(Why) is Costco perceived as second rate? Cultural context?

I don’t think the post was really about the aids, but more about the person doing the fitting. I would tend to agree that an average Costco fitter might not be adequate to fit a more complicated loss. However I think the same goes for an average audiologist in the community.

Yes. if I were to extrapolate from my sample size of two (which is one more than some of the sample sizes presented in this topic), I’d say that all ‘private’ audiologists are rubbish. I know that’s not true.

I’m always struck when these cost-of-hearing-aids topics come up how many people don’t actually think there’s a problem. “I choose to pay the extra to get good service”. As has been already mentioned, for many the extra is the difference between affording hearing aids and not. And in a broader view, it amazes me that society in general doesn’t seem to think it’s a major problem. I don’t recall it ever being a part of any party’s election platform in my country.

I can’t believe I’m cheering for the multinational, but a lot ot people are being helped who otherwise wouldn’t be. So… go Costco.

You know there’s a data problem as soon as a poster says ‘they’ (as if all the x y or z are the same).

Hardware is only one part of the equation; the expertise and the customer service pieces are missing. They just don’t don’t have the education and training to deal with non-standard loss.

That has been my experience with them. I wasted a good deal of time trying to get fitted at Costco. I mentioned in an earlier post, that it ended with an unpleasant interaction with the fitter which eventually led to an apology from the corporate office, but by then I was done.

Nothing tech wise stops you.

The KS10 can be programmed by anyone familiar with Target. The question is whether they are willing to offer just the service without the aids. That’s an individual business choice.

I have an outfit near me that offers aids with service as a one price package and a price list for programming etc for ‘aids purchased elsewhere’.

Who cares what other people think. Do what you think is best for you

While i was trialing Costco Jabra’s, I contacted a local audi that said he would program them. He wanted $380 for the initial fitting with REM along with 2 follow up adjustments within a year, i passed. I ended up returning my Jabra’s because I found equivalent Resound One’s for half the cost (patient passed away right after buying them) and wasnt happy with Costco fitting/adjustments. I self program so i dont need fittings or adjustments but did need custom molds, which he did for $100 each and the only adjustments he made in SmartFit was to change dome type. So there are audi’s willing to program Costco or used aids, but it did take calling about half a dozen places until I found one that would

@ggreenone said:

The K10 does not have the same programming.

Has all the same features just some of the names are different BUT they do the SAME thing!

For example. In Phonak Paradise there is a program called Speech in 360 but in KS10, it’s called Speech Direct but it’s literally the SAME thing, works the same way, performs the same way, uses the same microphones etc.

@ggreenone said:

Also, you cannot get all the Phonak Paradise accessories for the K10.

Yes you can! Literally the Phonak TV Connector will work and also the Phonak Partner Mic.

I have Resound One aids and had the Costco Jabra’s, they are exactly the same. I used the Resound TV Streamer, Phone Clip, and Mini Mic on my Jabra’s. Then when I returned the Jabra’s I am now using them with my Resound’s. I purchased all of the accessories on ebay, they all work(ed) perfect with either aids
And I found a local audi that will program any aid, regardless where purchased for $380. He will preform REM at initial appointment and allow 2 follow up appointments for that $380. I had him make me custom molds as I self program now.

What they mean is that the receiver for Roger is within the hearing aid software but requires a licence to enable it (ie not a shoe added like the older aids).

The ‘in’ versions of the Roger kit have these licences inside and the process to transfer them to the aids is an easy DIY.

If you return an enabled aid for service the replacement comes back enabled too.

The Costco Visa extended warranty is actually a reimbursement for repairs that is handled by Visa company (not Costco hearing aid centers) If something goes wrong with Costco hearing aids after the 3 year warranty is expired, you can take them to Costco hearing aid center and have them sent to manufacturer. When you send in the aids, the manufacturer refurbishes the aids and gives them an extended warranty for a year. The manufacturer requires Costco to charge you $135 per hearing aid for the repair/refurbishment. You pay Costco when you pick up the repairs. Then it’s up to you to contact the Visa company and get reimbursement for yourself, providing the info they need. I also believe that when you make your original purchase of the hearing aids, you have to register the purchase with Visa, in order to make claims later. Finally, I think I heard that Visa will be ending these extended warranties on purchases this fall.

I’d agree with most of what you’ve said and I’ve given more detailed answers in other posts. I was taking a shortcut in this answer. What I disagree with is the need to register the product when purchased. There was no need for that the one time I have used the credit card’s extended warranty.
I have had no notice that the extended warranty benefit is going to be cancelled this Fall. What information do you have?

My first HA’s were Phonak Audio from local audiologist that particpated in the company insurance plan. I paid $500 out of pocket for the pair and was very happy. They worked well for me for years with only one “tune-up” until recently.

The audiologist used to work solo, have two modest offices and was very accomodating. Suddenly, there are 4 expensive offices with several staff in each, difficult to get appointments, and every single time i walk in its another $100 out of pocket. Worse, the “new audi” cant get the tweaking right and claims I have to get used to it and let my brain adapt. After $400 out of pocket and no improvement, they claim my HAs are “out of date” and I need new ones to the tune af $2k to $4k.
Current medicare plus hmo only covers $700.

That convinced me I need to go self-fitting and/self programming.

I dumped the audi.

Out of desparation I snagged a pair of cheap WalMart amplifiers for about $40 and suddenly I can understand my wife again! These amplifiers have a cutout of around 6khz, which actually eliminates my current problem of too much noise. Opening a paper grocery sack was actually painful with the “retuned” Phonaks.

Bear in mind I have the simplest ski slope mild to moderate loss plus tinitus.

Next, based on reviews from this forum, I paid full retail for a set of Wear and Hear around the neck HA earbud headphone things.

The Wear and Hear are exceptional, especially the self-programming/ modification features. While it is a bit complex it offers the kind of self fitting flexibility and customized fine tuning I actually need. Much better than the cheap Wally world amplifiers, but the noise cancellation is a bit agressinve. More tuning needed there. Great for TV and wife words.

Last, I snagged a pair of refurb BeHear earbuds from ebay for $75 and those are almost exactly what I need. The self fitting is dirt simple, fine tuning is not detailed but they are simple, and with the music streaming feature via the smart phone I can actually enjoy classical music again, soemthng I thought was gone forever. All I need now is literally a few dB more amplification.

I am using these things to “get by” until I can visit my Costco and use the trial period, Since the base Costco HAs are the same cost or cheaper than using the fake insurance I have.

So, I myself do not consider Costco 2nd rate… they were my “second choice only due to the “previously excellent” insurance coverage.

This is my experience, your milage will vary.