That 3800 is a wholesale price in a location with low purchase tax plus a few % margin plus shipping. Possibly using a fulfilment centre or getting the manufacturer to pre-program the aids.
Your test is done elsewhere, your tuning is done elsewhere, your warranty becomes complicated unless you use someone local. I’m not saying it’s not a route for people who can program their own aids, but it’s a completely different supply model than going to a physical Audiologists office, getting tested, fitted and followed-up. Falling under an ongoing warranty agreement, plus ongoing aftercare.
Two observations:
1.There’s a couple of ways of doing anything; cheap and dirty or belt and braces.
2. Humans are fantastically bad at estimating risk, especially mean time between failures (MTBF) in human/electronic interface devices; even before you consider the huge potential for a non-optimal fit, rendering you unhappy with your investment.
It’s your money and your choice (everyone loves a bargain), but be prepared that if you go the direct route, you might get kickback from your local audiologist, they could refuse to see you outright or they might just retire.