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Costco Way

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Edited

I learned the meaning of ‘The Costco Way’ of fitting hearing aids, and it is for Profit Motivation and Not for best practices fitting hearing aids to patients needs.

In my case, I was told that despite Philips hearsuite recommending a 100db receiver to fit and treat my left ear prescription requirements, Costco ignores Philips recomendations to save money.

So they fit me with an 85db receiver, and told me I had to accept frequency shifting of 3000-10000hz down on top on 0-3000HZ if I wanted to hear in left ear.

I ended up returning hearing aids because frequency shifting sounded horrible and I can hear above 3000hz with 100db receiver from real audiologist’s office.

So Costco Way pushes profits over customer needs!

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Edited

Are you saying their specialist told you that they Rx’d an 85dB instead of a 100dB to save the company money? Both receivers cost the same $ at retail level and the cost of the receivers is “minimal” compared to the cost of the aids (it’s about $30/receiver retail eBay, probably much less for Costco). This doesn’t make sense to me at all. is a valid strategy for fitting aids but I don’t know the details of your case.

I was given an extra pair of HP receivers for my jabra 30 … all is did was ask for them. No charge.

My experience is the exact opposite of yours

The local Costco Hearing Aid Manager and Store Manager are the source of my experience and information on the Costco Way. I am expecting a call from regional hearing center manager, where I will be dharingwith her what my local store is telling me. They are telling me they are following corporate policy. So far I been passed from Mgr, to Customer Satisfaction, to Store Mgr, and now to regional hearing aid manager.

If story changes asI am passed up, I will update.

In reply to @DrCleff

I disagree, are not a volume-item at Costco. How many HAs does a Costco sell per store per day? Average Eight? If we assume 10% margin, that’s $1280 per day-store: Breadcrumbs for a store.
Do you have a source that shows the $100dB receivers are significantly more expensive? The 100dB Oticon receiver is $25 at eBay.
New Oticon miniFit Detect C4 Intent Receiver (2-100db Right) USA Fast Shipper | eBay

Street Price has nothing to do with Costco’s Volume Buying pricing based upon what they are ordering to keep in stock. I can only go by what Costco Managers are telling me….. Rather than put a 100db receiver on my hearing aid, which per your price is $25 flea bay, the manager refunded my purchase price for $1700 worth. WHY? I can only quote what they told me. All Costco’s are not managed the exact same way. Obviously store management has some wiggle room.

Costco has 17% of hearing aid market. All the stores combined is where the Buying Power comes from. The Philips 9050 is only sold at Costco, so Demant created a brand solely for Costco.

That’s not correct, Phillips is not a Costco exclusive outside the US and the brand was not created for Costco (same applies to Rexton).

The Phillips Hearlink 50, which is identical to Costco’s 9050, is sold in Europe via some independent retailers . Below is the Phillips link for Spain. If you use a vpn , the web page will show you a list of providers in Spain

*2

Los audífonos Philips HearLink 50 miniRITE son discretos y recargables para ayudarte a entender a los sonidos que necesitas para conectarte a lo que realmente te importa en cada momento. Mediante la tecnología IA, HearLink 50 elimina el molesto ruido...

IMG_0299

Edited

I’ve read plenty of postings here about Costco that are contrary to your experience. Maybe your “specialist” was a lazy idiot with a crappy attitude and an axe to grind. Perhaps they didn’t know how to order the more powerful receiver and didn’t want to admit it.

They could easily charge the customer for a higher-powered receiver if cost of such was an issue.

Edited to add: @DrCleff - Receivers are usually pretty easy to buy online for most makes and models, and not too complicated to change. You can find “how to” videos pretty easily, and install your own high-power receiver.

Edited

Yes I specially asked and provided them with a printout from hearsuite software showing 100db fit my prescription and 85 does not. I was denied by mgr and Store Mgr.

The Dr Cliff video below is a good summary of the kind of care I received. My experience had more issues, but he explains in a very professional way that the Costco Model appears to be the biggest problem, then couple that with unique fitters at each location.

The training video that I watched that was very helpful was by Brian, who is a 20 year Costco Hearing Specialist. He is one that encourages and he also has a much deeper understanding of fitting than the Costco where I was mis-fitted.

Could you add your to your profile? Perhaps some of the pros here can chime in as to whether Costco staff were clearly incorrect or it is more nuanced. Costco can have issues but it usually stops with management.

Yes this would be a good start, personally I think the OP is on a bit of a rant more then anything at this point, all this over a receiver :thinking:

I don’t need convincing that the service at Costco will vary depending on who does the fitting. That will be the case anywhere with multiple fitters. In my case we went through multiple receivers over two brands of hearing aid. I wanted to try M&RE (sp?) receivers with my Jabras. He thought it was a bit marginal for me but was happy to try. They didn’t work. On we went from there.

Edited

The best hearing aids in the world will not help if not fit and programmed correctly to meet prescription. I am attaching images of hearsuite fitting my prescription. One image shows the 85db receiver Costco chose for both ears with domes used. Clearly from 3000hz up of my left ear prescription is left out of fitting range. Right ear with 85db receiver is within Philips recommended range. The other image shows if you change only the receiver to a 100db receiver recommended by Philips, with same dome in left ear, you are now 100% fitted in left ear.

I also provided Philips in-situ test results showing I could hear for example 4000hz at 100db, while their prescription was for 85db in left ear at 4000hz (which I could not hear test tone).

Costco also under prescribed my prescription by 10-15db in left ear when comparing to two from my Doctor’s office who sales hearing aids as well. I presented both doctors office hearing tests done over 6 month period to Costco manager, showing 10-15db variances with Costco tests. mgr dismissed at hearing can vary 15db over time and no big deal.

Receiver was only one major problem with this particular Costco. This Costco says they are following Costco Way to fit hearing aids, and not doing this on their own. I question their answers, but have not heard from Costco’s Regional HA representative and supervisor of local Costco HA manager to see if outside single store story is different.

Fitter matters

85db left

100db left

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In reply to @user490

The management at the store isn’t a trained hearing aid fitter or audiologist. So I wouldn’t expect them to overrule the hearing aid fitter.

I would advise you go to a different Costco. To see if things change.

I also don’t believe your issue has anything to do with the cost of the receiver.

I started with fitter, and elevated to Mgr who is a licensed hearing aid specialist who fits hearing aids daily, and takes over cases where dissatisfaction is expressed.

Only one Costco option in my town or nearby. Not driving 100 miles to try another Costco. I took Costco-Philips Training online.

I doubt costs is real issue, but that is what HA Mgr stated and Store Mgr backed.

Hearsuite images posted with notes shows ski slope

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