You’re moving from your original question about wait times.
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Regarding wait times if one has a problem. IF something stops working, just stop by the store. If it’s a receiver they’ll replace it. If it’s something they can’t fix, they’ll send it to manufacturer with 1-2 week wait time. If one needs a hearing aid adjustment, I’ve always been able to get appointment within a couple of weeks–usually within a week. I think wait times for initial appointment vary depending on store. I didn’t have much of a wait (few days)
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My experience with Costco was less than 2 weeks to get the initial appointment then to be fit with the new aids was another appointment that took less than 2 weeks.
This Costco allows the aids to be dropped off anytime you visit for cleaning or simple repairs.
This Costco also has 1 audiologist and 1 or 2 HIS at the store regularly. The experience level is 10+ years for each of the HIS fitters. They both are highly rated in my opinion. These fitters regarded the audiologist there as a very experienced audiologist that they could always depend on for answers.
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I suspect experience level varies a lot from store to store. Our stores have quite a bit of turnover.
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In my case at Costco I was able to get in the next day, and fitted 3 days later with Jabra Enhance Pro 20s. Hard to beat that.
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It’s been 2 1/2 years since I got my KS10’s. If I remember correctly, it was about 2 weeks.
Costco has been very good about fixing problems. A couple months ago I was having trouble charging. My local (Prescott, AZ) store updated the firmware. Since then I had trouble only once (possibly from not getting good contact) but otherwise, the charging has worked perfectly since Sep. 21. (Described at Costco apparently fixed my KS10 charge problem).
— Fred
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Got in the next day. Impression taken and moved forward with the purchase. Now 2 week wait to get the 9040’s. My current Audi for the Reals is roughly 2 weeks. She’s busy, Costco’s busy. It is what it is.
If your need is a small one (short appt or minor tech thing) I find that simply showing up at the opening time, or before, is a good bet. Usually one of the techs will find a moment to help you or tell you when to come back. They can often fit you in.
Two weeks for a hearing test; a few days if I’m having trouble. It took 2 weeks to get M&RIE receivers and molds, 10-14 days for new aids time ('10, '15, '20, '23).
I’m in Illinois. Once I got 2 new receivers out of warranty from the Dedham, MA store, and a few months ago I got new wax guards and domes from another store outside of Springfield, MA just by showing up.
One of the reasons I went with my nearby private audi office (three people on staff, plus counter person who does cleanings and appts.) was that my local Costco quoted longish waits for an appt., even for cleanings. when wax clogs my aids, even a high end model becomes useless. At my local audi, I can literally walk in the door and get a cleaning. However, now that I have a Jodi vac, this service isn’t necessary!
The Costco tech I encountered was…less than enthusiastic, or looking to problem solve, or help for that matter. BUT: this is a 'two time" experience at one Costco many years ago… As others have said, quality of service may/will vary from store to store, and month to month as people move in and out. Many here have had good experience with Costco.
My right ear in particular is difficult for a number of reasons. Both ears have been reconstructed heavily through multiple surgeries. General Practitioners don’t know what they’re seeing when they look in my ears. My right ear has profound loss. I need a power receiver and custom domes. I’m not sure if the techs at my local Costco can handle that. Maybe! But again, after trialing two aids at Costco, I ended up at my local provider and have stayed. Part of it has to do with familiarity–they know me and my hearing issues. Costco has a bit higher turnover. For many, this may not matter.
For what it’s worth, in Perth Western Australia I could get in tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… A little issue with ID to sort out first.
When I initially called my very busy local Costco in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (huge parking lot always full), I was told the first opening was 6 weeks away. However, being keen to get in, I asked if they could put me on a call list if any cancellations occurred. Just a couple days later, I got the appointment moved up 2 weeks. Then , a few more days later, it was moved upt by another 2 weeks, making the wait time from my initial inquiry become just 2 weeks.
I had that appointment yesterday, was very favourably impressed (especially about a workers compensation potential claim the audi made about my hearing loss), and about the fact that I was able to order a Jabra Enhanced Pro 20 (the newest model just out) and will be able to pick it up, programmed to my needs, 13 days from yesterday.
I posted a detailed description of the entire appointment experience on this forum last evening.
Jim G
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The key here is to be flexible with the scheduling.
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Southern California: 4-5 weeks till initial appointment, device fitting after another 3-4 weeks.
Here in TX, I called and got a next day appt, was fitted 3 days later. Jabra Enhance Pro 20.
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Are wait times even important? For the initial hearing test and fitting, I would say no. Most people getting hearing aids procrastinate for months, if not years.
For people who have hearing aids who need new replacements quickly, due to loss or catastrophic failure, it could be a factor.
But as others have noted, Costco provides excellent post-sales service with no appointment necessary.
And as noted by many, wait times vary wildly, sometimes even at the same location, so an anecdotal survey like this is not going to yield any useful results.
Listing other “cons” of Costco gives this query a bad smell. Are we going to make a list of the “cons” of using a private practice?
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To get a repair or cleaning from Costco in the Chicago western suburbs is less than a week. I have a KS9 and I suspect either my receiver or receiver wire is starting to act up. It quit, threw it in the dehumidifier, waited a couple more days and it worked, but a couple hours later, the static came back. Inhave an appointment to have it looked at on Saturday.
I set up another appointment to get a hearing test and see if there is another new back-up to my primary hearing aid that I like. That appointment was det three eeeks out. So to get a heariing test and try out their hearing aid is 2-3 weeks.
My wait at Costco for my hearing test was 5 days and then a week before my Philips 9040s were fitted. My Costco Hearing Center is in Royal Palm Beach, FL. I have never waited more than a week for an appointment.
Im going to push back on this being a negative. Since costco techs aren’t medical, referring out for conductive, asymmetry, or poor word rec is the correct thing to do for the patient.
Many non costco clinics won’t even run testing to state requirements, let alone refer out when they should, because that would affect their fat commission.
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I’m going to push back on this as a negative. In my experience, most doctors and practitioners are decent people who aren’t primarily looking to gouge people. Most doctors and practitioners do the right thing. Let’s not paint with a broad brush, and needlessly add to the rampant cynicism all about.