Stethoscopes can become out of date fairly quickly. With the recent advances in electronic stethoscope technology, there are always new features available. While many doctors want to have the newest and most advanced stethoscopes, many other doctors realize that older stethoscopes still work well. It is pretty common to find stethoscope dealers that sell older models at discounts in order to make room in their inventories for the newest models. For example, since electronic stethoscopes have gained in popularity, it is easy to find high-end acoustic stethoscopes for lower prices.
Medical wholesale companies supply hospitals and clinics with large quantities of stethoscopes at a discount. These sellers realize that they can make more money by selling a large number of discounted stethoscopes rather than selling fewer stethoscopes at a higher price.
Many stethoscope manufacturers sell their products directly to healthcare professionals. This allows buyers to avoid purchasing from retailers who mark up the prices to make more profit, and it lets stethoscope manufacturers build a word of mouth reputation for their products.
Discount stethoscopes are as reliable and accurate as more expensive models. There is no reason to think that discount stethoscopes are of lower quality than those purchased at full price.