There is a Costco store not far from our office in Sarasota. Because they offer their hearing aids at a lower price, prospective clients often ask why they should come to us instead of going to Costco.
The short answer: We don’t just sell hearing aids, we provide hearing healthcare.
When it comes to explaining what we mean by “hearing healthcare” takes a little bit more time to explain. The difference is easier to see if you compare what you can expect from Costco and what to expect from Gulf Gate Hearing Aid Center.
What You Can Expect from Costco
Costco hearing aids come at a lower price. However, is price the only thing to consider when you are looking for something that has the potential to help reconnect you with the world around you and have a significant impact on your overall health?
Good Things About Costco
In addition to offering their hearing aids at a more competitive price, Costco does several things the right way, like:
- You can expect to have a your hearing tested before you are sold a pair of hearing aids. This is a positive because it means they are making an effort to ensure that you really need hearing aids and they gather the necessary data to program your hearing aids to meet your needs.
- You can expect to have access to prescription-level hearing aids. Costco despenses Kirkland hearing aids, manufactured by Sivantos which is a top-name company within WS Audiology Group (includes Oticon, Widex and others).
- Kirkland hearing aids come with a 2 year loss/damage warranty and a 3 year repair warranty.
- Costco has a decent rating with Consumer Affairs
Where Costco Comes Up Short
While Kirkland hearing aids are prescription-level, they typically lack the programming flexibility and features of many of the other available hearing aid brands and styles. In addition, Costco programs their hearing aids to a general scale for those in a particular hearing loss category rather than fully personalizing them to match all of your specific needs and preferences.
Costco is an international retail chain. The primary focus of a retail outlet is dollars and cents. When it comes to personalized service for your hearing healthcare, you are going to discover that you are treated more like a customer at Costco than a real person.
What to Expect from Gulf Gate Hearing Aid Center
The hearing aid at Gulf Gate Hearing Aid Center is nothing more than a tool used in the process of providing hearing healthcare.
That means that our focus is on you and partnering with you to meet your hearing healthcare needs. Here is a short list of some of what you can expect from us:
- Comprehensive hearing assessments that pinpoint the precise areas where you are having challenges with your hearing
- A broad selection of cutting-edge prescription hearing aid technology in various styles from several brandname manufacturers like: Starkey, Phonak, ReSound, Signia, Oticon, and Widex.
- Hearing aid fittings that are personalized to meet your specific hearing needs as well as your lifestyle and personal preferences.
- Ongoing programming adjustments for your hearing aids along with counseling, support, education and troubleshooting advice. We use Audio Reality™ which involves a large flat screen TV and a 5.1 surround sound system to simulate real-life difficult listening environments to make adjustments
- Regular maintenance and repair services along with software programming and troubleshooting assistance.
- Annual hearing screenings to evaluate the effectiveness of your hearing aids.
Value-Added Services
If all we offered was the same basic services as Costco, there is no comparison between us and them when it comes to a comparison in value. However, we don’t stop with offering client-centered hearing aids, we also provide additional services as part of our comprehensive approach to hearing healthcare, including:
- Earwax removal
- Tinnitus testing and treatment
- Hearing protection
- Insurance filing
- Mobile hearing service
- Hearing aid adoptions programs
- Treatment plans.
In short, we provide you with everything you need to not only make the best decision for your hearing health but to receive ongoing support for as long as you need it as well.
Our locally owned and operated hearing centers in Bradenton and Sarasota offer complete end-to-end service with the goal of supporting you in every way possible along your journey to better hearing.
Gulf Gate vs Costco Quick Comparison
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you pay for something of less value, you can expect less value in return. To provide a visual illustration of our point, check out this side-by-side comparison table to see how Gulf Gate Hearing Aid Center offers more:
While we’re not open evenings and weekends, we can make house calls if you have mobility or security issues that prevent you from leaving home. We can also repair most major hearing aid brands.
We fit our hearing care and hearing aids to you rather than fitting you to a hearing aid. We offer a complete hearing healthcare solution you can count on and our clients are pleased with what we deliver. Gulf Gate Hearing Center has been rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by over 100 people on Google Reviews.
Gulf Gate Hearing Aid Center Is All About Exceeding Your Expectations
Most people assume that hearing aids are the solution to hearing loss challenges. Though they are an important tool used in the process of achieving your better hearing goals, they are not and will never be our primary focus in providing hearing healthcare to you.
You might save a few bucks buying a hearing aid at Costco, but in the long run, you’ll discover that you’re not meeting your ultimate better hearing goals and you’re lacking the support necessary to reach them.
If you would like to experience the difference for yourself, contact us to schedule a consultation using this link or call us in Bradenton at (941) 795-2811 or in Sarasota at (941) 922-5894.
