Philips HearLink 9050 to hit Costco soon? With similar tech to Oticon Intent?

I can only relay my experience. I suppose it might be different at each store.

I kept my Jabra Enhance 20’s for four months and decided to return them. I called and set up an appointment to make the return. The whole process took about five minutes in the hearing aid center then another 10 minutes at the cashier (they had to go to the office for the cash). They offered to continue working with me on getting the aids to do what I expected, but when I declined they didn’t hesitate to do the refund.

I was pleasantly surprised with the no hassle return.

I had a problem returning my 9040s for 9050s:

They took so long to be released that now 7 months has elapsed.

The title of this thread should be edited to reflect that they are now available.

I wonder if I can just do an exchange. Just say I want to return the 9040’s and get the 9050’s.

Does anyone know if the 9050’s will be available in a battery (not rechargeable) version?

The problem with the exchange is that you’ll have to wait for the 9050s to be delivered. I think the better option is to pay for the new 9050s, and keep the 9040s until the 9050s arrive, get fitted, and pass basic tests that show the new ones work as specified. Then return the 9040s, probably the same day you receive the 9050s.

In all likelihood, the credit for the 9040s will get to the CC issuer before you actually have to fork over cash.

According to my audiologist at Costco, they will not be available in disposable battery form. I asked Because I might have gotten them. She also showed me where the 9050 are completely sealed unlike the 9040 you can push in a little hole and the rechargeable battery compartment comes out.
And I am still very happy with them. They are very natural sounding. Its like I’m not even using hearing aids. The 9040 were my first hearing aids. I’ve only been wearing hearing aids for 16 months. So I am new at this.

@Angel said:

According to my audiologist at Costco, they will not be available in disposable battery form.

Well that’s disappointing.

Thanks for your reply.

I use the Starkey domes on my 9040 and they fit perfectly on the 9050

Costco is now selling the Philips 9050. It has better noise reduction and determines by head movement and body movement where to aim the microphones and how wide to “listen” to speech in front, or a group around you as you move your head to listen, while when walking or running, knows to adjust to hear sounds all around. Seems to be identical to the Oticon Intent. Another new feature is when fitting they can test for “hearing in noise” using tones instead of words and program the 9050 accordingly depending on how well or badly you hear when in noisy environments. Costco may or may not have the proper audiometer that can test for that. Anyone ask their hearing center if they have that test available on their machines?

I also tried the Jabras and found them lacking. My old 8-year HA was better at the voice in noise.
I also tried Phonak L-30 and L-90 for two weeks. I returned them both. The battery was short-lived, the Bluetooth was unstable, and the company was not user-friendly.
I’m waiting to try the 9050 I have an appointment on the 11th.
As a baseline, I am using an 8-year-old Costco brand. So far, I have not found anything that surpasses them, so why waste my money?

@Don_B said:

When you say the audiologist at Costco, do you mean the Hearing Ad Specialist. I didn’t think Costco has audiologists at the stores.

At least one licensed AuD at my store. 20 years experience. Signed the Costco hearing exam paperwork using that title.

It states on the information sheet they gave me and I added in post 306 it comes as rechargeable only

Hi Angel,
I am new like you. I have 9040 and just found out that my Costco just got the 9050 in.
I hate the audiologists at my Costco. I’ve having problems with the cones fitting in my ear right.
And I keep telling him they sound tinny. He asked me what that means. I said like I am in a tin box and every voice is bouncing off the tin walls. Not echoing but hollow sounding and scratchy. Like metallic sounding. He told me I have to get use to them. NOT! I am 3 weeks away from my 6 month time.

I asked if I could try the Rextons, he said this is why we are here as we know what is best for you. But I said what you say is best for me stinks.
He said you can return your philips and get the rextons or jabras but if you don’t like those, you can’t go back to philips. That is call manufacturers abuse.
Well maybe he thought he was talking to a dumb broad but not here. I called corporate and they told me no such thing… you can buy what ever you like and return whatever you like as long as it is not abused or over the 180 days. She also told me that every location has loaners and demo pieces of each model we sell. Ask for one.
WELL, if you don’t know cause they don’t tell, how can you ask for something.
So, none of the 2 audiologists will be there all next week. I would try to go there tomorrow but I know he is not going to find time to talk to me. I do have an appt on the Friday the 13th…lol
That is exactly one week before I run out of time. So he is going to make something work on the 13th or I am going to have that warehouse manager front and center AND OR the girl I talked to at corporate on the line. I can not believe I have to go threw this just to buy something and like it.