Actually, there's a pretty strong market for used aids. Just check eBay. You just don't see many, because their shelf lives are so short. Kinda like buying a used toaster, you're not going to take a big gamble. The HA industry discourages resales, why wouldn't they? Standard mark-up on new is from 100 to 300%! Further, most people think every case is vastly different, requiring just the right aid, when the reality is there are really only 4 or 5 different 'strengths' of aid, the rest is all just individual fine tuning. (plus all the bells and whistles that have developed in past years) But not everyone can afford new aids, and there are many who can't afford any....charitable groups will do a re-build and provide what they can. Every audi I've known would 'save' good aids to sell to clients who couldn't afford new... Like me
. The US is the only country that turned hearing aids into precious commodity...it's a freakin transistor radio! LOL. A smart phone is way more complex... And free with a 2 year plan