Hear At Home vs. Costco Hearing Centres

by Jennifer Abbott | Jun 28, 2023 | Client Resources, Hearing Aids, Industry News

If you’ve recently been questioning whether you have a form of hearing loss, chances are you’ve been conducting online research about hearing aids as well.

We understand that price may be your top consideration, potentially outweighing the importance of choosing a local hearing centre.

However, for your research to be accurate, it’s crucial to understand the pros and cons of purchasing hearing aids from a local hearing professional versus a franchise like Costco.

In this article, we have compiled all the advantages and disadvantages of buying from a big-box store. By exploring this comprehensive information, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision when the time comes to select where you get your hearing aids from.

Understanding Hearing Aids vs. Hearing Care

When seeking a solution for your hearing loss, it’s crucial to understand the difference between simply buying hearing aids and investing in comprehensive hearing care. These include:

Holistic approach:

Comprehensive hearing care involves a broader perspective that goes beyond simply providing hearing aids. It focuses on addressing your hearing health as a whole, considering factors such as lifestyle, communication goals, and overall well-being.

Professional expertise:

Seeking comprehensive hearing care involves consulting with qualified professionals, such as hearing aid practitioners, who have extensive training and expertise in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing hearing loss.

Customized solutions

A comprehensive approach ensures that your hearing care is tailored to your specific needs. It includes detailed assessments, advanced testing, personalized fitting and programming of hearing aids, and ongoing support and follow-up care.

Continuity of care:

Comprehensive hearing care involves building a long-term relationship with your hearing care provider, ensuring consistent monitoring, adjustments, and maintenance of your hearing aids as needed. This ongoing care ensures optimal performance and maximizes your overall hearing experience.

At Hear at Home, we believe in the importance of providing ongoing hearing care. Here’s how our philosophy sets us apart from retail chains like Costco.

Specialized Hearing Clinic vs. Retail Outlet

Hear at Home is dedicated entirely to hearing care, while Costco is a retail warehouse offering a variety of products across different categories. Our specialist services allow us to provide more comprehensive and focused care.

We’ve put together a comparison table to show you the key differences between Hear at Home and Costco so you have a better idea of what to expect from each:

Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations

We can bring the hearing test to you! Typically, a hearing test involves being placed in a soundproof booth and wearing high-quality headphones, which is a service we provide in our clinic. However, we now also have the capability to conduct these tests in the comfort of your own home, utilizing a quiet room.

During the test, your hearing specialist will use an audiometer to deliver a series of sounds or spoken words at different frequencies and volumes through the headphones.

You will be asked to indicate whenever you hear a sound. Based on your responses, the results will be plotted on an audiogram, which helps determine the extent of any hearing loss you may have.

By offering in-home testing, we aim to make the process more convenient and comfortable for you. You can receive a comprehensive assessment of your hearing abilities without the need to visit a clinic, ensuring a personalized and accessible experience.

Our in-depth evaluations allow us to better understand your unique hearing health situation and recommend the best action.

In contrast, Costco offers basic hearing tests focused mostly on the need for hearing aids.

Expertise: Hearing Care Professionals vs. Retail Staff

Hear at Home is staffed by a team of hearing care professionals who are experts in their field.

Our team have the knowledge and skills to answer all your queries, not just about the devices, but about any questions you might have related to hearing loss.

Educating Our Community

At Hear at Home, we take the time to explain the results of your hearing tests, discuss your options, and answer any questions. This educational component is often lacking in retail environments like Costco, where the primary goal is sales.

We provide a range of educational opportunities, including webinars and in-person talks, that delve into the complexities of hearing loss and other intriguing topics related to navigating the challenges of aging gracefully.

Our webinars offer the convenience of online participation, allowing you to join informative sessions from the comfort of your own home.

Additionally, we host in-person talks where you can engage in face-to-face discussions.

These talks explore captivating subjects related to the journey of getting older, providing valuable information and practical tips for a fulfilling and vibrant life. We cover a variety of subjects, including the intricacies of hearing loss and valuable insights on thriving as you age.

Through these educational events, we aim to empower you with knowledge, address your concerns, and offer guidance.

A Personalized Solution

We partner with leading manufacturers and provide a broad range of hearing aid choices, allowing us to recommend the best device tailored to your lifestyle, hearing level, and budget. Our aim is to provide personalized solutions that will serve you best in the long run.

In addition to assisting you in selecting the appropriate technology, our team of hearing care specialists goes the extra mile to ensure a comprehensive experience.

Custom Fitting and Adjustments

Once you have chosen your new hearing aids, our specialists will program them to specifically address your unique hearing loss requirements. Furthermore, we provide thorough training on how to properly insert and remove your hearing aids, not just for you but also for your family and caregivers.

We understand the importance of proper maintenance, so we take the time to educate you on the correct cleaning and care techniques for your hearing instruments. Additionally, we guide you through the process of changing batteries and equip you with the knowledge to troubleshoot common issues that may arise.

Our goal is to empower you with the skills and knowledge necessary to make the most of your hearing aids. By providing comprehensive education and support, we ensure that you have the tools to optimize your hearing experience and overcome any challenges that may arise along the way.

Long-Term Support and Care

Hear at Home sees all patients as part of our family. We value you beyond your initial purchase and provide ongoing care, treatment, and support to ensure the optimal functioning of your hearing aids.

Lifetime Service

We believe that achieving better hearing is a journey, not a one-time event. Therefore, we provide lifetime service and regular follow-ups, a service that’s not typically offered by retail outlets like Costco.

Value for Money

While Costco’s prices may start lower, we believe that the additional services and care we provide make Hear at Home a better value for your investment in the long run.

Warranties and Repairs

Both Hear at Home and Costco offer warranties on their products. However, Hear at Home provides loaner hearing aids while yours are being repaired, minimizing any inconvenience.

Local Ownership and Operation

By choosing Hear at Home, you’re supporting a locally owned and operated business. We’re invested in our community, and we’re always here when you need us. In contrast, Costco is a multinational corporation with stores across the country.

A Five-Star Reputation

At Hear at Home we pride ourselves on maintaining a strong reputation for delivering high-quality hearing care across Greater Vancouver. With over 100 five-star Google reviews, we’re known for our excellent service and dedication to improving the lives of our patients and their families.

Focused on Families

We understand that hearing loss impacts not just the individual, but also their family. Our approach is holistic, and we work extensively with families to find convenient visit times and provide continuous care to all members. This makes us different from larger retailers who may not offer such personalized service.

Trusted by Care Facilities Across Greater Vancouver

Our reach extends to numerous care facilities and assisted living facilities across Greater Vancouver. This extensive network of relationships underscores the trust placed in Hear at Home by hundreds of residents and carers.

Evening and Weekend Appointments Available

We understand that traditional appointment times might not work for everyone. For those helping a loved one navigate their hearing health journey, we offer evening and weekend appointments upon request.

Making the Choice That’s Right for You

We hope that this comprehensive comparison has clarified the key differences between Hear at Home and Costco.

Please contact us if you have any more questions or if you’d like to schedule a hearing assessment.

We look forward to serving you as your trusted hearing care experts.

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Jennifer Abbott

Jennifer Abbott brings over 25 years of experience in business. She has worked in multiple industries, including insurance brokerage, aviation, and health. Her career journey enabled her to acquire impeccable skills to help people find solutions in any situation. Jennifer is well travelled. She has lived and worked in Dubai for award-winning Emirates Airline. Jennifer has enjoyed working in a multicultural environment. Her offshore work empowered her to learn about various cultures from over 100 different nationalities. Upon her return home, Jennifer pursued her studies as a Hearing Aid Practitioner. While working in a hearing clinic, she became aware of some people’s challenges getting to their appointment. She realized that those people were not getting the proper hearing aid help they needed, which compromised their hearing. People’s struggles inspired her to establish the first unique 100% mobile hearing clinic in the lower mainland. As the founder of Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic, Jennifer’s mission is to improve her client’s quality of life at any age. She has in-depth experience with hearing testing fitting, recommending hearing aids and working with older populations suffering from cognitive decline and Dementia.

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The Hear at Home Promise

Our Pinky Promise to You

Your partner for life – as a locally owned and independent business, you’ll have the confidence that we’ll be here long into the future to be your hearing care partners for life. We’re not a pop-up business that will be gone tomorrow.
Access to all levels of technology – as an independent business, we will help you to find the right technology for your unique needs through our wide range of partnerships with major manufactures. Unlike many others, you’re not limited to just one manufacturer.
Honesty and integrity – our 14 year reputation has been built based on always doing the right thing. You’ll benefit from transparency, honesty and the highest levels of integrity.
Benefit from us helping thousands of local people – with thousands of delighted patients since 2009, you will benefit from partnering with the highest-rated team of hearing care experts in Greater Vancouver that have helped many others to achieve the outcomes that you’re looking for.

Categories

				Darlene Gau			

							2022 Nov 09

Both my husband and I are so pleased with the services we received [exceptional] from Hear at Home.  The quality of the hearing aids are excellent as is Jennifer's knowledge of her work. She and all her staff are caring, helpful, friendly people and this attitude came across on our first contact with them: people first-always.  And it's been consistent.  Trying to make the right choice [like hearing aids] is often not easy but Hear at Home certainly made the experience a pleasant one.  Thank you!

And a special thank you must be mentioned to Emma who was my first point of contact.  Her warm friendly demeanor in her emails made a big difference for me.

Jennifer's ability to 'hear' and to 'listen' to what is being said is a gift which is helpful to some of us oldies.  So again, thank you.  And we wish you every success in your business venture.  It's well deserved!
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 10/11/2022

				Brian Gibbard			

							In recent years I realized that I had sustained a hearing loss. A profoundly hearing impaired friend suggested I contact Jennifer Abbott at Hear at Home. Jennifer was a delight to deal with. She came to my home , tested me, and gave me a number of options. At no time did I feel she was trying to "sell" me something; rather she was giving me information and leaving decisions up to me. She was patient and and able to answer all my questions. I did purchase hearing aids from Hear at Home and they have worked as she described. Her follow up care was excellent and she was prompt and  very careful to follow covid protocols. In sum my experience with Jennifer and Hear at Home exceeded my expectations and I would refer friends to her without hesitation.
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 27/01/2022

				Doreen Smith			

							I can't say enough about Jennifer and her team.  All very easy to speak with and the response is always timely - from setting up an initial consult, hearing test, moulds for ear piece/s and if necessary, taking another mould to ensure the best fit, followup with warranty issues.  In particular, all this can be done in-home which helps with meeting the needs of those who can't get to their location.
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 02/06/2023

				Sanjay Mehta			

							I chose Jennifer after I read her reviews online. She is the most patient, caring, and knowledgeable hearing professional I’ve ever met. She fitted my 92 year old mother, after testing her at home. She made extra visits until she was satisfied that my mother was comfortable with the most appropriate hearing aids. And whenever I called her or emailed her with a problem, she responded quickly. Jennifer, thank you. You have a customer for life!
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 27/10/2019

				Cath			

							I just wanted to say that we (my sister Deb and I ) really enjoyed your and Karen's presentation and the information was very helpful. We are trying to support our Dad, who is 90 and looking after our Mom, who is 89 and struggling with dementia. We will follow through with the suggestions and share them with our Dad.

Hopefully, we'll see you both in person one day soon!

Take care and thanks,
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 20/02/2023

				Harry Haley			

							I live in Richmond and over the 4 years of using hearing aids I extremely happy with the prompt service that I have received from Hear at Home.  I email Hear at Home when I have a question or need help adjusting my hearing aids and I receive replies back the same day answering my questions.  Further, I am able to make appointments at convenient locations and times to assist me.  In addition, Hear at Home taught me how to use the many features on the hearing aids so I can better utilize them so I can enjoy my activities much more.  I will buy my next set of hearing aids from Hear at Home.
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 04/10/2017

				Heather Shaw			

							Jennifer has helped my three seniors enjoy better hearing.  She has helped us when aids were misplaced or when my mom was confused about how to use her new aids.  Jennifer is patient and carefully explains all the steps.  She and her company have been a supportive, caring part of our parents being able to continue to be part of their community!
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 26/09/2019

				Christopher Williams			

							Jennifer and Hear at Home are exceptional and I would highly recommend her to anyone contemplating hearing aids.

Jennifer is patient, knowledgeable and professional. She takes the time to understand individual needs and to tailor the product to your specific situation. The home visit was a great way to get a hearing test and to have the time to ask questions and make an informed decision. Her follow up was fantastic and she clearly knows her products and the needs of her clientele. She goes the extra mile and more!

In short, beyond just being happy with my purchase, Jennifer and Hear at Home were one of my best consumer experiences in years. I would not hesitate to recommend Jennifer and her company to anyone who feels they, or someone they know, needs hearing assistance. Thanks, Jennifer!

-Christopher Williams
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 09/05/2022

				Susan Parson			

							Jennifer and her team are absolutely fantastic!  The in-home service made everything so easy and comfortable for my father-in-law. Jennifer is so professional and knowledgeable about hearing aids and is very kind and compassionate with her clients. I would highly recommend the team at Hear at Home, you won't be disappointed.
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 31/08/2022

				Heather Zerr			

							Jennifer & Hear At Home is a top rate business with outstanding service.  I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a very professional and reliable mobile hearing service.  This business offers honest, prompt services, bills fairly and provides patient, kind in-person services employing best practises when delivering services to more vulnerable clients including  elderly   persons living in care with a range of physical and/or social/emotional and/or  cognitive challenges. Jennifer maintains very positive relations with care home staff so she is always welcome to service the clients - even during Covid!
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 27/10/2021