Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

This is the first installment of our eMails From Home series.

Had to buy a new PC as well because the Toshiba was just too small on my eyeballs and it was kind of buggy to tell you the truth.

I bought this Acer Aspire 5517. This one has the webcam and it has 260 gigs of space. So far I’m really impressed with it – the screen is very bright (I hate dim screens) Keyboard is smooth to type, and it’s not buggy. The internet connection is really good.

The only thing I wish it had was a built in microphone like the Mac has. Emma is really starting to like her Mac. It’s amazing how when you pick up something that works everytime, you start to appreciate it.

So we have a cell phone now too – it’s a Telus phone (Cheapo Samsung) and it’s on a Pay As You Go plan (or prepaid as Verizon calls it) This is Emma’s cell phone if you need to get ahold of us anywhere in the USA when we’re not at home in Los Angeles. The number is 555 555 5555.

When we get over to Palm Springs I will be getting a Nextel phone at Costco which will be mine. It will be a pay as you go as well. I’ll email that number up as well.

Well, I’m off to build another site for Zazbot.com. Just did one on Kubota Tractors and one on Solar Water Heaters.

Love from Paul, Emma, and the Kids

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

First of all – check out the very cool Gmail bar of soap above. I would love to get some more Google paraphernalia to have around the house. I guess this wouldn’t look so cool anymore with a big dark pubic hair stuck in the middle of it…….OK OK…..GROSS!

At Zazbot.com we have started our Emails to Home Series, whereby we post emails that we send home to family and friends, but only if the email is talking about a product we’re discussing and what-not.

These emails (or letters if you please) will have to be about some kind of consumer based product that we have just bought to make our life move a little easier. Our staff will post them emails periodically.

Keep in mind that the identities, names, and locations will be changed to maintain the privacy of all involved. The whole idea is to talk about different shopping products. Stay tuned.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

Been writing allot about Kubota heavy duty equipment – specifically tractors, mowers, rtvs, and excavators. Kubota has been around since 1890 and was founded in Japan. They have offices and manufacturing plants all over the world now. They’re equipment is of high end quality and is tough. Not only is Kubota equipment tough and built well – it’s also extremely powerful and easy to operate.

When we had our back yard landscaped the contractor used a Kuboka mini-excavator to do the work, and I was amazed at how fluid the operation was. It helped that the guy operating the excavator really knew what he was doing.

Kubota sells their fine equipment all over the world, and is VERY popular in developed ccountries, and even in undeveloped countries as they improve their infrastructure. They have become more and more of a presence in their industry because of the reliabilty of the implements and accessories. They’re equipment generally stands up to the rigorous treatment of working in the business of “digging and moving dirt”.

But don’t get me wrong, Kubota doesn’t just make excavators and skid steer machines – they make fabulous utility vehicles as well, and small tractors for doing light work like snow plowing and grass cutting. These light Kubota tractors are ideal for families living on acreages and HAVE to have some machinery to move snow and cut grass.

There are some multi-use Kubota machinery you can buy as well if you are a professional who needs an machine ecompassing a bucket loader on the front and a backhoe on the back. These can run up around $13,000 – $15,000 used. New can range as well depending on the dealer that is selling you the tractor.

Kubota Focuses On Smaller Tractors

As you can tell, Kubota focuses all of their attention on small tractors, excavators, and mowers, including the smaller size implements that accompany these machines. It has always been a very smart and frugal move on the part of Kubota’s third generation management and marketing teams. It would have been easy for them to try and branch their market out into large and heavy machinery such as the kinds Catepillar and others make. Some of Kubota’s excavators may look rather large, and can certainly haul hard and fast, but they don’t try to compete with the largest construction equipment corporations.

Kubota Financing Department

There is also a Kubota financing division where the assist in the financing process. They have a long standing relationship with their customers, and this is part of the reason why – they help honestly and equitably in the goal to foster public relations, make interest profits, and keep their customers coming back.

You can read more about the Kubota Credit Corporation of U.S.A here. They’ve been providing financing since 1982 and there is no sign of them every giving up their financing division (KCC).

Kubota Safety

Kubota has always been renown for their safety rating in their chosen market. Their Japanese engineering teams have been able to incorporate some excellent safety features such as their cab designs and roll bars. They have a very safe steering design as well, which is extremely important to avoid tipping and roll overs. Here is a quote from their web site if you are interested;

Kubota encourages all owners to know their equipment and to follow good safety practices when using Kubota Products. Your Kubota equipment has been designed and built with your safety in mind, but a tractor and its attachments are unable to control their own operation, or to choose the environment in which they work.
The ultimate responsibility for safe operation lies with you, the operator.
We at Kubota wish you safe operating!

One of the things I’ve noticed with Kubota is their educational approach to safety. They understand that the safest thing you can do as an operator is to be educated in the operation of the equipment. It can be VERY dangerous operating most all Kubota equipment if you don’t have any experience and are ignorant to the proper steps to take during usage.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

Eco-Friendly hot water heating systems have become “kind of a big deal” in the last few decades, as more and more families and corporations are finding ways to help the planet AND save money. Using eco-friendly energy systems is such a win-win-win endeavor once you get past the intial investment spent on the technology.

Today we’re focusing on solar powered hot water heaters, evacuation tubes, and of course tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters usually still use some kind conventional energy source, but nonetheless, they are much “greener” than the conventional water heaters.

It was the purchase of our Toyota Prius that got me thinking about other ways I can really stick it to the oil and coal companies. The cost of some of these domestic solar water heaters can really get up there, but still I want to look at getting it installed in my house. I’m also not sure how well it would work in Calgary, Alberta. We don’t get as much hot sun as the warmer climates get. I see there are solar water heating systems that can be used for colder climates as well.

Along with all of these interesting questions comes the another one – which brands of solar hot water heating systems actually work as advertised, and which ones DON’T??!! Below is just a small list of solar water heater brands. Keep in mind there are other brands we talk about here, on our Ec0-Friendly Water Heater Mini Site

List of Solar Water Heater Brands

• Dux
• Bosch
• Lowes (whatever brands they carry)
• Home Depot (whatever brands they carry)
• Ronas (whatever brands they carry in Canada)
• Helio-Pak
• Quality Smith
• Siddons
• Solex
• Sun Volts

Do Want An Active OR; Passive Solar Water Heater?

From what I have read on the Internet, there are two main types of solar water heating systems – the Active system, or the Passive system. What each system does I don’t know, but you can read allot more on the site we’re promoting today. A quick definition that explains the difference between an active system and a passive system, would be this;

Passive solar energy systems use the architectural design, natural materials, or absorptive structures of a building as an energy-saving system. The building itself serves as a solar collector and storage device. An example would be thick-walled stone and adobe dwellings that slowly collect heat during the day and gradually release it at night. Another example of a passive solar energy system is a greenhouse. Passive systems require little or no investment of external equipment.

Active solar energy systems require a solar collector (a device used to store energy) and controls linked to pumps or fans that draw heat from storage as necessary. Active solar systems generally pump a heat-absorbing fluid (air, water, or an antifreeze solution) through a collector.

That quote was found on the Enotes site (thanks!)

Now What About DIY Solar Water Heating Systems

So what about it? Lots! That’s what!!! You can find oodles of information on DIY (Do-It-Yourself) solar water heating systems. Just use the magic of Google, Yahoo!, or Bing to find out more. You can even have a VERY basic system made from bottles if you want, which you can see in the inset picture here, or read about it here. Needless to say, it can be done yourself, if you have the time, basic resources, and a little bit of money to seed the project.

For plans, instructions, and diagrams on how to build your own solar water heating system, I would go to this page at builditsolar.com

It looks like a whole bunch of fun making solar systems to heat up your water supply. Kind of feel like Swiss Family Robinson book (or movie). Always thought it would be fun to make a home by myself in the woods. Creating tools, and creating little inventions to make your life better, easier, and more comfortable. Anyway…..I digress.

Some of the kits that I found to be easy to setup would be like the $1000 dollar DIY solar water heating system. This is of course on the same web site. See this $5 dollar solar water heating system too!!

Then there is the commercial brands that you can install yourself, or have a company install for you. A perfect example would be the Helio-Pak Active Solar Water Heater System, which you see even more details on at the Solardirect.com site. We have a seperate page just for the Solar Direct Company as well if you are at all interested in their solar water heating product lists.

No matter how you slice it, “going solar” is very exciting, and worthwhile in so many ways. You can see from the DIY rescources online that the people of our world, with the use of the Internet, are taking it in their own hands and creating solar water heating systems for themselves and not waiting for companies like Lowes, Home Hardware, Home Depot, Ronas, Sears, Wal-mart, or Canadian Tire to produce and sell.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

So my wife and I just bought a used 2006 Prius this week and this video post is for my Mom and Dad (and whoever else comes along her to Zazbot shopping). I have added a few pics of this light blue Prius as well. Every time we drive this Prius the more we love it. We like everything about it. Smooth, quiet, extremely fuel efficient, and fairly done good lookin’ if you ask your humble narrator today. Ask me in another year and we’ll see if I don’t hate the Prius beyond belief. Once the novelty has worn off you never know.

As you can see in the video, we cart big Golden Retrievers around with us everywhere we go. Anyway, here are some picture of this used 2006 light blue Prius.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

I have tried Goji berries now and I’ve tried Zrii juice as well. It’s VERY clear that  eating Goji berries makes a much bigger difference to our health than Zrii juice. I don’t believe that juice is the best way to consume berries. We need to consume the entire berry so you get the seeds, skin, and everything!

There are many documented stories that demonstrate the value of Goji berries, but the one that sticks out the most is the one about the well outside the wall of a Buddhist temple.

Back between 600 and 800 A.D. there was a water well dug deep in to the ground adjacent to the wall of a Buddhist monastery. This well was used solely for the practical purpose of providing water to the monks in the temple AND to the people in the village.

Over one hundred years later it the community had well learned the people in that area were living longer and healthy lives. When the local community leaders investigated the good phenomenon of this village, they narrowed down the villagers and monks that had the very best health, and they all had one thing in common. ALL of these lucky, elderly, and healthy people used nothing but the water from this well. So what made this well have such magical powers? Very simple.

There was a very thick Goji berry vine above the water well that had been dropping Goji berries by the thousands and thousands into the water over the years. All the water that came up that well was soaking with a steep saturation of freshly ripe Goji berries. Basically, this well water was extremely potent due to the FRESH and RIPE Goji berries that were being dropped daily into it.

People in the village, and the the monks in the temple all had noticed that the water from that well had a particular pleasing taste to it. It was sweet and tart at the same time, if there is such a thing. They bathed in this Goji berry well water, made tea with the Goji berry well water, and they cooked with the Goji berry well water.

I’ve been mixing Goji berries into my food twice a day now for a month, and I have never felt better, slept better, and relaxed better.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

Bought a Toshiba netbook last week and it was kinda wierd at first because the keys are so much closer together than a typical laptop or desktop. However, after writing about 5000 words on it, it feels quite good and I’m actually typing very quickly now. I still have to pause when I reach for the ” (quote) key because it is so small. The delete key is easy because it is top/right corner of the netbook. Ironically, this netbook has allot more hard drive space than our past laptops, and the speed is faster too. All of my web browsers seem to be a little bit slower though. I’ve tried Google Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, and they all seem to be a little bit slow when clicking around the Internet. It may be my home Internet connection that is the problem, we while I’m on the road again, we’ll see what it is like on other Wifi connections. I’m writing this in a pure .txt file which a prefer, so that I can copy/paste all of this content into the Zazbot.com blog.

Every new gadget we buy for the office, or for blogging, gets a small review on what we think of it in our opinion. A short review really. We write or blog about ANY product we buy since Zazbot is all about shopping, comparing, and buying. This goes for the RV, computers, gadgets, cars, trucks – you name it. As a matter of fact, we bought a GMC Canyon awhile back and we have not done a review on it yet – I’ll get to that soon.

So we like the netbook for how light weight it is, the built-in camera, and quick keyboard, and overall “smallness”.

As far as durability goes, we of course don’t know that yet, but we’ll be able to blog about that a little later after we’ve had this puppy on the road with us for awhile.

I’m at this minute sitting beside a Kal-Tire gas station/store in a wee little town called Elko (Elko, B.C (British Columbia, Canada) as we are meeting my parent here is a few minutes and then taking a left turn going south towards the Roosville border crossing. Then we’ll head down the road south through the Tabacco Plains and on to Whitefish and Kalispel – a short 3 day trip to hang out with Mom and Dad, see the sights, and do some shopping.

I’m sitting in the front seat of our 2300 Sunseeker RV, which we have posted about already. This machine has been fantastic so far (touching wood) and it’s the perfect size for us, and our two Golden Retrievers. It’s a pig on gas of course, but you just have to budget for it. I would say that if your family is on a tight budget, steer clear of motor homes, RVs, and boats. They’re all money suckers big time! It’s great if it’s affordable, and this is why so many elderly and retired people can afford to use these recreational vehicles.

Hmmm……..so much for my review of the Toshiba Netbook – oh well, we’re allowed to have the odd disjointed post that goes in all sorts of directions.

This Toshiba Netbook is black and is 10.1 inches for screen size. It came with Windows XP (Home Edition) already installed. I was SO relieved when I noticed this, because all my software runs on the WinXP OS. I don’t own any computers that run the Vista OS, and I’ve heard good things and bad things about Vista. I’m sure that in time Vista will be the norm for me too, so I’m trying to manage all of our work online with fewer and fewer software programs and use only web based solutions. This makes it much easier when we have a computer go down, get lost, stolen, or burnt in fire. We back everything up on mulitple flash sticks for this very purpose.

We have three computers in the family business now. No desktops anymore. We have a Mac, this Toshiba Netbook, and my wife’s work laptop, which is an old Dell I picked up off Ebay for $180 bucks. The Mac has been the most solid as far as any computers we’ve owned, and the 2nd place honor goes to the 14.1 Gateway laptop, which this Netbook replaced. The Gateway just sort of died with instant blue screens of death after just a few minute of starting up. Now it won’t even start up anymore. Luckily I got most of our data off the machine before it totally calved.

So my parents look like they are rolling in to Elko here, so I’ll update on this Toshiba Netbook review a little later. We’ll talk about memory, RAM speed, and much more then. Bye for now!

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

So my wife and I are heading to Kalispel and Whitefish today. We’ll be shopping for the winter season. Clothing, coffee, shoes, supplies, toiletries, etc. The prices are dramatically cheaper in the United States compared to Canada. The irony is that most all products that are manufactured in Canada, and sold in the USA, are more expensive IN Canada. Much of this is due the taxes the Federal Government in Canada puts on some products, such as diesel, gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol – just to name a few.

When I spend 100 Canadian dollars on gasoline when I’m in Canada, I spend only $65 USD on the exact same amount of gas. Even with the currency difference as of today (1 CAD = 0.925252 USD or; 1 USD = 1.08079 CAD if you prefer) the savings is dramatic. For this example of spending $65 American dollars, it equals $70 Canadian dollars, which is $30 dollar savings. This is big money when you make a decision to drive across North America in the States instead of driving across North America in Canada. That is just for fuel – read on.

When we shop in the States for clothes, we go to Ross Dress for Less or JCPenny, Target, Kohls, or even Wal-Mart. The amount we save by shopping in the United States makes up for the cost driving down across the border and staying down there in an RV or staying in a hotel. The reality is that the amount you save on shopping easily pays for the holiday plus some.

When you buy spices, cheese, coffee, etc. the savings is even more dramatic. There is something afoot here my friends. Even Costco is a complete scam up in Canada. The so-called membership store is much more expensive for ALL items when you are in Canada. The American based giants of merchandising must LOVE the relationship with Canada. Where else can they make such a huge profit, and there is no excuse for it.

Even with the extra shipping cost to Canada, USA based companies are making a killing of the 30 million people living in Canada. Because of the lesser dollar equivalent in Canada, and the difference in pricing, it’s really a ripoff – plain and simple to be blunt about it.

So what can Canadian do to fix this situation. I have a solution. If you live in Canada, buy as little as possible in your own country. Go down across the border and buy all of your clothing and goods down in the USA. This will put pressure on the Canadian government and these large merchandisers to stop ripping people off. I’ll give you an example.

Our family buys 100% of these items in the United States every year;

• coffee
• alcohol
• toiletries
• clothing
• shoes
• recreational equipment
• electronics
• books
• spices

Actually there is more to that list, but that gives you an idea. If I lived closer to the border I would buy all of my gasoline in the States as well. If every Canadian decided they would pay for their holiday with the savings they make shopping in the US, there would have to be some changes made in the way these corporations set their prices in Canadian store.

The government of Canada would be forced to lessen (or back off) the taxes they take in on consumer goods and services, and competition would rise for the Canadian shopper/consumer.

So, my fellow Canadians, next time you are looking for a way to pay for your family holiday, drive down across the border and get all your back-to-school clothing, and school supplies in the States.

How Much Can You Take Back Across The Border in Goods

• 48 hours is $400 CND dollars exempt from duty
• 1 week is $750 CND dollars exempt from duty
• 24 hours is $50 CND dollars exempt from duty

When you add up these examptions from duty/taxes with a family of 3-4-5 people (you can buy goods for your children because they have the exemption amount too). So you have 4 people in your family and stay at a campground for week and you have total duty exemptions $3000 dollars. That buys allot of clothing and supplies for the entire year.

By the time you pay for your vehicle fuel, your clothing, and supplies, your accommodations (hotel, RV park, or campground), you are going to have a free vacation out of the deal. My wife and I more than break even on these trips with what we buy and we don’t have kids in school (all of the kids are grown up and out of the house now). We have two dogs and that’s it.

We drive a gas-guzzling RV down to the USA and stay in 30 dollar a night RV parks or campgrounds, and play golf etc. while we’re down there. We STILL save enough to call it a free holiday. You can’t count the food you eat, because you have to eat at home in Canada anyway. You are not using water and utilities back home in Canada and you are not spending money back home you would normally spend.

I’ve done the math on this, and we live very well down in the States for the week, and we break even on the deal. The difference is we are on holidays. Of course it really helps that we work from home and we can work online from the RV and an Internet connection we pick up out of thin air during our stays in the States.

For the example of a family doing all their back to school shopping in a 48 hour period and tenting in campground for $15 a night and driving a 4 cylinder economically advanced car or truck, there is one other little trick you do to save even more.

Rip off all of the price tags on the clothes and footwear you buy in the States and wear as much as possible. Get rid of the sales receipts for the clothing and call it your own. This way you can go over your exemption amounts and save even more money that way. What I’m suggesting is of course technically, and legally called smuggling, but it’s something that almost everyone does. The border agents know this and would have a difficult time proving how old the clothing is, and where you purchased it.

I know that some people crossing the border with RVs and boats often fill up their storage spaces with expensive items that put them WELL over their exemption limits. They’re taking a chance here for sure, but some Canadians do this every time they cross the border.

I no someone who used to do the crazy alcohol smuggling trick whereby they fill their potable water tank of their RV with alcohol purchased in the US and cross the border illegally. They never got caught, but I don’t drink that much alcohol, and that is way to big of a pain in the butt as far as I’m concerned. Some people will do anything just to get the rush of “pulling a fast one” on Canadian customs officials.

It also makes a big difference which border you cross. Some border crossing are bigger and have more resources for carrying out searches and random checks. Once we were crossing the border and had our car impounded for an 3 hours while they searched every inch of it. They took our vehicle and drove it into a garage, where commenced on rifling through the interior of the car. They were doing that to allot of people crossing the border that day. The particular border crossing had allot of manpower, big garages, big facilities and where capable of going these extra lengths.

So if you cross the border at a much smaller station (on both sides – Canadian customs and United States customs) you will sail right through after a few typical questions. These small little border crossing don’t have the facilities, the staff, or the resources to bog down the border traffic flow for long. Sure, they may do some brief look-about observations of your trunk and the interior of your vehicle, but that’s about it.

If you don’t want a hassle at the border, do yourself a favor and make sure the driver does all the talking and don’t turn it into a conversation. Answer all questions asked of you calmly and slowly. Look the border patrol officer square in the eye when you answer questions, and always have your paper work perfectly in order when you drive up to the window.

Have your passport(s) ready, and if you have animals, make sure their paperwork is offered to them when you pass them your human passports .
When they see that you have over-delivered on documentation, they tend to think you really have your sh*t together. DO NOT hum and ha when answering the border agent. Answer back without any hesitation and have your facts straight before you get to their window.

Don’t turn your head to your passengers with a dumb look, as if you don’t know the answer to the question(s) they’re asking. Looking unsure of yourself and squeamish is the very best way to get pulled over and searched. It’s a real pain in the ass when you get held up at the border.

Make sure that if you are fudging things a little, it’s JUST a little. Claiming ignorance will not help you even a little bit. You can, but you will still be hauled in, questioned, and charged the fines and taxes according to how bad you smuggled (or fudged) your declaration. Often I’ve been up front with the border agent and told them that we were over a bit, and they just shrugged it off and let us go – DON’T do this.

If you are over a little bit, just make the fib that you are dead on within your limits and exemptions. They like a clean and simple crossing. You may think you are being the good citizen by declaring you are over a little bit in how much you spent, but this just annoys the border agent, and they may decide to MAKE YOU PAY for it, with a search of your persons and your vehicle which will cost you money, embarrassment, and TIME.

If you decide to push things way over the limit to the point of outright high level smuggling, then you are really risking everything. You can lose your vehicle all together, do jail time, be listed a criminal, and never allowed in the United States again.

If you are smuggling guns, and/or illegal drugs, you are plain stupid and you deserve the full weight of the law coming down on your head. If you are doing that or intending on doing that, I don’t even want you on my blog.

For those normal people who just want to have a holiday and do some shopping down in the States – you will enjoy your visit. My wife and I love the Americans we come across, and I have to say they are generally more friendly (or least less uptight) than your typical Canadian. Don’t know why, and don’t know if that is is even an accurate generality, but we have felt this way when we travel down there.

Don’t be afraid of the so-called horror stories of American crime you read on the news. We feel safe and sound in the States. ALLOT safer than being downtown at midnight in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Winnipeg, or Toronto!!! I’d have to say that I feel safer traveling almost every where we’ve been – like China, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, England, etc.

So have fun shoppers and travelers.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

So now that I’ve had the Sky Caddie for awhile, I should update the site. I made a post awhile ago when I bought the Sky Caddie, so here we go.

I would have to say that it DOES work regardless of what some are saying on the Internet, however I just don’t use it. For one thing, you can only load 10 golf courses at a time, and I don’t have the time to be plugging into my computer – especially in the busy summer time.

As well, even when I have it on the course, I find it ruins my flow as I get up to the ball, because I usually don’t fuss about yardage that much. I like to play it by feel anywhere in from 200 yards in.

I’m sure some golfers who use allot of wedges would like it.

Originally published at Zazbot Discount Shopping. Please leave any comments there.

You know it’s pretty gross when it comes down to buying used hearing aids. It’s also sad to think that someone who really need to have hearing aids to function day to day, hasto buy used hearing aids.

The whole idea of sticking some used hearing aid into my ear, that someone else has done for days, months, or years, makes my stomach turn. Even if the hearing aids have been disinfected and cleaned thoroughly the thought of sticking someone elses mess into my ear is “yecchy”.

So when is it worth buying hearing aids that are “preowned”?

I would say buying used hearing aids works if they have been used very little. In other words, someone bought them and found out they didn’t work for them and they returned them after very little use. You want to make sure the aids are clean, antiseptic clean that is. They have cleaners that will work on your hearing aids, but the discoloration will still be there of course. Sort of a yellowish hue really – you know what I mean.

The other problem is that these used hearing aids may be damaged internally and there is no way of knowing this. You may spend some big money on used aids that work fine for a few months, but then they are done for good – not repairable and ready for the garbage can.

Make Sure You Buy High Quality Hearing Aids If Buy Used Ones

If you decide to buy hearing aids that are preowned then for goodness sakes, but HIGH end (high quality) aids. The higher end hearing aids last much longer internally and electronically, so you may get some that will make it worth your while.

The Most Important Thing When Buying Used Hearing Aids

The most important thing to keep in mind when buying used hearing aids is WHERE you buy them. Make sure you ask around, or do some research online to find out which merchants, sellers, companies, or stores that have a very strong reputation for not ripping people off.

I have watched some of my older family members get completely hosed when buying hearing aids. My mother-in-law has gone through 6 sets of hearing aids! She FINALLY has a good set now that she can rely on. It really burns my butt that the elderly get taken advantage of on hearing aids purchases.

Make sure you help the elderly in your family and go to the store to do some research. If any salesman tells you that they have a hearing aid brand that works perfectly – run for the hills. There is no such thing as a hearing aid that works perfectly. Maybe someday a manufacturer will make a “perfect” hearing aid, but we’re a long way from that day, in your humble narrator’s opinion.

There is a Canadian company that makes hearing aids that I’ve heard about (can’t remember the name right now) that is on the verge of manufacturing an excellent model, but they’re not there yet.

So when you are helping someone find a good used hearing aid by brand try and look at the Apex models or the Destiny Models. They make fairly high quality aids that have a reputation for lasting a long time.

Good luck and good day.