And here comes CVS with yet another in-store service, testing out hearing and optical centers in some stores. A lot of companies have tried optical centers in-store and have had mixed results, so we’ll see how this goes. Hopefully it will do better than their “Beauty 360” experiment that closed after just a few years and a huge loss to the bottom line. The hearing aids they sell with come with free “Extracare” reminders piped in every 30 minutes to remind you that you have some coupons to spend. OK, just kidding about that part…
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health on Monday announced that it is opening Hearing Centers in seven CVS/pharmacy stores in the Dallas and Cleveland markets and will be providing optical services at CVS/pharmacy in five store locations around the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. market.
“Hearing and optical services are a great fit with the existing health offerings in our stores, including industry-leading pharmacy products and services, our MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics and a comprehensive smoking cessation program,” said Andrew Sussman, president of CVS/minuteclinic and EVP and associate chief medical officer of CVS Health. “By expanding our retail health offerings into vision and hearing services, we are providing customers a convenient, single destination on their path to better health.”
“Over the past year, we have eliminated tobacco products from all of our stores, added healthy food options, and created a stronger connection between health and beauty,” said Judy Sansone, SVP front store business and chief merchant of CVS Health. “Now, by taking these first steps into providing hearing and optical services, we continue to evolve our retail locations into a leading destination for convenient and accessible health services.”
The Hearing Centers at CVS/pharmacy, which will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays, are staffed by licensed audiologists and hearing instrument specialists who are able to assess hearing needs using computerized equipment in the centers’ soundproof booths. The centers will offer a variety of hearing aid products and custom ear plugs, as well as provide services such as free hearing screenings and free in-store hearing checks and cleanings. The Hearing Centers will also offer innovative noise simulation testing to demonstrate to patients the improvements that hearing aids can provide during different life experiences. Many insurance plans will be accepted for the hearing services available.
Experts say it takes an average of seven years for consumers to seek help from a professional for their hearing loss.The hearing services offered at CVS/pharmacy will help increase awareness and access for those with hearing needs and provide the opportunity to improve their quality of life by addressing their hearing needs sooner.
Optical service at CVS/pharmacy will be available seven days a week later this fall at select locations around the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. market. Services will include comprehensive eye exams by an optometrist three days a week for both walk-ins and appointments; prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses; access to more than 600 styles of frames and sunglasses from fashionable, popular brands for women, men and children; and free cleanings and adjustments. Many insurance plans will be accepted.
All eyeglasses will have a 90-day total-satisfaction guarantee, and can be returned for any reason during this period for a full refund. Glasses purchased for children up to age 14 will be covered by a one-year guarantee.