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Something or nothing?

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Edited

From a Costco customer hearing group on Facebook. I don’t know how much credence there is in this quote by a KS 9 user.

“I’ve got the KS9. I went to Costco to see what they have and they recommended I wait till November time frame cause something is about to be released. I wanted to buy the Sennheiser but now I’m waiting”

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Something new in November is certainly feasible. Should you wait? How desperate are you for new hearing aids? There’s no harm in waiting but no guarantee anything is going to happen. IF there was a replacement for the Sennheiser Sonite R, November would be 1 year after they were first released. A new model would be consistent with what I heard when Sonite R first came out. The story I heard was that they would be a trial and if there were no issues they would be replaced by a newer model. On the other hand I’ve also heard that techs have absolutely no warning when a new model is coming. If you really want new hearing aids now, November would be within the 6 month return period.

Hi @MDB I’m in no hurry for new aids, I would rather wait and see. Also it’s only a 90 day return period in the UK.

It would be exciting if the something new thing were a take off of the infineo sphere.
That would definitely get my wife new hearing aids.
Thanks for sharing.

Interesting decision for Phonak. If they go with the Sphere they’ll sell a ton of hearing aids at Costco but likely anger a lot of private audiologists that sell Phonak. Go with plain Infinio and they’ll sell less, but how much less? I’d love to see backroom conversations going into this decision.

Bringing back the KS hearing aids would be nice too. What aids would that be?

The KS9 and 10 aids were the same situation. I really don’t know how this affected Phonak sells through other businesses. Here on the forum there were still plenty of members buying Phonak during those times.

It’s very nice having top of the line aids available from Costco.

IF Costco were to bring back the Kirkland brand of hearing aids it could be any brand they carry. Since my time on the forum KS 5 and KS6 were Resound (Jabra), KS7 and KS8 were Rexton and KS9 and KS10 were Phonak. I doubt they’d bring back Kirkland because back when they did have Kirkland the Kirkland prices were notably lower than their other branded hearing aids. I don’t think there’s enough profit margin to do that now. However, that’s only a guess.

Perhaps Costco will stay a gen behind and so will get a version of Sphere when the next gen Sphere is released.

In reply to @CaptainTrips

They (Costco and Phonak) have clearly at least partially mended their ways. Costco is currently selling a Sennheiser product that is made by Sonova and uses Phonak Target software and the tech I spoke with said he was calling Phonak to get a question answered.

Edited

Also Sonova are still repairing aids up to 5 years old, and supplying receivers, domes etc. I’m sure they would love to get back in Costco.

No bet - Costco is a big old market and they’re not in it (fully).

Makes me wonder if they worry/ think about cannibalising their other mass retail markets - notably Specsavers and (in the UK) Boots? Or are they sufficiently distinct?

@CaptainTrips said:

nova will only repair up to three years.

@CaptainTrips said:

In my jurisdiction, Sonova will only repair up to three years

Here it’s free repairs within the 3 year warranty period. Between 3 and 5 years the customer pays. I paid for battery replacement on one aid £120, and new receivers/domes on both aids. I think it’s the same in the US. I don’t know a reason why Canada would be different.

Comment on hearing aids from Costco. They are so cheap compared to anything else and they were the first hearing aids I bought. It really depends on your hearing loss . I would say they are great for a mild hearing loss . I have mild to profound in the high frequencies and even tho Cotsco hearing centre tried to adapt my hearing aids, I was experiencing a lot of distortion in the sounds. Only realised that once I went for something much higher end . Also Costco hearing aids are 2 to 3 years behind in technology. Look the latest in the brand you want and compare with the technology level of the one you would get from Costco. Here in Australia they are supposed to get Starkey hearing aids in. At least that’s what I was told 9 months ago. All the very best in finding what’s best for you

In reply to @valgie

When I bought my Costco they (KS10) were equal to Phonak’s then premium model (P90). The current crop are all effectively white label versions of top tier devices. For example the Jabra Pro 30s are essentially the latest/greatest from Resound.

Granted the Sennheiser HAs, on a limited release seemingly, are one generation behind Phonak’s range but there’s likely something new in the works.

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