was looking into new openfit hearing aids, I got a quote from Beltone for over $6000 and several other Audiologist for well over $4000. I purchased a set of open fit hearing from HearSource.com and have been very happy. Just as there are good and bad audiologists, there are also good and bad internet companies. Good luck.
Posted by: Online Hearing Aid Sales | July 29, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I too am a VERY well satisfied HearSource.com customer. HearSource has done everything possible to help me hear better and did it at a price that I could afford. In fact if it had not been for hearsource I would probably not be wearing hearing aids because I would not be able to afford them. Most internet hearing aid companies sell a hearing aid that has been preset at the audio output, hoping that their presets will work for the customer. HearSource.com hearing aids DO come with programming software and interface that allows you to adjust your own hearing aids or they will adjust them for you remotely. I really could not be happier. And think of all gas I'm saving by not having to drive back and forth to the audi's office. :)
Posted by: Cecil Knapp | September 04, 2008 at 06:07 AM
I too am a VERY well satisfied HearSource.com customer. HearSource has done everything possible to help me hear better and did it at a price that I could afford. In fact if it had not been for hearsource I would probably not be wearing hearing aids because I would not be able to afford them. Most internet hearing aid companies sell a hearing aid that has been preset at the audio output, hoping that their presets will work for the customer. HearSource.com hearing aids DO come with programming software and interface that allows you to adjust your own hearing aids or they will adjust them for you remotely. I really could not be happier. And think of all gas I'm saving by not having to drive back and forth to the audi's office. :)
Posted by: Cecil Knapp | September 04, 2008 at 06:08 AM
I know we are supposed to be talking about bad hearing aid experiences here with Crystal Ear here, but I have read with interest the positive comments about the HearSource products and services. I am in need of a hearing aid repair service and based on what I have read here I am going to try them. I'll post the results here when accomplished.
Posted by: ChevyTruck101 | December 13, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I know we are supposed to be talking about bad hearing aid experiences here with Crystal Ear here, but I have read with interest the positive comments about the HearSource products and services. I am in need of a hearing aid repair service and based on what I have read here I am going to try them. I'll post the results here when accomplished.
Posted by: ChevyTruck101 | December 13, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I know we are supposed to be talking about bad hearing aid experiences here with Crystal Ear here, but I have read with interest the positive comments about the HearSource products and services. I am in need of a hearing aid repair service and based on what I have read here I am going to try them. I'll post the results here when accomplished.
Posted by: ChevyTruck101 | December 13, 2008 at 01:45 PM
I know we are supposed to be talking about bad hearing aid experiences here with Crystal Ear here, but I have read with interest the positive comments about the HearSource products and services. I am in need of a hearing aid repair service and based on what I have read here I am going to try them. I'll post the results here when accomplished.
Posted by: ChevyTruck101 | December 13, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I know we are supposed to be talking about bad hearing aid experiences here with Crystal Ear here, but I have read with interest the positive comments about the HearSource products and services. I am in need of a hearing aid repair service and based on what I have read here I am going to try them. I'll post the results here when accomplished.
Posted by: ChevyTruck101 | December 13, 2008 at 01:47 PM
I owned a set of crystal ears and wore when needed as sort of a pair of temporary help, similar to what a person would do with reading glasses. They didn't advertise them as a replacement for real hearing aids and they are not. They were a cheap alternative. I was satisfied for what they were.
Posted by: A satisfied consumer | May 31, 2009 at 12:55 PM
This was a post worth reading! Glad I stumbled across it.Another interesting site I came across was this: http://www.driveafrica.co.za . Take some time and check it out.I will definitely visit again soon. Keep the awesome posts flowing.
Posted by: Car Workshop | June 17, 2009 at 08:35 AM