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My brand new hearing aids turned out to be the Costco ones I already have!

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In reply to @Benji

Sorry, I couldn’t see where Cliff said what you said he said?

His first point at 1:50 was that 75-80% of patients who go to Costco for their first pair go elsewhere for their next pair. After that, I think his points were: locked hearing aids, featured hearing aids, long wait times.

@Neville said:

His first point at 1:50 was that 75-80% of patients who go to Costco for their first pair go elsewhere for their next pair

I would like to see documentation for that supposed statistic. Who did the survey; how were the respondents selected; how many years ago was the survey taken?; etc.

Edited

In reply to @NateS

Here’s a current 2023 survey result with documentation:

Best and Worst Hearing Aid Brands and Retailers

CR’s survey tells you which prescription hearing aid brands to consider and where to buy them
By Catherine Roberts
Updated by Daphne Yao
Updated April 6, 2023
" As it has in our previous surveys, Costco’s in-house brand of hearing aids, Kirkland, landed at the top of the ratings, with an overall satisfaction score of 78 (out of 100), followed closely by the Phillips, Oticon, and Phonak brands, all at 75.

Costco Receives Top Marks for Hearing Aid Value

Costco discontinued sales of Kirkland brand hearing aids after the survey was fielded, and these aren’t available to purchase any longer. That’s unfortunate for consumers, because Costco’s Kirkland brand was the only brand to receive top marks from members for value, which we defined as satisfaction with a hearing aid’s performance vs. its cost.…
Still, our survey revealed a few good alternatives: Phillips and Rexton also received high marks for value, but all other brands got average to low scores.

Value is an important factor to consider, because it is the strongest predictor of members’ overall satisfaction with their hearing aids. That also might drive some consumers to try out over-the-counter hearing aids instead, now that they are available. …
…
Costco Also Earns Top Marks as a Hearing Aid Retailer…
Costco also stands out as a retailer, according to the 9,407 CR members who rated individual retailers. (Though the company no longer sells its in-house Kirkland brand, it still sells hearing aids from other brands.) Costco, which topped the list in overall satisfaction, is the only retailer to receive top marks for price transparency and for the selection of price plan options.

In fact, Costco is by far the most popular individual hearing aid retailer in our survey.
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/hearing-aids/best-and-worst-hearing-aid-brands-and-retailers-a1115767262/15

In reply to @NateS

My own experience: I got the Jabra Enhance Pro 10s from Costco earlier this month after having purchased my previous (and first) hearing aids through an audiologist at a private medical clinic 11 years earlier. The hearing aid specialist at Costco was not an audiologist, but she was very knowledgeable, a good communicator, and - from my novice eyes - skillful. She has given my insightful tips about how the hearing aids work – things I had not learned in my years working with the private clinic. Instead of trying to “sell” me, she actually soft-pedaled a switch to new hearing aids. telling me that with my hearing profile, I might not get the benefits I was looking for. Actually, I am very happy with the Jabras. I am hearing better in restaurants and the music setting is superior to what I had before. So when Dr. Cliff warns that your Costco experience depends on the person you deal with, he is right. And I am very happy to be working with Shana at Costco in Brandon, Fla.

I feel a little sorry for private practice audiologists. They have spent time and money getting trained, investing in their practice facility, paying their staff, etc. But I would warn anyone who needs hearing aids to go to one only if they first tried Costco or an , unless you want to be “ripped off”. I made the mistake of seeing a private practice audiologist first. He explained his policies and costs, about $6,000 for HAs, which I thought were expensive and policies abusive. Fortunately, after about more than 15 years of Costco experience that included comparing their optical quality and costs to opticians connected to ophthalmologists, I have much trust in Costco. I paid about $1,500 for quality HAs at Costco and feel very well served. I would respect private practice audiologist who looked at an admitted that they are only needed in very limited cases, then referred them to Costco. Patients should be treated like an elderly parent, not be taken advantage of.

Edited

I’ve never bought aids from Costco. Clearly they have great prices.

I’m lucky in that my local provider is just 10 minutes away. More, I’ve been dealing with them for about 25 years. I know my audis and they know me and my needs. I’m a musician and they know that’[s paramount to me. Anyway, I’m guessing that Costco audis will tend to move around more. I appreciate having my history be familiar with my audis. And of course my record is on hand. I know from experience that my current audi is really knowledgeable and competent. And in fact I moved on to him from my old audi at the same place because he met my needs better. I also have near instant service when it’s needed. all of this means I pay more up front, but nothing for most services afterwards.

should my local provider ever close I might buy from Costco. I’d hate to start over with a series of audis who don’t know me and vice versa.

Edited

Logically, that’s true. But what are the odds of in the past having bad experiences with 3 different audiologists at different offices in different years, followed by very good experiences with all random Costco Hearing Center personnel I have dealt with over the past 15 years since?

In reply to @NateS

I wish there was some good way to pick our hearing aid providers.

My Phonak Audeo Paradise P90R’s are 2 years old. They never worked well. They were never set up well. I couldn’t hear in quiet or in noise. My wife said, “he doesn’t know what he’s doing.” I watch a tv channel two cities away. They interviewed a hearing aid provider and I liked what I saw. He has set up my hearing aids using the same , and doing a quick fit. They work so much better! No ; no best practice. He used the same Phonak fit. It’s hard not to be judgemental with the audiologist who provided them.

Here where I live it’s like putting all the names in a hat and pulling one. Good luck.

The new practioner did a magnificent job. I predict it will only get better with his skill.

DaveL
Toronto

Edited
@DaveL said:

My wife said, “he doesn’t know what he’s doing.” I watch a tv channel two cities away. They interviewed a hearing aid provider and I liked what I saw. He has set up my hearing aids using the same audiogram, and doing a quick fit. They work so much better! No REM; no best practice. He used the same Phonak fit. It’s hard not to be judgemental with the audiologist who provided them.

That is great news! So glad you took action and overcame the disappointment with the original audi.
I had to laugh - What your wife said is almost word for word what mine said right after we left our umpteen appointment during the 6 years I struggled to get value out of my first Phonaks. After demonstrating to her how she should be SHOUTING to make me hear, she not only said “he doesn’t what he’s doing.” but added that, because of that, she would not accompany me to any further appointments with him. :grinning: I couldn’t blame her!

Nate, my wife didn’t attend any meetings at all.
I’ve been using ’s for 20 years. 3 sets of PHONAKS in the last 10 years.

DaveL

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