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Post by jennifercw on Nov 10, 2017 16:02:42 GMT
I need some eyeglasses, and an updated prescription. Had such a horrible experience at Lens Crafters last time I have put this off way too long.
Is Costco generally a good place to get glasses? Good selection, value, etc.?
(Also, will they give me my pd measurement in case I decide to try ordering online?)
Thanks!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 10, 2017 16:10:50 GMT
We had good luck with Costco for glasses. We had to take DD in to get her eyes tested after the school nurse flagged her last year. We took her to our regular eye doctor because they have a pediatric specialist there. The glasses she picked from the eye doctor were $359. The equally cute glasses she got from Costco were about $100, and she wears them interchangeably. Since I hadn’t had my prescription updated in over a decade, I found a new pair I liked at Costco too and I want to say mine were about $150. They have a pretty decent selection all things considered, and you can’t beat their prices. My sister gets her glasses at Costco too.
ETA: They run specials pretty frequently where you can get $40 off on your second pair or something. They have to be the exact same Rx for the same person, purchased at the same time to get the extra discount. It’s worth waiting for if you’re not in a hurry.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Nov 10, 2017 16:16:47 GMT
I didn't get my eye exam there (I have eye issues that I needed to see a bona-fide ophthalmologist for) but I recently got two pairs of progressive lens glasses at Costco, and I was pleasantly surprised-- both at the selection of frames, and the low cost. They did mess up the prescription in one pair of glasses, but that was MY fault, not theirs-- they were really nice about explaining the whole thing, and the transition to progressive lenses, etc. I will definitely go back there.
And my understanding is that an eye doctor now HAS to give you your written prescription if you ask for it.
eta: the glasses I got at my previous eye doctor's office (including the ultra-thin plastic, polished edges, decent frames, anti-reflective lenses, etc.) were probably around $400... my Rx is strong, and I need all the extra stuff. I got TWO pairs at Costco for less than that price, and I think they're just as good a quality.
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 10, 2017 16:31:38 GMT
A few years ago, I brought DS in to get his glasses there. He was happy with the selection and they did a good job ordering them. But when they came, he had a lens that would fall out of the frame. I took them back and they had them remade. It happened again, this time with the other lens. I took them back and was frustrated. They seemed so nonchalant about it and says it happens all the time. I've been wearing glasses for 40 years and I'd never had it happen! They were willing to send them back again, but the kid really needed a pair of glasses and it had been a month already.
I used VisionWorks and they did fine. We've continued to use them, but a few years later I had the same thing happen with one of my lenses.
I know Costco sends the glasses out to a central location, so the actual process of making the glasses must be the same from location to location. I'm thinking it must just happen with the automation process. But why don't they test the glasses before they send them out!
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,872 
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Post by tracylynn on Nov 10, 2017 16:41:57 GMT
I've gotten my glasses at Costco for the last 3-4 years. The selection has been great, quality great and way more affordable than what's at a normal eye Dr.
I just got two pairs last week for $225. I have single vision, don't do transitional lenses. The frames are typically brand name - right now I have Kate Spade frames and Valentino frames. Super cute and comfortable.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,478
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on Nov 10, 2017 16:46:57 GMT
I have gone to the eye doc there for my prescription as well as gotten glasses there. Any eye doc has to give you your prescription if you ask for it, you paid for it. You can take that prescription anywhere to get glasses. I had no issues ordering glasses at Costco.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
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Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Nov 10, 2017 17:02:52 GMT
I get my prescription from the optomitrist at Costco but then I save about $400 and get my glasses from Zenni. Last pair I got was $12.95 (<---that includes shipping). I have single vision though, but I got my mom's bifocals there too and they did a perfect job with really nice frames for $60 (<---also included shipping).  |
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 22:18:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 17:05:36 GMT
If you can wait, order from Zenni.
My whole family uses Costco. They're less expensive than an eyewear place, but still pricey. I thought the selection was mediocre.
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Post by jennifercw on Nov 10, 2017 17:05:57 GMT
I know they are required to give you your prescription, but I'm not sure they are obligated to provide your PD - pupillary distance - measurement. I have heard that some will not. And I believe that this is technically done by the optician, not the optometrist.
Glad to hear the positive comments about selection and value. I do think I'll give them a try.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 22:18:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 17:44:53 GMT
The eye exam places in Costco are not run by Costco, they are independent. They have to give you your info because you still need to take it out to the counter if you want to order glasses from Costco. My current glasses, both regular and sunglasses, are from Costco. They gave me progressives the first time, even though I never asked for or ordered them, but they made them right and refunded me the difference. I did NOT much care for the staff at the optical department. I found them slow, impatient, and kind of dismissive — not my usual Costco experience. I am due for an exam as I type, and I will not be using Costco again when I order new glasses, except I *might* get the lenses changed in my sunglasses to non-prescription Drivewear. I have that in my prescription sunglasses from there, and I really love it.
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Post by peano on Nov 10, 2017 17:55:18 GMT
All our glasses come from Costco and we have no complaints.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 22:18:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 18:17:06 GMT
I know they are required to give you your prescription, but I'm not sure they are obligated to provide your PD - pupillary distance - measurement. Costco will measure it for you when you order your glasses or at least I'm pretty sure they will. They had me hold up a device and took measurements when I placed my order. |
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
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Post by peppermintpatty on Nov 10, 2017 18:24:35 GMT
I went there in February for the first time for glasses. I didn't get my exam there. I needed progressives and while I found cute frames that were very reasonably priced with my insurance, getting them to fit my face and getting the lenses correct took 4 different visits to the store.
First, they were hurting my head. So I went back. Originally, the clerks did NOTHING to fit them properly like other places have for me.
Second, the lens fell out! Took them back and they replaced the screw.
Third, the arm on the glasses became loose. Took them back again, they put the wrong screw in and figured out that one of the frames was not cut to the right size. Glasses had to go back for a week!
Fourth, they did not put the anti-glare on the lenses. They were adamant that they "always" put it on but it clearly was not. I couldn't wear them at night because the glare was so bad, I couldn't see! They went back for another week!
Despite the better price point, it wasn't worth all those trips. Also, insurance pays less at costco than other places because they are so much cheaper.
I don't believe that I will ever use them again.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Nov 10, 2017 18:36:32 GMT
I think your experience, like any place, will be totally dependent on the particular Costco you were going to.
I first went to the Costco in Southlake, TX. The optometrist office next-door to it was Dr. David Chiang. He was excellent. The Costco optical department was really good, too. All of the staff were very experienced and knowledgeable. I was very happy with all of the glasses and contacts I purchased from them for about 9 years.
We now live in another state and the experience was almost the exact opposite. The optical department at this Costco seem to hate their jobs. They are dismissive, rude and almost arrogant - very offputting. Couple that with some major mistakes that were made when I ordered my glasses (not my mistakes - theirs, including measuring mistakes that made the glasses virtually unwearable, lenses that fractured around the edges and the filament holding in the lenses on half-frame style glasses the broke in a few weeks, fitter that fitted my eye glass stems and bent them so out of shape that my glasses would not stay on) and they refused to make it right, I will never buy glasses from them again.
Eyeglasses at Costco are not cheap. I was spending at least $400 per pair. I now go to my optometrist and spend $600 -$700 – and they are worth every penny because they stand by their products. Unlike Costco, my optometrist will redo the glasses if need be until they get them right. Costco does not do that. I love Costco for just about everything else but not their optical department and eyeglasses.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 22:18:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 18:40:30 GMT
Unlike Costco, my optometrist will redo the glasses if need be until they get them right. Costco does not do that. Costco has redone glasses for me several times. One time, prescription was off and I had to get it revised at my optometrist. Brought back the revised prescription and they redid them. Another time I think the lenses weren't manufactured perfectly and I was complaining that they were giving me a headache. They checked and said it was a little "off", perhaps the PD?, and they were happy to redo them. |
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Post by papersilly on Nov 10, 2017 18:44:51 GMT
i love getting my glasses at Costco. great service and selection. lately, i've also been sending in my glasses to Replace a Lens just to have the lenses replaced in my favorite frames. Costco will do it but they charge almost double what this other company will do it for.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 10, 2017 19:13:41 GMT
When I worked as a clams processor Costco was probably the number one place glasses were bought. Generally a much better value then from the eye doctors.
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Post by jennifercw on Nov 10, 2017 19:14:30 GMT
I went there in February for the first time for glasses. I didn't get my exam there. I needed progressives and while I found cute frames that were very reasonably priced with my insurance, getting them to fit my face and getting the lenses correct took 4 different visits to the store. First, they were hurting my head. So I went back. Originally, the clerks did NOTHING to fit them properly like other places have for me. Second, the lens fell out! Took them back and they replaced the screw. Third, the arm on the glasses became loose. Took them back again, they put the wrong screw in and figured out that one of the frames was not cut to the right size. Glasses had to go back for a week! Fourth, they did not put the anti-glare on the lenses. They were adamant that they "always" put it on but it clearly was not. I couldn't wear them at night because the glare was so bad, I couldn't see! They went back for another week! Despite the better price point, it wasn't worth all those trips. Also, insurance pays less at costco than other places because they are so much cheaper. I don't believe that I will ever use them again. Sounds similar to my terrible experience at LensCrafters, where it took a total of NINE separate visits over the course of almost ELEVEN weeks to get everything right. My original prescription was wrong - which accounted for visits 3-5, on visit 6 I discovered that the frames that were set aside for me were returned to the floor and sold (incidentally, the new frames I picked out were about $10 more and they charged me the difference, even though it was their mistake, how petty is that?), also during that visit a machine broke while I was waiting for lenses to be put into the new frames - meaning returning another time (visit 7) to pick them up, on visit 8 I took them back in to be adjusted due to some peripheral blurriness and the frames were broken during the adjustment. I wrote a detailed letter about my experience to LensCrafters and CC:d the specific store I visited and heard absolutely NOTHING. Not even a "we are so sorry and will try to do better." I think your experience, like any place, will be totally dependent on the particular Costco you were going to. I first went to the Costco in Southlake, TX. The optometrist office next-door to it was Dr. David Chiang. He was excellent. The Costco optical department was really good, too. All of the staff were very experienced and knowledgeable. I was very happy with all of the glasses and contacts I purchased from them for about 9 years. We now live in another state and the experience was almost the exact opposite. The optical department at this Costco seem to hate their jobs. They are dismissive, rude and almost arrogant - very offputting. Couple that with some major mistakes that were made when I ordered my glasses (not my mistakes - theirs, including measuring mistakes that made the glasses virtually unwearable, lenses that fractured around the edges and the filament holding in the lenses on half-frame style glasses the broke in a few weeks, fitter that fitted my eye glass stems and bent them so out of shape that my glasses would not stay on) and they refused to make it right, I will never buy glasses from them again. Eyeglasses at Costco are not cheap. I was spending at least $400 per pair. I now go to my optometrist and spend $600 -$700 – and they are worth every penny because they stand by their products. Unlike Costco, my optometrist will redo the glasses if need be until they get them right. Costco does not do that. I love Costco for just about everything else but not their optical department and eyeglasses. I'm sure you are right about the customer experience varying based on location. I will say that a savings of $200-$300/pair is significant to me, especially since I will need a regular pair and some prescription sunglasses as well. So we could be talking about $800 versus $1400. Why are glasses so flipping expensive anyway? Oh, I know why - because ONE company has almost a world wide frame and retailer monopoly and the markup on lens options is huge. Opticians really need to figure out how to offer glasses closer to Zenni and Warby Parker prices. Costco will measure it for you when you order your glasses or at least I'm pretty sure they will. They had me hold up a device and took measurements when I placed my order. I'm curious if they will measure, and provide you with the measurement, if you do NOT order frames from them. (i.e. can't find frames I like and decide to try ordering online) Costco has redone glasses for me several times. One time, prescription was off and I had to get it revised at my optometrist. Brought back the revised prescription and they redid them. Another time I think the lenses weren't manufactured perfectly and I was complaining that they were giving me a headache. They checked and said it was a little "off", perhaps the PD?, and they were happy to redo them. This is good to know, thanks! |
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Post by crittsmom on Nov 10, 2017 23:53:25 GMT
I've used Costco for years, never really had any problems and I have transitional lenses. But, it is really hard to get an appointment, sometimes you have to wait 3-4 weeks. When my glasses broke, I had to go to the crazy eye doctor in the mall, and paid about $300 more. It is what it is, but I would not have any problems going to Costco if I could get a timely appointment.
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