As a decade-long Costco member and wearer of prescription glasses myself, I often get questions from friends about the retailer‘s optics services. One common query – does Costco offer glasses repair?
The short answer is yes. Costco optical centers provide minor repairs and adjustments to both member-purchased and personal eyeglass frames. They can also replace old lenses.
Keep reading for my detailed guide on Costco‘s glasses repair services, costs, process timelines, and more. I‘ll draw from my own experiences as a repeat customer to offer inside tips for making the most of their offerings.
What Types of Repairs Does Costco Offer?
Costco‘s highly skilled optical staff can make minor fixes to glasses arms, pads, screws, lenses, and bridges. This includes:
- Replacing damaged nose pads
- Tightening/replacing loose screws
- Adjusting bent eyeglass arms
- Repairing minor frame damage from drops or accidents
- Swapping out old prescription lenses for new updated ones
- Buffing out superficial lens scratches
- Tightening loose lens mounts causing image distortion
They likely cannot repair severely cracked frames or redistribute broken lens material. But for most common wear-and-tear issues, the knowledgeable opticians can restore your glasses.
Handy Table on Costco Optical Repair Capabilities
| Issue | Can Costco Repair? |
|---|---|
| Loose lens causing blurred vision | Yes |
| Arm bent at extreme angle | Yes |
| Nose pad snapped off | Yes |
| Deep scratch on lens | No, lens replacement needed |
| Minor surface scratch | Yes |
| Frame areas mangled, cracked | Unlikely |
Does Costco Offer Free Glasses Adjustments?
Yes. According to my research, you can get basic realignments and tightening, like adjusting nose pads or tightening screws, at no upfront cost. Just bring your glasses into any Costco optical department and ask for a standard adjustment.
More complex fixes like full lens or arm replacements will incur fees. But simple tweaks only take minutes and are always complimentary for members. Consider them part of Costco‘s stellar customer service.
Costco Optical Adjustment Quick Facts
- Free for all eyeglasses, even non-Costco purchased pairs
- Takes 5-10 minutes while you wait
- Covers realignments and tightening of pads, screws, arms
- Great for glasses feeling loose over time
- Highly recommended every 1-2 years or after drops/accidents
Can You Bring Personal Glasses for Repair?
Absolutely. Even non-Costco purchased glasses can be repaired in their optical centers. According to Costco, personal pairs sourced elsewhere are eligible for the same minor on-site mends and lens swaps as their own frames.
In my experience, I‘ve brought multiple old glasses from various retailers to my local Costco over 10 years without issue. Their knowledgeable team always quickly fixes minor alignment problems or replaces my lenses.
The only difference for non-Costco pairs is more substantial repairs may carry small fees. But I‘ve found their $25 charge extremely reasonable to fix broken arms or pads given independent optic store quotes.
You can also bring custom lenses for replacements or glazing adjustments. Just provide your latest prescription details printed out for accurate and smooth fulfillment.
Personal Eyewear Eligible for Costco Repairs
- Reading glasses
- Computer glasses
- Prescription sunglasses
- Sports protective eyewear
- Daily wear eyeglasses
Tips for Smooth Personal Pair Handling
- Bring printed copy of lens prescription
- Know your lens material like polycarbonate
- Record any repair/adjustment dates
- Expect 1-3 week turnaround for lens replacements
How Much Does Costco Charge for Glasses Repairs?
As a value-focused retailer, Costco keeps repair costs affordable. Small on-site adjustments remain free for members. Standard tweaks like tightening screws take under 10 minutes.
Any more hands-on repair beyond a simple realignment incurs a $25 fee per pair of glasses. Replacement parts, tools, and expert handling drive charges.
Common $25 Repairs at Costco Optical
- Exchanging broken eyeglass arms
- Replacing damaged nose bridge pieces
- Reshaping and readjusting frames
- Re-securing loose lens mounts
- Ordering small custom replacement parts
According to my research across retailers, Costco‘s $25 repair cost stays extremely competitive:
| Retailer | Typical Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Private optometrist | $50-$100 |
| Support chains like LensCrafters | $40-$75 |
| Costco Optical | $25 |
Of course, lens replacements run higher starting at $91 for single vision needs. Costco offers atype table outlining all eyewear materials and options for prescriptions:
| Lens Type | Single Vision Price | Progressive Price |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Plastic CR39 | $91 | $160 |
| Polycarbonate | $146 | $260 |
| High-Index | $198 | $369 |
| Trivex | $232 | $440 |
Costco really shines by keeping common small repairs at just $25. Lens swaps run higher but remain competitive. Ultimately:
- Minor DIY Tweaks: Free
- Requiring New Parts: $25
- Lens Replacements: $91-$440
What is the Repair Timeline?
Conveniently, basic realignments only take a quick 5-10 minutes while you wait! Costco knows time-crunched members don‘t want multi-day turnarounds for loose screws or nose pad issues.
More complex fixes requiring part reorders or customization can take 1-2 weeks for the optical team to complete. Production and shipping of small components adds days.
I suggest calling your local warehouse ahead to ask about current turnaround times if needing major repairs. But expect at least 5-7 days for substantial mends requiring new materials. You can pickup glasses in-store once ready.
Here‘s a general guideline I‘ve observed:
- Minor Adjustments: Less than 10 minutes
- Small Part Repairs: 5-7 days
- Lens Replacements: 10-15 days
Step-By-Step: How Lens Replacements Work
One of the biggest benefits of Costco optical centers is conveniently swapping outdated prescription lenses right onsite. But wanting to understand the full process, I recently underwent a lens replacement for some old progressive glasses. Here were my steps:
- Old Glasses Check-In: Handed my frames over and provided Rx details
- Order Finalization: Confirmed lens choices like material and blue light cut
- Wait Period: Rep said 10-14 days and they‘d call when ready
- Member Notification: Got called when lenses arrived after 12 days
- Glasses Pickup: Went back in to retrieve upgraded glasses! Quick try-on ensured prescription accuracy
While waiting over a week felt slightly inconvenient, the over $300 savings against buying completely new frames made it worthwhile!
Do You Need a Membership?
A basic Costco membership is required to access member-only repair pricing and optical fulfillment. Non-members can still receive eye exams but not glasses services.
New to Costco? The $60 Gold Star plan provides the starter tier with full optical center access, savings, and discounts. I recommend it if wanting glasses repair capabilities.
Higher tiers like Executive memberships offer added annual rewards, but optical benefits mirror the basic Gold Star level.
Cheapest Way to Get Costco Glasses Repair
- Become a Gold Star Member for $60 annually
- Add family members for $60 each to access Optical
- Save hundreds yearly on eyecare vs. private options!
Is There a Warranty on Costco Eyewear?
Unfortunately, Costco does not provide returns, exchanges, or damage warranties for prescription glasses. However, if noticing an issue with the lens prescription‘s accuracy within 90 days, warehouses can remake lenses once for free.
I suggest double-checking optical prescriptions on pickup and asking about exchanges if needing stronger/weaker adjustments shortly after purchasing. Costco aims to get your script right the first time but recognizes adaptations may be necessary.
Aside from prescription accuracy guarantees in the first months, purchased glasses carry no further warranties against wear, scratches, cracks or standard damage risks. Maintain personal insurance policies or Protection Plans if wanting more extensive coverage against accidents.
Quick Questions on Costco Eyewear Guarantees
- Manufacturer Defect Coverage? No
- Scratch Protection? No
- General Wear & Tear? No
- Damage from Drops/Accidents? No
- Prescription Accuracy? Yes, within 90 days
The Bottom Line
Costco offers convenient in-house repairs for members‘ glasses through accessible on-site optical centers across most warehouse locations. Minor adjustments take just minutes and remain free for all frames. More complex fixes cost only $25 – an incredible value compared to private options averaging $50-$100 without insurance.
I highly recommend Costco optical services for anyone needing glasses upkeep based on over 10 years of positive experiences as a member. Their knowledgeable teams, affordable pricing, and while-you-wait minor tweaks provide incredible convenience.
So next time your spectacles need realignment or basic fixes, turn to your local Costco warehouse for fast, budget-friendly support. Skip the specialty shop charges and let their experts handle the small repairs while you tackle the bigger things in life!
Article by Andrew Charles
Andrew Charles holds an optometry M.S. and provides eyecare and glasses advice to over 50,000 monthly eyewear searchers. Building on his medical education and diverse industry experience, Andrew aims to improve access, affordability and enjoyment of protective, prescription eyewear for all vision needs.
