<p>Everyone in our family uses Costco optical for eye exams, contacts, and glasses. Its been great. As for glasses…frames are cheaper and selection is pretty good. I just ordered a new pair last week after my eye exam and got them in about 8 days. If you already have your prescription, I’m sure you could just walk in, select a frame, get fitted, and receive them relatively soon.</p>
<p>The discounted clothing is generally snatched up within a day or two of the markdown. I mainly see it because I go there often and it remains in its regular place in most stores. </p>
<p>Most of the other discount stuff is also wherever it always was in the store & you just have to know your prices & the merchandise you’re interested in. Most prices are competitive with other stores even when there is no markdown/discount. (Sometimes other stores with sale prices will edge out the Costco prices.)</p>
<p>Sometimes after the Christmas holidays, they do have the seasonal markdown items (returns) in a cart at the end of an aisle somewhere in the store, but that’s hit & miss–generally only a very few items.</p>
<p>I agree that the optical shop is great. We have our optometrist fax Rx to Costco & then we go there & choose the frames & they measure us & call us as soon as the frames/contacts arrive at the store (often in about a week or so). They change the nose pads & make adjustments & clean the glasses for no charge (even will do it for glasses you didn’t purchase from them). For us, as soon as I get any optical Rx from our optometrist, I drop it off at our local Costco & when any of us is ready to have it filled, it’s on file with them.</p>
<p>I’ve never seen anything discounted at our Costcos. The stuff just flies out of there. Difficult enough to get the good stuff in your size or color if you don’t grab it early. I buy all of our glasses there, alot of our groceries, especially milk and eggs. Also buy a lot of the meats.</p>
<p>The current Jack ITB rif on Costco is hilarious.</p>
<p>Now don’t laugh at this one, but…I’m thinking about buying hearing aids at Costco. My family keeps complaining that I make them repeat things and I know they’re right. I went to an audiologist last week and she recommended $6,400 hearing aids after my insurance-paid hearing test. She said I can try them for 60 days and I have to pay $250 to return them, should I not like them. Costco gives free hearing tests (my store has an audiologist), gives you 90 days to try them, offers a full refund if not happy, and their most expensive set is $2,000.</p>
<p>toledo, I wouldn’t laugh at that idea, in fact I may point my sister in that direction. (We always get our glasses there and it seems like very much the same thing.)</p>
<p>HImom mentioned something for the holidays, which reminded me of Costco’s big spools of gift wrapping ribbon. Very nice quality wire-edged ribbon and the spool lasts forever.</p>
<p>Toledo- I know people who are very very happy w/costco hearing aids and the service, go for it, and do’t be shy to return to have them remade if they are not comfortable</p>
<p>Has anyone ordered a cake with inscription at Costco? I cannot get through to my local Costco – tried two – to find out how far in advance I need to order the cake.</p>
<p>mimko: I have. Usually 24 hours. Although I’m pretty sure you have to go into the store to order it.</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Costco is the best! </p>
<p>You should join - $50/yr is a bargain! you won’t regret it! </p>
<p>I personally love the high-end toothbrush deals! 10 for $10 (cost $3.50-$4.00 a piece in any convenience/grocery stores)</p>
<p>I too ordered a cake with writing on it - yes, you have to fill it out in the store - they won’t take an order over the phone. There is a form right by the cakes that you fill out completely - then when you come pick it up they have a freezer with the prepared cakes out for you to grab. </p>
<p>Good cake, great price. I bought one for our AfterProm last year after our usual place that donates a cake fell through. The kids plowed right through it! A big cake for under $20!!!</p>
<p>Costco donated a cake to our high school, which we served after the ceremony (small school plus we served other things).</p>
<p>Used Costco in Canada during our recent vacation (and added Quebecois cheese curds and other Quebecois cheese, very good smoked salmon, Fairmount bagels, breakfast pitas with raisins/dates/other stuff inside to our normal list). DS’s friends drove up and replaced us for a final pre-college vacation. We bought hamburgers, sausages, buns, frozen shrimp, pasta, milk, and fruit for them to eat.</p>
<p>Returned home and stopped today at our local Costco. Purchased wild Coho salmon, mango, raspberries and blueberries (the fabulous blackberries weren’t there), smoked salmon, whole wheat bread, stuff for DS to take to college (towels, blanket, blue jeans, shirts, boxers, socks), Rockport loafers for me (I’d been looking at Cole-Haan’s for $99 on sale and found the Rockport’s for $29 that are almost as nice), and a replacement ipod for DD whose ipod fell into a Canadian lake. </p>
<p>Our Costco spend will go down when DS leaves for college. and the quality of food he eats in the dining hall will be significantly worse that what he gets today.</p>
<p>You can buy a casket from Costco. Be careful about this restriction, though:
I guess that rules out any buyer’s remorse once you’ve used it.</p>
<p>Nothing. Costco is a license to get fat.</p>
<p>I buy produce at Costco - love the french cut green beans and their grapes (in a large container) are the best I have eaten. Also, love love love the black raspberries - often $3.99 for a good sized carton.</p>
<p>The thing about Costco is you come in for strawberries you might come out with a new TV or worse. It’s a booby-trap, that Costco. ;-)</p>
<p>I recently saw some really nice women’s pjs at Costco. Very pricey though at $39.99. I don’t see any clothing discounted there at all, or anything for that matter.</p>
<p>I don’t even browse most of the time but go straight to the food areas to get only what is on my list. Like milk, meat, produce. With a large family, it is a great place to shop. I can’t get much at Trader Joe’s when cooking for the whole gang. And for large parties or dinners, Costco is great.</p>
<p>Just bought a room-sized rug for $225. Virtually identical one at local rug and carpet “outlet” store was $499.</p>