****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've used hearing aids for about 5 years. I'm 69. Every single package of hearing aids I've ever purchased uses the exact same system to get the batteries. They come in a circular plastic "lazy susan" and you turn it until the battery you need is over an opening. The battery falls out. Voila! Simple. Easy.Until now...Some genius decided that they needed to child-proof the package. Now, before I even explain how it works, can we pause here? According to statistics, the vast majority - and by that I mean almost everybody - of people who use hearing aids are 65+ with the biggest percentage over 75. So, of course it makes sense to child proof these packages to help prevent their 40-60 year old offspring from getting into the batteries. I mean, really? C'mon. I can see if it's medicine or something that 30-somethings with small kids might have around the house, but at this age group, it's - hmmm, how shall I say it? - stupid.So, we'll mark that down to good intentions and a lack of thought. But, what makes it worse is the way you have to open it.First, you have to be able to read the two-point font on the back. Reminder, those of us in this age group, can't see well so I had to find the right lighting and a magnifying glass just to see how to open the package when I needed it. Unfortunately, I was in my car in a parking lot and don't usually bring my Sherlock Holmes detective kit with me.Then, if you can decipher that, the instructions involve - and I'm not kidding - ripping off a small part of the bottom of the back and rotating the wheel until it is exposed over the edge of the card and getting a scissors to cut the edge of the wheel off, while moving the battery to the center of the wheel so the scissors can even cut it. Then, you lift one of the two plastic layers and - supposedly - the battery falls out. I say supposedly because, well, it doesn't. Instead I had to use my teeth to pull apart the plastic, rip the whole contraption from the cardboard and use a needle-nose pliers to separate the layers to get the battery. Mind, you, this is for one battery. This process must be repeated for each one. I'm so freakin' pleased I bought a ten-pack. It'll keep me occupied like a squeaky toy keeps my dog busy for years.I like to put a package of batteries in my car, in my backpack, by the nightstand, and in various places i frequent so if I'm ever out and about, I don't need to worry if i need a battery. Now, I have to carry a scissors because - well, you know - a four year old might sneak into my house on a clandestine mission to eat the batteries. The system is useless, and a pain in the - um, ear.Now, Scott, you say. It can't be that hard. Who would ever design something like that? Well, apparently they knew it would be difficult because there's a - really tiny - QR code on the back that you - again, supposedly - can scan to see a video to walk you through getting your batteries. However, the QR code is so small the print is so unclear that my iPhone 13 can't even read it. i spent several minutes trying to get it to recognize the code and it never did. Who knows? Maybe the video explains it perfectly. Alas, I'll never know.I won't buy them again. Really. It's like assembling a bookcase from Ikea but without the instruction manual. What a joke!
