Costco sells more than 10% of hearing aids in the U.S. People go to Costco for free hearing tests and affordable prices. You can read my full review of the Costco hearing process and available brands here.
Costco hearing centers are staffed with licensed hearing professionals and offer great perks like free cleanings, loss replacement, and lifetime program tune-ups.
Costco doesn't manufacture its hearing aids; instead, they work with leading manufacturers like Sonova, GN, Demant, and WS Audiology. The same big manufacturers make the most popular hearing aid brands available at local audiology clinics.
WS Audiology sells Signia hearing aids outside Costco, and Rexton hearing aids in Costco.
GN Hearing sells ReSound hearing aids outside of Costco, and Jabra hearing aids in Costco.
Demant sells Oticon hearing aids outside Costco, and Philips hearing aids in Costco.
In addition to these 3rd party brands, Costco also sells a white-labeled product under its own Kirkland Signature brand. Costco has rotated white-label manufacturing partners in recent years.
For the last few years, Costco's Kirkland Signature products have been manufactured by Sonova, which also makes Phonak hearing aids.
Kirkland Signature 10.0 was effectively the same product as a popular audiology brand called Phonak Paradise.
Over the last couple of months, the Costco and Sonova relationship seems to be changing.
First, Costco stopped selling Kirkland 10.0 hearing aids in August without much explanation.
Some thought the change might be due to quality issues, and others thought Costco was re-setting to bring in the new Phonak Lumity technology.
Now, according to new reports, all Sonova-made hearing aids are now on pause at Costco. Sonova leadership has also hinted publicly at changes in the partnership between the two companies.
Sales of Costco’s Kirkland 10.0 hearing aids and Phonak Brio hearing aids (meant for more severe loss) are currently on pause.
What does this change mean?
Simply it means that if you go to Costco for hearing aids, you will need to choose from other brands like Jabra, Philips, or Rexton. All three brands have robust technology and come with Costco's popular services.
If you are a lifetime Phonak wearer and want to stick with that brand of technology, you may need to look elsewhere.
The good news is that Costco will continue to service all existing products from Sonova or any other brand they have previously sold.
My guess is that Sonova/Phonak hearing aids will find their way back to Costco before long, maybe under a new name or a new offering.
I'll keep this guide updated as more information becomes available.
