topic Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids in Wellness

Costco glasses & hearing aids

SeasonedCitizen — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:31:17 GMT

What experiences has anyone had with these services? I'm considering the hearing aids in particular but need to wait until we get a Costco store in our town this fall, so have nothing to compare service, quality and price with.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

VaBelle35 — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:39:00 GMT

I just had glasses made for the first time last week and I'm please with the whole process. I didn't wait for a coupon though. I forgot that they sometimes run coupons for glasses.

I read a lot of good things about Costco glasses in various places, so I decided to try it. I was surprised and happy with the wide range of frame choices and price ranges. I have single vision lenses, so nothing special. Costco's standard lenses have scratch guard and anti glare, they are not add ons.

I have VSP insurance. So I had one pair made in network and one pair made at Costco and the price ended up being about the same (after insurance discounts, in network, my glasses came to $129. At costco, no insurance, it came to $119).

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

VaBelle35 — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:40:26 GMT

The thing people kept saying to me was, Costco is good about making it right, so if there's an issue with your glasses, they will make it right.

And I know Costco is good about these things, so I felt it was not a risk to try it. I'm glad I did.

I will be dropping my VSP and just using Costco going forward. No reason to pay a monthly premium if the cost ends up the same in the end.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

CinNC — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:52:11 GMT

I've had several pairs made there. One bad experience where the Costco optometrist entered my prescription incorrectly and it wasn't noticed until I got my next pair of glasses - she also did not adjust my glasses properly when I got them, and I ended up at the other store (there are two here in Charlotte) asking them to adjust them.

One Costco store also has a much more extensive selection of eyeglasses than the other. None of them worked for me this time around as I have tri-focals now and the lenses were too narrow - they also had very few frames with the spring loaded hinges - these are a must for me as I take my glasses off/on frequently. I ended up at LensCrafters - very expensive, but more pleased with the eyeglasses and the fit.

If you don't have a complex prescription, Costco is the place to go.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

HonnyBrown — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 01:46:05 GMT

VaBelle, my company doesn't offer VSP. We are reimbursed for anything eyes up to a certain dollar amount.

Costco eye doctors don't accept insurance. I normally go to My Eye Dr. for convenience and they are horrible. The eye doctor at Costco was thorough and there was no wait. The total for contacts and glasses exams as well as DMV exam and the follow up was less than $100.

I went elsewhere for the contacts and glasses.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 01:48:42 GMT

I use them and my daughter does. I LIKE THEM.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

tansy — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 01:48:59 GMT

Costco has excellent guarantees on hearing aids. My husband immediately got one wet in the shower and lost one. Both were replaced promptly. Definitely worth checking out.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:14:15 GMT

Our family has been getting our eye exams done at Costco and getting our eyeglasses made there for several years.

I have been wearing hearing aids for several years, but never had a hearing test or gotten hearing aids through Costco. I see an audiologist in private practice who has access to the most current technology. I could be wrong, but I think Costco has a certain selection of hearing aids to choose from, and that's it. An audiologist in private practice has access to many more companies, styles, features, etc., IMO I do get my hearing aid batteries at Costco, though. They're a great value.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

OnlyShopsOnline — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:21:21 GMT

My daughter got a really cute pair of glasses there. The last time I needed glasses, I couldn't find anything that I liked. I think the quality and prices are excellent, though.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

Hoovermom — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:11:37 GMT

On 7/30/2014 HonnyBrown said:
VaBelle, my company doesn't offer VSP. We are reimbursed for anything eyes up to a certain dollar amount.

Costco eye doctors don't accept insurance. I normally go to My Eye Dr. for convenience and they are horrible. The eye doctor at Costco was thorough and there was no wait. The total for contacts and glasses exams as well as DMV exam and the follow up was less than $100.

I went elsewhere for the contacts and glasses.

Are you sure? We just checked with the and they take our Superior Vision insurance.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

TeezNu — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:25:04 GMT

My brother and I both got our glasses at Costco this year, as well as eye exams by the dr associated with this location. We are EXTREMELY pleased for the many reasons already stated in this thread. Cost was about half of what I have paid elsewhere, and quality and service is exceptional. I have a friend who got her hearing aids there this year, and is also extremely pleased with them. She is the type of person who shops around and very thoroughly studies and investigates all available options. Also, I get my dad's hearing aid batteries there, and they are about half the price of the lowest price I had been buying online. The savings will pay for your membership many times over.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

simba mom — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:47:19 GMT

My husband & I have been getting our eyeglasses @ Costco for the last 20 yrs. We saw a story on "60 Minutes" which showed ALL eyeglasses, except Costco, are made are made by Luxotica. I hate monopoly. Very high prices. Costco is a great buy.

I went to an audiologist & found out I needed hearing aids. They wanted to charge $4600.00 for them. I found the exact same ones @ Costco for $2800.00. 90 day money back guarantee. Great service.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

Silkeej — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:53:35 GMT

Our family get all of our glasses at Costco, they adjust them for free, the prices are very fair even Walmart can't beat their prices. They also carry a nice variety of frames to choose from. The savings will more than pay for your membership and you'll love shopping the warehouse they have everything!

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

Kathlen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 04:07:41 GMT

My problem with the stores like Costco, Lenscrafters, etc. - none of them carry the specific type of lens I prefer and won't/can't do a special order. So - I go to a private optometrist.

I have worn hearing aids for about 8 years - my audiologist is affiliated with my ENT. They are expensive - but their service is coordinated and my hearing aids can be programmed directly from the computer input by the ENT's hearing test - and they are both in the same building - different floors. The service is excellent and worth every penny.

My priorities are medical (incl. vision, hearing, dentist) - I'll bargain hunt elsewhere - but not for these needs.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

ID2 — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:37:15 GMT

Never bought hearing aids from Costco but my dh got a pair of glasses from them. He HATES them! What we didn't like... it seems like they don't have professionals helping you with the glasses dept. They just went with the pair he picked out. Didn't fit him to these glasses. He loved the price he paid but his glasses are way too big for his face! They cracked already. Next time, we'll just go back to Lenscrafters where the help is knowledgeable in helping you pick out the right glasses to your face and are able to fit them correctly. at Costco it just seemed to me that one minute the salesperson was running the hi-lo stocking shelves, the next minute they are behind the counter selling glasses.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

violann — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:45:54 GMT

ID2 makes an EXCELLENT point. Anyone considering a hearing aid for the first time should have an evaluation by an audiologist who is certified ASHA AUD.CCC. i have not done the research, but I don't believe that COSTCO is able to provide this service. Any other titles, like "certified hearing aid provider", "hearing aid specialist" etc. are basically sales people, for whom SELLING is the bottom line.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

HonnyBrown — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:56:25 GMT

On 7/30/2014 Hoovermom said:
On 7/30/2014 HonnyBrown said:
VaBelle, my company doesn't offer VSP. We are reimbursed for anything eyes up to a certain dollar amount.

Costco eye doctors don't accept insurance. I normally go to My Eye Dr. for convenience and they are horrible. The eye doctor at Costco was thorough and there was no wait. The total for contacts and glasses exams as well as DMV exam and the follow up was less than $100.

I went elsewhere for the contacts and glasses.

Are you sure? We just checked with the and they take our Superior Vision insurance.

Hoover, that's good to know. The location I went to doesn't take insurance.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

VaBelle35 — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:18:36 GMT

I go to a ophthalmologist (MD) for my eyes as I have rosacea and the insides have to be checked for lesions. That is covered by my medical insurance except for the refraction ($55) which I submit to VSP.

I have never gone to Costco for a vision check, just for getting the prescription filled.

The lenses I got from the vision center through VSP are Crizal lenses that have the new coating for computer use. They are supposed to make it easier on your eyes if you are using a computer/phone/tablet a lot. We'll see

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

Theoriginallacey — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:33:51 GMT

I use my own optometrist because I feel he is reliable and have used him for years, also he is local and for me Costco is 40 minutes away. This year however, I found that I just didn't want to spend a ridiculous amount on lenses as I know my eyes are changing more often and they may have to be replaced in a year. Costco had the cheapest price for high index progressive lenses that I could find, so I gave them a try. I have been happy with them and for the price my eye dr was charging for one pair of progressive lens glasses, I got glasses and single vision sunglasses. They took about two weeks or more to come in because it was winter and there were issues with the weather from wherever they were coming from. So far, so good.

Re: Costco glasses & hearing aids

lexi — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:56:49 GMT

I had hearing aid test by both Audiologist/ent doctor and Costco. Both came back with identical results. Audiologist wanted $3800.00 Costco $1900.00.............I chose Costco and couldn't be happier. Costco also offers free replacement up to I year. When shopping there I drop off my aids for free cleaning. Have been buying progressive lens glasses for years also and cannot beat their return policy. They will refund or replace anything you purchase ...