If you’re questioning: can I actually sell used listening to aids and make some a reimbursement, you’re in the appropriate place.
If you happen to’ve ever purchased them new, you realize that listening to aids are insanely costly.
With insane costs starting from $2,000 to over $6,000 a pair, discovering an previous set in a drawer, or upgrading to a brand new pair, leaves you with a really costly piece of know-how that feels legal to simply throw away.
As a result of they’re medical gadgets, you’ll be able to’t simply throw them up on Fb Market with out working into purple tape.
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The excellent news?
The market has modified.
Due to new guidelines from the FDA regarding Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids, it’s changing into simpler to resell sure forms of gadgets.
On this information, I’ll present you every part you’ll want to learn about promoting, donating, or buying and selling in your previous listening to aids.
We’ll cowl the authorized stuff (sure, it’s authorized!), the place you’ll be able to really promote them, how a lot cash you’ll be able to count on, and the right way to prep them on the market.
Can You Legally Promote Used Listening to Aids?
Sure, you’ll be able to legally promote used listening to aids within the U.S., however guidelines fluctuate relying on the system sort and your state.
That is the place the brand new guidelines from the National Institute on Deafness (NIDCD) matter.
Earlier than you attempt to listing them, verify the model identify on the system. This single element determines how simple they are going to be to promote.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Aids (e.g., Sony, Bose, Jabra): YES. The FDA permits OTC listening to aids to be resold with out a prescription. These are labeled as client electronics. You may promote them simply on nearly any platform.
- Prescription Aids (e.g., Phonak, Oticon, Starkey): TRICKY. Websites like eBay have strict guidelines limiting the sale of prescription medical gadgets. You typically must promote these for “elements” or promote them regionally.
- Customized Molded Aids: NO. As a result of these are formed to suit one particular ear, they’ve nearly zero resale worth to a different particular person except offered to a refurbisher for spare elements.
Vital notice: Promoting a used listening to support often voids the guarantee, and a few producers prohibit resale. Most warranties solely apply to the unique purchaser.
How A lot Are My Used Listening to Aids Really Value?
Alright, let’s speak cash. How a lot are you able to really get for promoting your used listening to aids?
I’ve to be trustworthy: listening to aids are like new automobiles. The second you purchase them, they lose about 50% of their worth.
A pair that value you $4,000 may solely promote for $400 on the used market.
It is because the guarantee is never transferrable, and the brand new proprietor must pay out-of-pocket to get them reprogrammed.
That stated, you’ll be able to nonetheless become profitable.
Listed below are practical value ranges based mostly on present 2025 resale tendencies:
|
Sort / Situation |
Value Vary |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Previous, Analog, or Damaged Models |
$20 – $50/pair |
Finest for promoting as “elements solely” to restore outlets. |
|
Used Prescription Aids (e.g., Phonak Lumity, Oticon Actual) |
$100 – $400/pair |
Whereas these value 1000’s new, resale worth is decrease as a result of they require a prescription to reprogram. |
|
Premium OTC Aids (e.g., Sony CRE-E10, Bose SoundControl) |
$300 – $600/pair |
These maintain their worth finest as a result of any purchaser can set them up themselves with an app. |
|
Generic / Amplifiers (TV-quality manufacturers) |
$20 – $50 |
Low cost “as seen on TV” amplifiers have nearly no resale worth. |
Finest Locations to Promote Used Listening to Aids
As soon as you realize what sort of system you might have, listed here are one of the best locations to show it into money.
1. eBay
That is the most important market, however you should comply with the principles (extra on that later.).
It’s the finest place to promote newer OTC fashions like Bose or Sony.
If in case you have older, prescription fashions (like Oticon or Phonak), the most secure route is to listing them as “Components Solely” or “Substitute Unit” to keep away from having your itemizing flagged.
Please ensure to make use of the FDA disclaimer script under.
The eBay Rule (and The Loophole)
eBay’s coverage formally prohibits the sale of prescription medical gadgets.
However, there may be an exception for listening to aids, should you embody particular disclaimer language in your itemizing. If you happen to don’t embody it, your itemizing will likely be taken down.
Copy and paste this necessary disclaimer into your itemizing description:
“In accordance with the FDA, it’s in your finest well being curiosity to acquire knowledgeable medical analysis earlier than buying a listening to support and you’re inspired to take action earlier than bidding on this merchandise. If you happen to select to not get hold of a medical analysis earlier than buying this merchandise, I’m required by legislation to offer to you and acquire from you a signed written waiver of the medical analysis. I’m additionally required to offer to you a replica of the Person Instruction Brochure for a listening to support, evaluation the contents of that brochure with you, and permit you time to learn the brochure. It’s essential to present to me both a signed assertion from a doctor or a signed waiver earlier than I’ll ship this merchandise to you. Upon your request, I may even present to you a replica of the Person Educational Brochure for the listening to support or the identify and tackle of the producer or distributor from whom a Person Educational Brochure for the listening to support might be obtained.“
2. Mercari
Mercari (review) is often simpler to make use of than eBay as a result of their enforcement of “medical system” insurance policies tends to be barely much less aggressive for listening to aids, offered you aren’t making false medical claims.
It’s a terrific app for promoting on to different people.
3. Native Restore Retailers & Audiologists
Impartial listening to clinics and restore outlets are at all times searching for spare elements.
Name native audiologists in your space and ask in the event that they purchase used or damaged models for elements.
Clearly, they received’t pay full retail, however they may give you a good money value on the spot to restock their restore bench.
4. Fb Market & Craigslist
These two platforms are nice if you wish to promote your used listening to support to a purchaser close to you and keep away from delivery.
That stated, Fb’s algorithm generally flags medical gadgets mechanically so you might have higher luck with Craigslist and even different platforms like Craigslist.
Professional-Tip: In case your itemizing will get rejected, strive itemizing them beneath the class “Well being & Magnificence” or “Electronics” and use the title “Assistive Listening System” or “Sound Amplifier” as an alternative of “Medical Listening to Help.”
5. Specialised Purchase-Again Companies
There are firms on-line, comparable to “The Listening to Help Donation Middle” or varied “Money for Gold/Listening to Help” websites, that declare to purchase used gadgets.
Most of those are industrial companies that supply very low costs to allow them to refurbish and resell them.
You’ll in all probability get cents on the greenback in comparison with promoting it your self, however it’s a quick, assured sale should you simply need them gone.
6. OfferUp
Much like Fb Market however typically with fewer algorithmic restrictions, OfferUp is a strong selection for native gross sales.
It allows you to attain consumers in your quick space who’re searching for a deal on an improve.
Commerce-In Your Previous Heading Help
If you’re promoting your previous listening to aids since you are shopping for new ones, don’t promote them for money but.
A “trade-in” credit score from a producer or retailer is usually value considerably greater than the money worth you’ll get on eBay.
Who Provides Commerce-Ins?
- HearingUSA: This huge community of suppliers typically runs trade-in promotions the place you may get credit score in direction of a brand new pair.
- Producer Applications: Main manufacturers like Phonak and Starkey generally supply loyalty trade-up occasions by way of their licensed native audiologists.
- Your Native Clinic: Even when they don’t have an official coverage, many impartial audiologists will give you a couple of hundred {dollars} off a brand new pair in alternate on your previous ones, simply to maintain what you are promoting. All the time ask: “Do you supply any trade-in credit score for my present gadgets?”
Donating Your Used Listening to Aids
Possibly after studying concerning the trouble and low returns of promoting, you’re pondering: “Is there a greater choice?”
For many individuals, donating used listening to aids makes extra sense than attempting to promote them.
In case your listening to aids are older (greater than 3-5 years), they might solely be value $50 on eBay, which is barely definitely worth the trouble.
On this case, donating is usually the smarter monetary transfer. By donating to a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, you’ll be able to typically declare a tax deduction based mostly on their truthful market worth, which might put extra money in your pocket at tax time than a low-ball money sale.
The place to Donate
- The Starkey Hearing Foundation: One of many largest charities, they settle for used aids to assist folks in want globally.
- The Hearing Aid Project: A implausible group that refurbishes used aids for low-income people within the US. Serving to seniors and low earnings people get the gear they want is a good trigger. I cowl extra assets in my information to free hearing aids for seniors.
- Local Lions Club: Lions Golf equipment run a famend “Recycle for Sight and Listening to” program. You may typically drop them off at a neighborhood chapter or group heart assortment field.
- Help America Hear is one other nationwide program that refurbishes donated listening to aids and distributes them to qualifying recipients based mostly on monetary want.
And actually? Donating is simply simpler. No coping with consumers, no haggling over value, no delivery complications. You pack up your listening to aids, ship them off, and also you’re achieved.
Earlier than You Promote: Cleansing & Resetting
If you happen to’ve determined to promote your previous listening to aids, you’ll want to prep them correctly.
No one needs to purchase soiled, beat-up gadgets with none documentation.
Right here’s what you’ll want to do:
- Deep Clear: Use a wire loop to take away earwax. Wipe down the shell with alcohol-free sanitizer.
- Manufacturing unit Reset: For contemporary Bluetooth aids, go into the app settings and “Unpair” or “Reset” to wipe your utilization knowledge.
- {Photograph} Serial Numbers: Consumers want these to confirm the age and compatibility with their audiologist’s software program.
- Disclose Points: Be trustworthy about battery life. If rechargeable batteries are failing, state it.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Sure, it’s authorized, however you must comply with FDA guidelines. For prescription aids, you usually have to disclose that the system is used and advise the client to hunt knowledgeable medical analysis.
In case your listening to aids are beneath 3 years previous, premium model, and in good situation, you’ll be able to promote them for $200-$500. Older or custom-molded aids are more durable to promote, so donating could also be a greater choice.
Sure, you’ll be able to promote OTC listening to aids on eBay, however prescription fashions are prohibited. Embrace FDA-required warnings and label the gadgets as used.
No for OTC gadgets, however prescription fashions must be checked and reprogrammed by an audiologist.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) aids resell simply since they aren’t custom-molded. In-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-canal (CIC) fashions are practically inconceivable to resell.
Normally not; count on to pay for changes, cleanings, or reprogramming.
If resale worth is low or the aids are older, damaged, or custom-molded, donating ensures they assist somebody in want.
Sure, clearly state left or proper and the mannequin quantity.
Sure, gadgets older than 5–6 years drop in worth. Newer OTC fashions promote quickest.
Typically no. Most pawn outlets received’t settle for listening to aids resulting from laws, valuation issue, and restricted resale markets.
Some supply trade-in credit score towards a brand new buy, however money buybacks are uncommon. Verify along with your native audiologist for packages.
Damaged aids nonetheless have worth. Promote as “Components Solely” to restore outlets or donate to charities that refurbish or recycle them.
Sure, you’ll be able to promote or donate them. Verify for transferable warranties, however many select to donate as a significant gesture.
Ultimate Ideas on Promoting Used Listening to Aids
So there you might have it, every part you’ll want to learn about what to do along with your previous listening to aids.
To recap: promoting used listening to aids is authorized and might put some a reimbursement in your pocket, particularly in case your gadgets are comparatively new and in good situation.
You may promote by way of consignment companies, on-line marketplaces like eBay (following their guidelines), or commerce them in at a listening to clinic whenever you improve.
Donating is usually the higher choice in case your listening to aids are older otherwise you’re not fearful about creating wealth. You’ll assist somebody in want, probably get a tax deduction, and skip the effort of promoting.
No matter choice you select, promoting, donating, or buying and selling in, the worst factor you are able to do is let your previous listening to aids accumulate mud in a drawer. Somebody on the market may benefit from them, whether or not that’s you getting some money again or one other particular person getting inexpensive entry to raised listening to.
