- Report: #404912
Complaint Review: Costco Inc.
Related Reports
Featured Ripoff Reports
Ripoff Reports
Ripoff Report on CBS 19
Ripoff Report on CBS 19 - Global Marketing Alliance
Ripoff Report on ABC 15 - Smart Shopper
Ripoff Report - Girls Gone Wild
Ripoff Report on Fox 11 - Car Repair
Special Features
-
Doctored Reviews is designed to help patients, doctors, and websites understand the problems created by Medical Justice, a company trying to restrict online patient reviews, and to offer some ways that let patients freely talk about their healthcare experiences. -
The government should serve voters, not corporate special interests. Public Citizen works to empower ordinary citizens, reduce the influence of big corporations on government, open the government to public scrutiny, and hold public officials accountable for their misdeeds. -
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BBB: NOT a government agency as listed in your local phone book. Instead the BBB is a private non-profit / franchise operation. 20/20 exposes the BBB, Hamas Terror Group Gets 'A' Rating - BBB is running a "pay for play" scheme.
| Costco Inc. 900 Montebello Blvd
Montebello, California U.S.A. |
|
Costco Inc. Costco Optical charges an $18.00 "corkage fee" for frames purchased elsewhere Montebello California
*Consumer Comment: somewhat agree
*General Comment: I totally agree
*Consumer Comment: The fact of the matter
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: $18.00 Customers Own Frame Charge
*Consumer Comment: I don't see the difference
*Consumer Suggestion: Seems Fair
*Consumer Suggestion: no difference from other businessesRh
*Consumer Suggestion: Next time, just send Randolph Engineering your prescription!
*Consumer Comment: If they are independent...
*Consumer Comment: Wow you had to pay for a service
Does your business have a bad reputation?
Fix it the right way.
Corporate Advocacy Program™
As a member in good standing of Costco, I took it for granted that part of my "member privileges" included purchasing glasses at their optical center.
I purchased my frames from Randolph Engineering which is licensed by the U.S. Government to fabricate its Air Force glasses. The frames have a lifetime guarantee.
I figured that I would have my prescription lenses installed by Costco Optical.
Imagine my surprise, when I was charged $18.00 for not having purchased the frames from Costco Optical. I told them that as a member, optical was one of my privileges.
They explained to me that they are not part of Costco and operate independently. They pay Costco for the space inside their warehouses and avail themselves of the Costco members. So eye exams, eyeglass purchases and related optical services are as they see fit.
I've had to pay "corkage fees" to a restaurant when I've taken my own wine for dinner, but to pay it to a misrepresented "Costco Optical" because I brought in my own frames, is fraudulent.
Blindboy
Montebello, California
U.S.A.
I purchased my frames from Randolph Engineering which is licensed by the U.S. Government to fabricate its Air Force glasses. The frames have a lifetime guarantee.
I figured that I would have my prescription lenses installed by Costco Optical.
Imagine my surprise, when I was charged $18.00 for not having purchased the frames from Costco Optical. I told them that as a member, optical was one of my privileges.
They explained to me that they are not part of Costco and operate independently. They pay Costco for the space inside their warehouses and avail themselves of the Costco members. So eye exams, eyeglass purchases and related optical services are as they see fit.
I've had to pay "corkage fees" to a restaurant when I've taken my own wine for dinner, but to pay it to a misrepresented "Costco Optical" because I brought in my own frames, is fraudulent.
Blindboy
Montebello, California
U.S.A.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/26/2008 12:56 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Costco-Inc/Montebello-California-90640/Costco-Inc-Costco-Optical-charges-an-1800-corkage-fee-for-frames-purchased-elsewhere-404912. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.
Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Costco Inc.
Search for additional reports
If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:
Search Tips#1 Consumer Comment
somewhat agree
AUTHOR: Everybody_just_cool_out - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Same experience 1 week ago.. Costco does not carry Smith Optics and this brand is what I prefer due to the style, lifetime warranty, and durability. Before purchasing them I asked costco what they charged for lenses. The fee was very reasonable so I decided to buy the frames off e-bay and have costco produce the lens. Well, when I had them do it, I got the 18.00 fee thrown my way. I asked why and they explained that all their frames are located where the lenses get produced so if someone wants to use their own frames they have to package and ship the frames to the lens manufacture. Totally makes since but I think 18.00 is too steep and they should explain the fee when you ask for the price up front. I will add that the craftsmanship of the lenses were pretty impressive once I received them so I'm very happy! The lenses were also cheaper than walmart which whom also has a "bring your own frames charge" of 10.00.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #2 General Comment
I totally agree
AUTHOR: Michael - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Saturday, November 20, 2010
I recently had a similar experience at Denny's.
I brought in some bacon and eggs and they wanted to charge me to cook them!
Whats up with that, why should they get paid for cooking MY food!
What a RipOff!!!
:-)
I brought in some bacon and eggs and they wanted to charge me to cook them!
Whats up with that, why should they get paid for cooking MY food!
What a RipOff!!!
:-)
Respond to this report!
What's this? #3 Consumer Comment
The fact of the matter
AUTHOR: Voice of reason - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, July 08, 2010
The "Corkage Fee" that you refer to is actually a template fee. If the frames you brought in are not a standard Costco optical product, then the lens technicians need to make a template of the lens shape so they can be cut and ground to size. This fee is typical of any optician, anywhere.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #4 UPDATE EX-employee responds
$18.00 Customers Own Frame Charge
AUTHOR: Hmdrummer - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, January 23, 2009
I don't know who gave you the mis-information that the Costco optical departments are not owned and operated by Costco. I can assure you that they are. Many of the optometry offices located next to the optical departments are sub-leased by an independant optometrist as required by various state laws. The very large red optometrist sign states this. The optometrist has nothing to do with the optical department business. The $18.00 own frame fee is simply a charge that is required to cover the shipping costs associated with sending your frame to the lab, and the labor and expense of cutting a pattern in order to cut the lenses. This is standard throughout the optical industry, where many optical shops charge $20.00-$25.00 for this same service. These other shops also charge much more for the lenses than Costco. If a frame is originally purchased at Costco and reused, this frame fee is not charged, since the patterless edgers have the frame shape and sizing info. in it's database already, so a pattern is not needed.
Many people use their own frames and then come in for adjustments, repairs, nosepad replacements etc. Costco never charges for any of these services, even if the frames were purchased elsewhere. For this amount of service and labor $18.00 is a bargain.
Consumer Reports and JD Powers consistantly rate Costco Optical as tops in quality and price.
Many people use their own frames and then come in for adjustments, repairs, nosepad replacements etc. Costco never charges for any of these services, even if the frames were purchased elsewhere. For this amount of service and labor $18.00 is a bargain.
Consumer Reports and JD Powers consistantly rate Costco Optical as tops in quality and price.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #5 Consumer Comment
I don't see the difference
AUTHOR: Flynrider - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, December 26, 2008
What's the difference between bringing your own wine to a restaurant and bringing your own frames to an optical shop? A business charging an extra fee when you supply your own materials is not out of the ordinary. The optical shop makes their money by selling glasses (lenses AND frames). By supplying your own frames, you're cutting them out of a piece of their profit. It is not unusual to expect a reasonable charge. Eighteen dollars doesn't seem unreasonable. The few times that I've had an optical shop install lenses in special frames (that I supplied), I have always been charged a 'corkage' fee.
Respond to this report!
What's this?
I can only assume that these places make their money on the purchase of the frames, not the installation of lenses, so I don't see the problem. In my shop(clothing), if you bring me someone else's merchandise to be altered, you pay more for the work done than you would if you had purchased the item from me. Everyone is entitled to make a profit.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #7 Consumer Suggestion
no difference from other businessesRh
AUTHOR: Cat - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, December 26, 2008
This is no difference than if I walked off the street and I brought in my glasses to say a Lenscrafters or Pearl Vison and they could if they wanted to charge a fee to work on them. One of the reasons they might do this is that many businesses survive on selling glasses. When you bring yours own in they lose that profit. They also may have to use their own products that are not from your lenses if they break. So they charge a fee. I have gone to another competitor that does not charge me for mine that wasnt bought there.
This is no difference than the photographer that rents space inside Walmart or McDonads who rents space inside Walmart. If you so not like it, shop around like I do and find a place that allows you to bring your pair in.
It is not a ripoff, it is just the fact they are a business that is competiting for business. They have a right to make their own rules for prices. You , though as the consumer, has the right to shop somewhere else, but it doesnt mean it is a ripoff. It is an inconvinence to you. So start phoning around and find out prices on if you bring in your own glasses and prices if you buy theres. See what is cheaper. That is what calls shopping comparison.
This is no difference than the photographer that rents space inside Walmart or McDonads who rents space inside Walmart. If you so not like it, shop around like I do and find a place that allows you to bring your pair in.
It is not a ripoff, it is just the fact they are a business that is competiting for business. They have a right to make their own rules for prices. You , though as the consumer, has the right to shop somewhere else, but it doesnt mean it is a ripoff. It is an inconvinence to you. So start phoning around and find out prices on if you bring in your own glasses and prices if you buy theres. See what is cheaper. That is what calls shopping comparison.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #8 Consumer Suggestion
Next time, just send Randolph Engineering your prescription!
AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, December 26, 2008
I cannot see the "rip off" here. You expect the optician to work for free?
You must be really clueless, or just really cheap!
You must be an officer because you have no common sense.
FYI...Randolph Engineering will do prescription lenses. All you need to do is provide them a valid prescription with your order.
And, any optician can get those frames for you as well.
You must be really clueless, or just really cheap!
You must be an officer because you have no common sense.
FYI...Randolph Engineering will do prescription lenses. All you need to do is provide them a valid prescription with your order.
And, any optician can get those frames for you as well.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #9 Consumer Comment
If they are independent...
AUTHOR: Edgeman - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, December 26, 2008
Then it would seem to me that your beef is with the optometry practice and not with Costco.
Respond to this report!
What's this? #10 Consumer Comment
Wow you had to pay for a service
AUTHOR: Aaron - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, December 26, 2008
The cost of that service is normally figured into the frames. You didn't buy the frames so there was a fee.
This is not a ripoff it's fair.
I love how people want everything free. You pay for service either as a fee or in the price of the items.
Next time I am at Sam's Club(no costco) I will take a pizza into their snack bar and have them cook it for me. I am sure they will do it for free, right?
This is not a ripoff it's fair.
I love how people want everything free. You pay for service either as a fee or in the price of the items.
Next time I am at Sam's Club(no costco) I will take a pizza into their snack bar and have them cook it for me. I am sure they will do it for free, right?
Respond to this report!
What's this? 
