Hearing Aid Practitioner employed at Costco…Ask Me Anything!

[Don]

Costco’s self-imposed 15-percent limit on markups obviously doesn’t apply to hearing aids. One investment bank in Denmark, where ReSound is headquartered, estimates the selling price to Costco is about $350 per unit.

The 15% limit on markup could still be in play. With a product with heavy services involved the markup may include the services. In other word, take the price of the product, plus the price of the services and supplies used/provided plus the remote control, case, filters, domes, dryer, etc., then add 15%. It would be valid to include all product costs (all costs involved in delivering the final product/service).

[Don]

One point many are missing here is that hearing aids are only PART of the rehabilitation process.

I don’t sell gadgets, I sell better hearing. That includes my expertise selecting and programming the aids to best fit the patient (just read some of the horror stories on here about incompetent programming if you don’t think that’s a valuable skill), counseling, repairs, cleaning, hand-holding, and whatever else is needed. My patients can make same day appointments Mon-Fri, and I’m available evening and weekends if needed. I’ll make house calls if someone can’t get to me.

That’s great but I get the same level of service with Costco. I think some of the pros underestimate the level of service provided at Costco.

In your list I don’t think most Costco Hearing Aid departments will be able to provide house or nursing home calls because I don’t think they have laptops. They would need equipment just for that. Everything else on the list they do, and well.

[froggy47]

@Jake
I have been reading here quite a bit before posting. You just called someone a troll? Talk about pots and kettles. Back under the bridge, Jake.

P.S. Am surprised Wikipedia isn’t using your picture: Internet troll - Wikipedia

LMAO nailed it. Will the real troll please stand up. Reminds me of that old TV show “What’s My Line”.

[KenP]

See you girls don’t even understand the difference between a troll and an asshole…

Oh Jakey, you silly goose. We all know that in your case there is no difference. Just two of you more charming attributes. The rest of just avoid scatological language and replace it with common courtesy. Most of us got over talking like you by seventh grade. We don’t giggle about it either. Start emulating us and you’ll be ready for polite company within the decade.

[Midwest28]

i’d try sam’s club or meijer if i was looking for a “big box” hearing aid. Costco would be good to avoid based on this thread alone.

Very good idea

[markb]

If consumers are willing to pay $5000.00+ to be the first to get their hands on the “latest and greatest” hearing aid technology, be honest with them at least. As long as the professional is being honest about it’s improvements, all is fair game. This vulnerable, usually senior aged market looking for help, can be easily swayed by the words “cutting edge, latest and greatest, revolutionary” etc, and professionals use this to get people in the door and to buy the latest, most expensive hearing aids. We have plateaued big time in regard to technology, and we all know it, nothing has really improved since 2010. The next big shift will be when a processor is released that can create a real-time, significant SNR boost, but as of right now… lets not act like each new “platform” that comes out is going to change your patient’s lives. That’s not responsible healthcare; that is deception. Hit your prescriptive targets between 500Hz-3000Hz (not a fan of hitting 4Khz), counsel the pt. heavily on auditory deprivation/adaptation to amplification, and then make your comfort tweaks at the follow up if necessary; its a simple model, and NOT worth a $4000 markup on a set of hearing aids. The current delivery model for hearing aids is flawed, and this is why so many clinics are scrambling to hang onto their hats, while certain ones are thriving and growing exponentially.

Can you please tell me why you don’t try to hit the target for 4khz? Won’t your clients miss out on the ‘s’, ‘f’, ‘th’ sibilants if you don’t provide enough gain?

[wibnrml]

Does Costco carry ComPilot Air II ?
And what is the difference between that and the ComPilot & ComPilot Air ?
Will be getting new Phonaks HA and BT package this weekend.
Thanks

[rasmus_braun]

Can you please tell me why you don’t try to hit the target for 4khz? Won’t your clients miss out on the ‘s’, ‘f’, ‘th’ sibilants if you don’t provide enough gain?

It’s difficult to hit targets at 4K due to feedback issues, especially if you have more than a moderate loss in that area.

[rasmus_braun]

Does Costco carry ComPilot Air II ?
And what is the difference between that and the ComPilot & ComPilot Air ?
Will be getting new Phonaks HA and BT package this weekend.
Thanks

Costco does not carry the ComPilot Air II. That device can only be used with newer Phonak hearing aids which are not yet available through Costco. The ComPilot Air II doesn’t require the use of a neckloop like the ComPilot/ComPilot II.

[pvc]

Does Costco carry ComPilot Air II ?
And what is the difference between that and the ComPilot & ComPilot Air ?
Will be getting new Phonaks HA and BT package this weekend.
Thanks

I don’t think Costco is allowed to sell accessories for Phonak products. I know they don’t sell speaker wire/receivers.

[wibnrml]

I don’t think Costco is allowed to sell accessories for Phonak products. I know they don’t sell speaker wire/receivers.

Yes they do. They offer Blutooth accessory packages bundled with the Compilot, TVLink and a choice of including the remote mic.
$300 for all three.
I am picking them up this weekend, along with my new Phonak aids.

[wibnrml]

Costco does not carry the ComPilot Air II. That device can only be used with newer Phonak hearing aids which are not yet available through Costco. The ComPilot Air II doesn’t require the use of a neckloop like the ComPilot/ComPilot II.

So is the functionality any different between the three?

I will be receiving the Compilot when I pick up my new Phonak aids this weekend.
I just wanted to make sure I was getting the latest technology Costco has to offer.
Thanks

[pvc]

Yes they do. They offer Blutooth accessory packages bundled with the Compilot, TVLink and a choice of including the remote mic.
$300 for all three.
I am picking them up this weekend, along with my new Phonak aids.

You mean accessories for your Costco version, a.k.a. Phonak Brio aids. Try buying accessories for a Phonak product that is not a Brio. For example, I know that you cannot buy speaker-wire receivers from Costco.

And, I doubt that you can buy Bluetooth accessory packages when they are not bundled or added to your Brio.

[rasmus_braun]

So is the functionality any different between the three?

I will be receiving the Compilot when I pick up my new Phonak aids this weekend.
I just wanted to make sure I was getting the latest technology Costco has to offer.
Thanks

You’re getting the latest that Costco has to offer, but not the latest that Phonak has to offer. The ComPilot Air II and ComPilot II use a new wireless chip for faster and more stable connections. The ComPilot II also has 24-hour streaming time, and both devices have new microphone attenuation features and dialing features.

[rasmus_braun]

You mean accessories for your Costco version, a.k.a. Phonak Brio aids. Try buying accessories for a Phonak product that is not a Brio. For example, I know that you cannot buy speaker-wire receivers from Costco.

And, I doubt that you can buy Bluetooth accessory packages when they are not bundled or added to your Brio.

Costco does sell accessories separately, whether you purchased your hearing aids from them or not. Receivers aren’t accessories; they’re parts.

[wibnrml]

You mean accessories for your Costco version, a.k.a. Phonak Brio aids. Try buying accessories for a Phonak product that is not a Brio. For example, I know that you cannot buy speaker-wire receivers from Costco.

And, I doubt that you can buy Bluetooth accessory packages when they are not bundled or added to your Brio.

Well I would defer to rasmus on what Costco does on their Phonak BT bundles.
But what I DO know is that they offer accessory bundles to go with Phonak aids. I never implied they offered single components.
What my original querry to Remus was to find out what the latest model of the Compilot was offered by Costco.
That one being in the bundle I would be getting this weekend.
Just doing pre delivery research.

[pvc]

Costco does sell accessories separately, whether you purchased your hearing aids from them or not. Receivers aren’t accessories; they’re parts.

Thanks rasmus. I will give that a try.

[wibnrml]

You’re getting the latest that Costco has to offer, but not the latest that Phonak has to offer. The ComPilot Air II and ComPilot II use a new wireless chip for faster and more stable connections. The ComPilot II also has 24-hour streaming time, and both devices have new microphone attenuation features and dialing features.

So do you know when the newer products will be available at Costco?

[rasmus_braun]

So do you know when the newer products will be available at Costco?

I don’t think you’ll see them before first or second quarter of 2016.

[pvc]

So do you know when the newer products will be available at Costco?

I wouldn’t hold my breath. I don’t believe it is in Phonak’s best interests (and the professional audiologists that sell their products) to make the latest technology available for discounted sales. I believe that the Phonak products that are sold at Costco will remain one generation back, or at least soon to be replaced with newer technology. That’s what I think.