Costco News: KS10 discontinued

Jim Costco buys hearing aids like they buy peanut butter. If you look for Kraft PB and it’s not there, JIF appears and that lasts a year. Then all of a sudden Kraft is back…

They probably sell hearing aids so that they can put a loaner in your ear, send you out on a 1/2 hour walk. During the walk you find something else to buy, or even fill a cart. Or buy a trampoline.

They sell the KS10 for a fraction of the cost of a P90R. The bad news is you don’t know how skilled the fitter is in the store you frequent. The good news is you can throw in the towel and get your money back 6 months later.

Reading comments from users who buy from Costco I’m really impressed with how well they meet our needs.

Dave
Toronto

I only bought a Costco membership to get the HAs. Now we’re regular customers.

I note Dr Cliff has a YouTube video going up today about the KS10 discontinuation as he puts it. That should be…interesting.

Interesting. He’s spoken about the KS10 several times, declaring it’s not available due to liability.
DaveL
Toronto

Costco hearing aids save on details. For example, chargers use microusb because it is cheaper than type-c. They come in one color. They ditched the Tinnitus tuning because it just adds more complexity to tuning for dealers. I have a theory, not sure. At the time there was a lack of chips, so they had to find another supplier and decided to use those chips on costco hearing aids that they did not test like Phonak/Unitron etc.

but it would not be right for them to knowingly sell defective hearing aids

Doesn’t Costco usually release their new model in the spring? My guess, and only a guess from what the Costco techs said, is this has nothing to do with the KS11 and everything to do with to many returns of the KS10. The case of the KS10 is not the same as the Phonak and shows they are not the same identical aid. I was told by the Costco tech that the KS10 were “cheapened” Phonaks. But it doesn’t matter since they are not being sold

No, like a lot of stuff said on the forum, there is no “usual” time that Costco releases hearing aids. Kirklands have been released roughly every 18 months (like 16-20) although the video from Hearing Tracker said there was 21 months between KS9 and KS10. KS9 was in August of 20 and KS10 in April of 21. People, including Costco employees tend to make up explanations that make sense to them. I have no special insight, but I’d be surprised if the KS10 returned before a KS11 model was released. There have been lots of posts on the forum about battery drain issues related to versions of iPhone and Android software.

My post from yesterday:

@ctromley said:

I’m in purgatory. A couple of weeks ago I got tested at Costco and paid up front for a pair of KS10s. then I saw this thread. I called Costco to find out where I stood and haven’t heard back yet. My appointment for pickup and fitting is just over a week away.

When I called I asked what the specific problem was, and was told it was the charger. Does anyone know if a Phonak charger that I might find on eBay would work with the KS10s?

Follow up:

Just got off the phone with Costco. The manager confirmed that the problem was with the charger, the problem was identified, my HAs have arrived, they (and the charger) have been tested and I will receive them at my scheduled fitting appointment. I asked if they were giving up on KS10s going forward or plan to continue when the supply of corrected units is established, and the reply was that that hasn’t been shared with their HA departments yet.

So I’m covered, but the HA community is still in the dark on whether KS10s will ever come back. And since this was a surprise for Costco, it may be some time before a KS11 is selected, defined, produced and made available for sale.

Hmmm, interesting your comment that “…and shows they are not the same identical aid.” I said that a few months ago, but was quickly “put in my place” and told they are the same! Comments on this would sure be interesting!

They aren’t the same externally or logically, since they won’t work with the MyPhonak app. How much different the internals are is a matter for speculation. The curves of the amplification are identical, and the features have a one-for-one match-up except for the tinnitus. And the tinnitus is actually “in there” (like the spaghetti sauce) as well. Could they use the same internal modules programmed with a different ID to act differently? And then the external case causes the issue with the charger? Again, room for speculation. Are they actually fine, but not well supported by the Costco center staffs due to prejudice? Or some similar reason? All matter for speculation.

Sounds like a murder mystery. Who killed KS-10? And what were the motives?

WH

They are the same chip/chassis and work exactly the same, use the same accessories and target software/firmware, they are P90 in all but name and as @WhiteHat has stated they also have a different housing/mic’s so are not identical, and this is why people “think” they are not a Phonak P90, could you imagine the massive cost to both Phonak and Costco if they were to develop their own separate/special HA just so Costco can sell at less then $1500! The different housing cost wise is peanuts compared to designing your own chip/processor for your own HAs.
KS9 = Marvel

Yes that’s what I meant, the configuration is different but I’m sure they are the same spec microphone, wouldn’t make sense to for them to be different.

My conspiracy theory is that costco is pulling KS10 3 months ahead of release of KS11 to avoid people returning the KS10 and exchanging for KS11. I don’t really buy their explanation of charger problem: I’ve taken the charger apart and there are maybe 10 components in there. Almost a direct connection from USB power wires to the little contacts that are touching the hearing aids.

Yeah, I’m suspicious as well on the reason’s for this, but we’ll find out soon enough, they’ll need to make a decision pretty quickly I’d think.

I was hoping since it’s been seveal months sine I last visited the forum that there would be news of new hearing aids. I still have a little over a year left till I will be eligible for a new HA with my Resound Quattro’s. The Resound pairs with my sound processor for my cochlear implant. However, I’ve been happier with my KS9’s that I use as a back up aid and interchangeably with my Resound. I’ve alway heard better with Phonak aids from before I even lost the hearing in my better ear. I was especially hoping to read that the KS 11’s would be coming out.

I have made an appointment in a couple of weeks with my Costco HA specialist who is still working there and I’ve been happy with. To compare, I’ve seen my audi more for issues with my Resound than to Costco for my KS 9 HA. My audi listened to my KS 9 a few months back and thought they were too quiet. That is until the new Phonak app came out. However, I think it might be time for a re-fitting. Both the Resound and KS 9 HA’s are powered by battery. I don’t think I’d want rechargeable HA’s if I can avoid it. So I guess for now and since the Costco website doesn’t give any news, I guess I’ll be sticking with my KS 9 HA a bit longer.