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What company makes the custom earpiece for Costco?

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I’m becoming skeptical that I will ever get a good fit for the Rexton Reach model I’ve been struggling with for 2 months. I included custom molded earpieces. The right one was “good enough “ on first try. I’ve been through 2 on left and the second is way off, 45% BIGGER than the right. Awful.

Do all USA Costco audiologists send these to the same maker? Is there only 1 type of material used or do I have any choice? The material I have is acrylic or similar, hard plastic that cannot conform.

I’m very frustrated and will bail out of the Rexton if no fit. Please comment

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I have had custom molds for 15 years. Never have a problem with the left one. The right one is hit or miss and has to be redone. I have had them too big and misfit before. Different audiologists use different methods. Most have me exercise my jaw while sitting. I believe they are 3D printed now by scanning the mold first. The last one said nothing so interested to see how they turn out on Oct 16 when I get them.

I think the manufacturer of the hearing aid does their own molds since the receiver that goes inside is theirs.

In reply to @R7th

I can just go from my personal experience. I've had them use both a manufacturer's molds (Phonak) and Westone's molds. Let them know your frustration and ask what options are. Just because the mold is bigger on the right does not mean it's wrong. Ear canals vary. There are different mold materials. For Costco it's the acrylic and silicone.

Silicone is softer and can form a tighter seal. Acrylic lasts longer and can be easier to insert.

FWIW I have an appointment as Costco Friday to take impressions for ear molds.

I asked about the mold material and the fitter said I have “soft ears” so she’ll order hard acrylic — and that people with “hard ears” do better with the more pliable silicone. IOW, hard ears need soft molds & soft ears need hard molds.

Had never heard this — I was hoping for silicone since I thought it would be more comfortable.

After I get my acrylic molds this Friday I will ask the audiologist about silicone. That would be more comfortable because a couple of times I have bruised the inside of the canal with the end of the acrylic and the . It takes a month or more for it to calm down after being bruised.

If the acrylic fit works out I can ask for them to be made of silicone. How much price difference? I am sure the molds are from a 3D scan so easily duplicated.

In reply to @MDB

@MDB said:

I've had them use both a manufacturer's molds (Phonak) and Westone's molds.

Westone doesn't list their available materials anymore, but I remember seeing soft silicone on their website. This is softer than regular silicone. I have soft silicone (from Microsonic in my case), which by some measures isn't age-appropriate since I'm 71. I got them after failing to achieve comfort with regular silicone.

In reply to @R7th

@R7th said:

Is there only 1 type of material used or do I have any choice?

You can choose between hard acrylic or a much softer silicone. For many years I wore hard acrylic moulds. I could never get them comfortable. Ive had bleeding ears and so many blisters from poor fitting acrylic moulds. I switched to silicone moulds about 6-8 years ago, I’ve never gone back to hard moulds.

Some mould companies offer different colors in moulds if that appeals to you ask you . Good luck.

Timely. I had a new impression made yesterday. It’s really disconcerting that my audiologist at Costco wants to argue with me about the lousy material and the lousy fabs doing the job! I finally just vented briefly and it got better. I asked this very question while we were talking. I told her that I have not been clearly informed about whether the people making the device the earpieces had an option for a softer material. I still didn’t get a straight answer so later I brought it up again and she said this time she would ask for a soft coating on the molded earpiece. So while there’s not a soft material like every IEM device on the market uses, they do have one that will conform a little bit better and that one will be shipped in a week or so.

I’m really almost at my wits end on this one issue. I told them upfront that I had worn IEM’s playing music for years. I know the difference between a good one and a bad one and that I was concerned about the fit of the earpieces. Miraculously, the right ear is pretty good though it is a hair loose. I am not complaining because it drops into place fairly easily and I don’t feel a pressure like a steel wedge in my ear like I did with the left one. It has much better response than the little silicon tips that they have available. those things are very poorly made, and the choices are limited.

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