Costco Hearing Aids: Who Makes Them and Are They a Good Deal?
Are you considering buying hearing aids from Costco? Or maybe you already have and are wondering about the pros and cons of buying them from Costco Wholesale. Whatever the case may be, I researched exactly how the Costco Hearing Aid Center works so you can walk in and make an informed decision. Hearing aids are very expensive and it’s important to know all the facts before you spend a cent. I hope this information helps.
What Hearing Aid Brands Does Costco Sell?
Costco offers a nice selection of top hearing aid brands.
They include the following 5 brands:
– Philips: They are the newest manufacturer of hearing aids on this list.
– Kirkland Signature: These are built by Sonova, the same company that makes Phonak, Unitron, and Hansaton hearing aids.
– Phonak: Considered to be a premium brand.
– ReSound: Danish company famous for making the “Made for iPhone” hearing aid.
– Rexton: While still good, these are considered a slightly less expensive brand.
Many of the models from these brands are sold exclusively at Costco.
It’s common knowledge that some of the models Costco sells are slightly watered down versions of themselves and have less features.
Always compare features when deciding where to buy your hearing aids.
Do your research ahead of time and figure out what features you actually want and make sure the hearing aids you buy have all those included.
To help you figure out which features are important, check out this fantastic Consumer Reports buying guide.
Are Costco Prices Competitive?
Yes.
As a matter of fact, the prices are so good at Costco that they’ve grown into the largest private seller of hearing aids in the United States.
For example, you can buy the Kirkland Signature premium hearing aids for about $1,500 per pair. This is about 50% less than a “name-brand” equivalent.
Remember when I told you that the Kirkland brand is actually made by the same company that produces the premium Phonak hearing aids? This makes the Kirkland brand an excellent value.
When it comes to the name-brand hearing aids that Costco sells, they are definitely more expensive than the Kirkland brand, but still 15%-30% less than other sellers.
What Hearing Aid Styles Does Costco Offer?
Costco offers 6 hearing aid styles for you to try.
They include the following:
– Open Fit: For mild to moderately severe hearing loss. They fit behind the ear and have a small tube that goes into the ear.
– Behind the Ear: For mild to extreme hearing loss. Worn behind the ear and attached to a custom fitted ear mold.
– Bluetooth Compatible: For mild to severe hearing loss. Similar to the open fit but allows you to connect to Bluetooth enabled devices.
– In the Ear: For mild to severe hearing loss. Custom molded and takes up most of the outer ear.
– Canal: For mild to moderate hearing loss. Custom molded to fit in the ear and takes up most of the ear canal and some of the outer ear.
– Completely in the Canal: For mild to moderate hearing loss. Fits in the inner ear canal.
Do I Need to Be a Costco Member?
You DO NOT need to be a Costco member to get a free hearing test and expert recommendations.
Just tell the card checker at the door that you’re there for your hearing test and they will let you in.
But if you decide to buy your hearing aids or batteries from Costco, you WILL need to be a member.
Do I Have to Make an Appointment?
If you’re a new customer YES, you need to call and make an appointment. (Find a Costco Near You)
Basically you’re making an appointment for a no-obligation hearing test.
Once the hearing test is complete, a specialist will go over the results with you and make any recommendations.
Be sure to fill out this Patient Intake Form before your appointment and bring it with you as it will speed up the process.
Can I Return Hearing Aids If I Don’t Like Them?
Yes.
If you don’t like your hearing aids for ANY reason, you can take advantage of Costco’s Generous Return Policy and bring them back for up to 6 months after you bring them home.
Does Each Costco Have Their Own Audiologist?
Some, but not all.
It depends on the location and some travel from Costco to Costco on certain days of the week.
They are considered “independent audiologists” and are not a Costco employee.
This means they are not bound by sales quotas and will not push a certain brand on you.
The end result is typically someone who has your best interests in mind.
But EVERY Costco employs highly trained hearing aid specialists that will help you.
What Are the Cons of Using Costco?
1. “De-Featured” Hearing Aids: As mentioned above, some hearing aids at Costco might not have the features you need the most. Always ask.
2. Crowded Warehouse: Another con is you have to visit a big crowded warehouse to buy your hearing aids and have them serviced.
The key here is to shop midweek before noon. The parking lot will have ample space and the warehouse will be very easy to maneuver in and out of.
3. Locked Hearing Aids: Some of the hearing aids that Costco sells are “LOCKED”.
This means they can only be unlocked and serviced by Costco.
So if you move to a town that doesn’t have a Costco, or you have to make a long drive, you’re kinda screwed.
What Other Hearing Aid “Perks” Does Costco Offer?
Besides competitive pricing, the Costco hearing aid center offers some other nice perks…
– Free Cleaning & Check-ups: When you’re shopping at Costco be sure to stop by the Hearing Aid Center and they’ll clean your hearing aids for free.
– Free Follow-Up Appointments: Need help adjusting your new hearing aids? No problem. You’ll get unlimited follow-up appointments for free at Costco.
– 2-Year Loss and Damage Protection: My Dad actually lost one of his hearing aids on a plane and Costco replaced it for free. There is NO deductible either which is a huge perk.
– 3-Year Warranty on Faulty Devices: This covers anything that might go wrong with the hearing aid that is not your fault.
– Deals on Hearing Aid Batteries: Be sure to buy Kirkland hearing aid batteries at Costco too since they’re cheaper than anywhere else.
Ask the Reader: Do you buy your hearing aids from Costco? If so, what has been your experience? Let me know in the comments section below, thanks.
By Kyle James
Side-note: I want to thank my Dad, who recently bought his hearing aids from Costco, for his help in putting this article together. Much appreciated!
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
the ear piece on one of my hearing aids broke off. is there any way to send it in for repair?
I took mine back to Costco and they gave me a new one immediately at the store.
A puppy got hold of one of my hearing aides (caught in my hair, dropped to the floor, shooosh…there it went). He ate the end off before we could catch him, which gave my daughter and the audiologist reason to pressure me into getting new, more expensive ones. Phillips $2716 price I paid was all they could get out of my purse so…. They’re good, but I hate having a lug a cell phone with me everywhere, and they can’t be changed without it. I liked the remote that I had with my last ones. They could hold a battery until convenient to charge them, I could change the program on the remote and the volume, too. So, technology is somewhat better, but you pay for it and you better be willing to be a kid and carry an extended handle on your palm. And when the power goes out, you’ve bit the dust for hearing.
Costco has been superb. About 12 years ago an audiologist charged $6000 for a pair of behind the ear hearing aids (top of the line). OK for 4 years. When I needed replacements I went to Costco. Examination was as thorough as prof audiologist. Aids cost $3000. They were Phonak. 4 years ago I replaced them with Kirkland aids. Top or the line, they are superb devices. I highly recommend Costco. If I had realized that my local Costco was so good, I’d have gone to get my testing and aids from them 12 years ago.
I ended up pressured to buy the the most expensive ones they carried. With both the audiologist and my daughter pushing at me (I’m 80) they won. Unfortunately, I need ones that can have a battery back up for when the power goes off (which it has been for the past several days) and the hearing aides then take 3 hours to charge up. That leaves me no recourse but to totally charge them up before I can hear again. In the ones I had previously, I could put batteries in them and wear them until evening when I would normally put them in the charger. It happened several times and worked well.
The Phillips hearing aides are good and I hear well with them, but this drawback is not something I wish to deal with again.
Also, I am not of the generations that carry a cell phone glued to my palm and these are controlled by using the phone. I liked my separate remote control that I had previously, but that may be a concession I have to make.
I will be going back to Costco as soon as I can figure out how to get there on my own. Unfortunately, my daughter is not willing to hear my wishes.
Wearing hearing aids for a lot of years. Never really was able to “hear” great until I went to a church who had the “Loop”. WOW. My ha didn’t have Bluetooth. decided to get new ones since mine were really getting old & our church installed BT assistive hearing system.
Went to Costco because of the return policy & friend’s referral. Got ones after a test which was very impressive. They are Jabra who I didn’t know with Enhance Pro. Not any better than my old ones; in fact worse in some cases. Bluetooth w/my phone doesn’t work well at all.
In a group, can’t hear anything clearly to understand conversation. One on one at home pretty good; better than old ones. In restaurant OK if one on one. In neighbor’s house with 4 others in a group, couldn’t hear much; couldn’t join conversation. At table though, good. These have been readjusted twice now. I will most likely get different ones but must have the t-coil and must have Bluetooth although experience so far hasn’t been good, but it’s the latest.
T-coil is a must and I’m hoping/praying the “loop” is offered in more places going forward BUT have to get the word out so new construction of big box stores “loop” their counters and it’s included in renovation of older places like theatres and churches, etc. AT THE LEAST, drs’ front counters should be “looped” so we can HEAR! Some say “loop” is old tech, but that is NOT true. Really frustrated with these.
Also learned not all Costco hearing aid people are audiologists. They are not at my store. My person told me BT and T-Coil were the same when I first called. She did apologize after I told her that was not so and after she did research. But she doesn’t know really anything about the coil.
I bought my hearing aids at Costco and I am totally satisfied with the product and the personnel.
I bought the top pair Costco sells. They are only amplifiers and do not address my specific sounds I cannot hear.