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Phonak Replacement Deductible

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After my fitting for my new Marvels when I was paying, I was handed a sheaf of documents and was asked to sign a warranty form that contemplates a $300 per aid “deductible” for a loss or damage replacement. First time a deductible was mentioned to me.

I am told by my audi that this is a Phonak charge and is industry standard.
Costco does not have such a deductible and the Phonak literature goes to great pains to say that it is a one time courtesy replacement and not insurance where deductibles are commonplace.

The Phonak phone rep is useless saying trust your audi.

Anyone know the real deal?

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Costco may have a different deal with Phonak, than your local pro, but my guess is the “deductible” is a fee that is kept by your local pro.

It’s standard practice. All of the major hearing aid manufacturers charge a processing fee plus shipping and handling costs to obtain a replacement device under the loss and damage warranty. Your audi will pass this fee along to you.

Agree. This is, indeed, standard practice across hearing aid manufacturers. I don’t know whether Costco charges this fee or not but it has been the case for me with different hearing aid brands and audiology providers.

I asked that specific question and others when I got my ReSound from Costco in August 2018. They have no warranty / loss replacement costs of any kind, deductibles, fees, etc. I also asked about restocking if the HAs were returned during the 180 trial, and no fees. My warranty is 36 months and loss / damage is 24 months. I’m in California, USA.

I was told by the hearing store that you can actually pay to extend this replacement deductible as it only lasts for the first 2-3 years (depending on model). Do you think this is worth paying for to extend another year or two since the deductible is lower than what homeowner’s insurance would be to replace a lost or physically broken ?

A should come with a standard three year warranty, to replace any defective parts for free. It should also come with an agreement to replace lost (or stolen) HA “for a certain” fee for a three year period. That’s pretty standard. Once your warranty expires you should have to option to renew year to year for a fixed price. What I didn’t like about Widex was that they would only renew HA insurance/repair up to five years (maybe six) and then tell users go else where for repair work. In other words Widex after five/six years wanted HA users to upgrade to new hearing aids. Maybe other HA manufacturers have the same policy? Starkey used to repair all aids for a reasonable fee (after three year warranty expires) but not sure if that still holds true. Also I’ve always wondered how Starkey could repair a Widex, or Phonak, or Resound (what ever) at the same level as the original manufacturer could. Does Starkey have exact parts that Widex uses. Don’t know. But it’s always a hard decision after three years of ownership if one should extend warranty or wing it fly free.

My ReSounds had no deductible for repairs under warrany. Just a deductible if lost or i broke them like stepped on them. That was a private audi

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