Frequently Asked Questions

• Ordering
• Do you do bulk (wholesale) orders?
• Payment
• Shipping and delivery
• I live overseas. Can you send me earplugs?
• Returns and replacements 
• I have ringing in my ears. What does this mean?
• What’s wrong with conventional foam earplugs?
• What are Musicians' Earplugs?
• What are Alpine PartyPlugs and Alpine MusicSafe Pros like compared to custom-molded earplugs?
• How do I clean my earplugs?
• How can I remember to take my earplug with me?

Ordering

Orders are made online and processed immediately, so you don't have to wait long for your earplugs.

Do you do bulk (wholesale) orders?

Yes, we have good wholesale rates. Please contact us and we can arrange a solution to fit your requirements

Payment

You can pay online using credit card, or do a transfer via internet banking.

Shipping and delivery

All New Zealand orders are sent via a Tracked courier service which takes 2-3 days, and orders to other countries are sent via insured air mail, which takes 10-12 working days.

I live overseas. Can you send me earplugs?

Yes, we can ship Internationally, just use the online ordering system and we’ll send your order via our tracked international postage service.

Returns and replacements

So that we don't get our customers to swap ear-wax, we are unable to accept returns if you change your mind. We will fulfil our obligations under the consumer guarantees act if the product is faulty. If you have lost a filter or an earbud, please email us and we can sort you out with a replacement at a small cost.

I have ringing in my ears. What does this mean?

If you’ve been exposed to loud sound or music without hearing protection, then you may be developing tinnitus. You should see a hearing professional to have your hearing assessed, and use earplugs when you’re exposed to loud music to prevent further hearing damage.

What’s wrong with conventional foam earplugs?

Foam earplugs block out more of everything, especially the higher frequencies. This makes music sound dull, while also making speech muffled and hard to understand.

What are Musicians' earplugs?

Musicians’ earplugs are special earplugs which have been engineered to protect your hearing from harmful sound levels, while maintaining the clarity of music and speech. They do this by reducing the harmful higher frequencies by slightly more than the low frequencies where speech and most of the detail in music is. This allows your hearing to be protected without muffling the important details in the sound.

What are Alpine PartyPlugs and Alpine MusicSafe Pros like compared to custom-molded earplugs?

Custom-molded earplugs are great, but cost several hundred dollars. They’re molded to the exact shape of your ear canal, so are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Some custom-molded earplugs offer different filters that can be used to block more or less sound.

For a fraction of the cost, EarBuddies earplugs will give you a similar quality of sound, and are also comfortable to wear. All of our earplugs come with a great keyring case that lets you easily carry your earplugs to events.

Both types of the Alpine earplugs have discrete stems that don’t stick out of your ear. This allows you to DJ with them in or wear them under a helmet for motorcycling. The MusicSafe Pros have three interchangeable filters, which give you flexiblity around how much sound reducation you want.

How do I clean my earplugs?

The more you look after your earplugs the longer they will last. For maximum performance, before every use check whether your earplugs are clean - is there waxy build up/discolouration on the earbuds?  Is there wax blocking the filter hole?. 

How to check and clean the filter: To see if the filter hole is blocked, put the earplug up to a light and look directly through it. If you can see a dot of light through the filter, its not blocked.  If it is blocked, you need to use the tip of a pin to clear the filter. You should be able to pull the filter out of the earbud. Start from the side of the filter that has the larger hole on it (the part that goes inside the earbud) by very gently scraping around the outside of the inner hole in the filter, until the wax starts to pull out towards you. Never poke anything through the filter.

Clean: Use a solution of warm water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid and rub all the earplug surfaces with your finger tips.

Rinse: Rinse them thoroughly with clean water to make sure all detergent is removed. Leave to dry thoroughly. If the ER20s still have water in them, the hard plastic stem on the ER20s can be temporarily removed by gently pulling it while twisting. Once all the water has been removed, be sure to push them back together before use.

Store: Always store your earplugs in the keyring case provided, which helps to keep dust and other foreign matter away from your earplugs and your ears. Straight after cleaning or using your earplugs but then back into the keyring case. This also stops you from losing them!

How can I remember to take my earplugs with me?

You never know when you might require your earplugs - loud restuarants, cinemas, an impromptu night out. It's best to try and store them on your keyring then you'll have them with always. Alternatively store them in a place where you can be reminded of them when getting ready for a night out - in your make up bag, with your concert tickets, or set a reminder on your phone!.