Ah now that’s a pity - I’d better get in contact with my UK branch ASAP & see if they could slip in a final KS9 order for me.
Can you do this? I mean - even if there is nothing wrong with them? Get a replacement set for free?
Pretty standard to send has back near end of wty to get “checked” out and get new ones back. Really important with rechargeables.
That’s news to me! Thanks
Fair enough. The mini charging case is pretty compact and light. Most people will carry some form of case for storage at night anyway. Many people are also carrying a spare battery pack for charging electronics such as cell phones as well. Given that the weight and bulk penalty are pretty minimal.
Jim
The Phonak mini case is a usb-c plug and works fine with a battery bank.
The combo case is larger but integrates a drying puck and an add on rechargeable battery. It also will work with a battery bank.
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I’m assuming the KS 10 will come with the mini case? If so, does anyone know if Costco will carry the combo case and how much it might be?
From the picture, it doesn’t look like either. Looks closer to the combo case but I doubt it has the ability to accept the Power Pack. These are the kind of things we’ll rely on forum members to report back.
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Wow. These look amazing. Possible upgrade for my 5 year old OPN1. My only concern is they appear to be locked as per Abram’s commentary. I’ve self programmed for the past 4 years and don’t think I could go back to square one with my RSHL and trying to teach the fitter. The Roger compatibility is also very appealing.
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I just purchased the Costco KS9 and have an appointment for followup this next week. I have worn Costco’s KS6, Resound, for years but have flung them off one too many times with mask use and the wire is now spinning on one hearing aid, and there is no longer any service available for them.
I do have some issues with the KS9 in connectivity. I try to answer the phone with my hearing aids, and it does not answer in my hearing aids, rather, chooses the iphone setting in calls. Unfortunately, the hearing aids answer, and the caller is on standby for quite a while while I’m trying to get to the phone, open the call menu, and click on the “audio” section and select hearing aids - even that doesn’t always work as it disconnects the bluetooth completely at that exact moment. They “appear” connected in the bluetooth section in the phone settings, but the app says they are not connected, and they start their connecting process. The one time everything appears to work so far is if I initiate the call. I have gone through all the disconnect, reconnect, app reinstall, etc., but nothing seems to be working. I have designated that the bluetooth device is a hearing device, etc. Okay, so the only difference I can see from my KS6 and the 9s is MFI - Made for Iphone. I have looked through every setting to see if there’s something to make the answering mode default to hearing aids, but I cannot find anything. Searching online, it appears that to make it the default mode would be to identify the hearing aids in MFI in which it doesn’t ever find the hearing aids; rather, just continues to search forever (I am guessing they are not MFI hearing aids). I have several calls made to Costco, but we keep missing each other as the bluetooth randomly disconnects for whatever reason, and I don’t hear the call at all. In addition, when I place my ear to the receiver as I cannot get connectivity to work, I can no longer hear that way. It is a very tiny sound in the far-off distance. Also, when I am able to get them to work, the person I am talking with hears background echos and crackling. Do I have to purchase a new phone as well? Does Costco sell hearing aids with MFI anymore?
I was born with a “cookie bite” loss, which involves nearly all speech sounds. I have become very astute as reading lips and word recognition based on whatever sounds, or portions thereof, I am able to hear. Unfortunately, I am very dependent on connectivity of my hearing aids to converse with people unless I can SEE what they are saying.
Does anyone have any guidance on connectivity and how to get my KS9s to connect consistently? I am sure it is my operator error, but I just cannot figure it out. Secondly, do you know if connectivity is better in the KS10?
And a little off the KS topic, I have to express to others that may understand how difficult it has been to go out and even shop with masks. I can barely make out anything people are saying as the little I do hear is distorted. I have politely informed people that I am hearing impaired, and they respond by yelling, which does nothing for me to understand. A few people, graciously, have pulled their masks down so that I could see what they are saying, but I even had a pharmacist refuse to talk with me and wrote notes and pressed them against the plastic COVID barrier with a long line of people waiting. Just yesterday, I did not know that a person I just had the “I am hearing impaired” conversation with yell from behind a shelf how many tablets I wanted. I had no idea they were even talking until a person behind me tapped and said they are asking how many? 12 or 24? Frustrating! I am not sure how to convey it better. I am assuming most are in the same boat. Sorry for venting.
Any info would be much appreciated. : ) Hoppy Easter!
Michelle
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I didn’t see where Abram’s said anything about them being locked. I can’t vouch for the KS10, but the KS9 which are similar to Marvel instead of Paradise are definitely not locked. By the way, welcome back Abarsanti! Haven’t seen you comment on here in some time.
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I don’t get it. Must be more to the story. Why is Costco doing this? Why is Phonak? Hard to believe the volume will make up for the price difference. How can any private Audi compete? Are they Roger ready?
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@Psych1: I suspect that Phonak is trying to establish a pre-emptive value proposition at such a low price point for a “real” hearing aid that when OTC devices proliferate, potential first time buyers will bypass the new, risky OTC offerings and pay a risk aversion premium for KS 10s from a known manufacturer, purchased through a value-added (think trial period, service, accessories) retail distribution channel.
Phonak is establishing a preemptive PUSH channel strategy through the excellent CostCo channel.
The many “WOW” comments visible here on the Forum exemplify the “PULL” component of the channel strategy, which CostCo knows how to exploit, in spades.
IMO, Phonak and Costco have forged a strong marketing device that will protect their significant market shares from the spate of newcomers waiting in the wings with their OTC offerings.
My $0.02/YMMV
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Costco has been doing this for years with other KS hearing aids.
Great customer service, great trial time and great warranty speak for themselves.
The next KS aid might be Rexton, Resound, etc. Who knows, it will be a top of the line aid with great service, warranty and trial time.
It is truly a hard deal to beat.
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Hi @MDB it’s good to be back . In the comments section in the new article linked below, @AbramBaileyAuD is asked if they are self-programmable, to which he replied “no.”
Costco's New KS10 Hearing Aids Have Arrived at $1,399 Per Pair
I suspect he answered as he has to.
Good to see your face again.
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I think it was answered technically correct. It is not officially user programmable. I asked a followup question and asked if they were locked to Costco. Thanks for that link. It answered another question that came up regarding rechargeable case options. One with an additional power pack is available. Again, welcome back!
From this: Costco's New KS10 Hearing Aids Have Arrived at $1,399 Per Pair it looks like a combo type case is available from Costco. Have no idea on price. Call and ask and let us know.
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I see noted here;
And here;
https://forum.hearingtracker.com/uploads/short-url/3gtk1BiPExAr56rly5UJ5TOmho3.pdf
Reference that the KS10 has a Tinnitus relief feature.
Is this a first for Costco HA’s?
No, recent ReSound and Rexton devices have the feature. It just wasn’t publicized.
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