Costco Vision Center in Tumwater

DO NOT get your eye exam here. My first time getting glasses, ordered bifocals and was told give them time because the eyes have to get used to them. I was also prescribed a different power for one eye. I gave it time, tried to get used to them but finally went back in. Learned my prescription was wrong but I was passed the 30 days so no refund! Even with it being the opticians error! I gave one star because I couldn't post without it!

TL;DR at bottom. I went to see Dr. Ha after having a terrible experience with one of the staff doctors at America's Best. It was difficult to get an appointment, as nobody answers the phone. I am convinced that they only return messages and don't field calls directly. After playing phone tag for a few days, I was able to make an appointment a few weeks out. Not too terrible so far. When I arrived for my appointment, I had to deal with the usual Costco covid BS (I have severe breathing issues, which I did not yet have prescription for oxygen...so masks were problematic.) I have to wait 40 minutes past my appointment time to before I get to see the doc. Still not too terrible. I explain to Dr. Ha about the last experience I had at America's Best; How their optometrist tried to give me the same prescription I had gotten before...which was virtually useless by that point. Then we did the usual eye exam. It seemed very rushed, but I had a prescription I was happy with...until we tried both eyes together. I told her that something wasn't right, and she made some adjustments which helped a tiny bit. I should have been more insistent, I thought maybe my eyes were just getting too bad to be completely corrected. So I left with my prescription. I tried a novel thing and ordered my glasses online. I'm on an extremely tight budget with no vision insurance, and the reviews were quite good. I get my glasses in about two weeks and try them on. I can't see squat. If I close one eye I could read, but I was seeing double and my eyes were burning and I my head was pounding within minutes. So I schedule an adjustment with Dr. Ha. Her equipment confirms that the glasses I was sent were the correct prescription, so we go to work trying to figure out the problem. It seems I needed prism in my prescription. I should have remembered that, but due to cost I get new glasses about every 5 years and the last prescription I had. (which was also never quite right) had been built from scratch, as I had lost my glasses on my motorcycle. So I get my new prescription. the company I bought my glasses from can't make prismatic lenses, and refused to offer any better than a 50% cash refund. So I keep the glasses I bought (on sale for $225) and seek an optician to replace the lenses. I find a great on at Capital Eyes Optical, and order new lenses...$600 worth. One pair arrive early, and I pick them up...they are good for reading, but I STILL can't recognize a face at 25 feet. So I call Dr. Ha for a second time, and get the runaround. When they finally call me back, they tell me there may be an additional $65 fee to have another adjustment done. I tell them to talk to the Dr. about the extenuating circumstances and schedule an appointment. The day before the appointment, they call me back and inform me that there absolutely WILL be an additional $65 fee. I got angry, but remained civil. So the bottom line is this: Dr. Ha was paid for a service, she failed miserably in the execution of that service twice, AND had the nerve to demand MORE money to finish the job she already failed at twice. I will not ever be going back or recommending her to anyone. Costco should consider terminating her contract as soon as possible. As for me, I'm pursuing filing suit in small claims to recover the fee which she refuses to refund.

My review is based off my experience shopping and buying frames. I didn't get an eye exam here. The frame selection is fantastic and the customer service I received from Jennifer was superb. She was very helpful and knowledgeable for someone getting glasses for the first time. I would recommend using this location. They were able to pull up in real time what my insurance would cover and directly apply the discount to my purchase.

Incredibly frustrating experience. (TLDR, bottom line is: HORRIBLE customer service and communication.) I made an appointment for new prescriptions for contacts and glasses. On arrival, I checked in, and waited. Within just a few minutes, the technician came out and asked me if I wore gas permeable lenses, and I said yes. She said that they no longer prescribe gas permeable lenses. Of course, that hadn't even come up when I made my appointment, so it would have been a completely wasted trip, but for the fact that I decided on the spot to switch to soft lenses. Crisis averted, or so I thought. (foreshadowing) I live outside Chehalis, it's a 45 minute drive each way, so not a small thing. Tech does the pre-exam, and suggests an "optional" scan for an additional 35 bucks. I have no idea what it is or does, and generally avoid upselling, so I declined. Wait in chairs for some time before seeing the Optometrist, and there's a second problem. Because I was switching from hard to soft lenses, I would have to pass a "test" before I could receive my prescription, and did I want to proceed with the exam? I asked if it would be done concurrently with the exam, and was told no, I'd have to schedule with the techs, and I might not (probably would not) get my prescription that day, and did I want to proceed with the exam? Again, not wanting to make ANOTHER trip to Tumwater, I said I couldn't agree to the exam unless I knew the tech would give me the "training and test" the same visit. So we stepped outside the Optometrists office, where the Dr started aggressively trying to just hand me off to the techs, and I knew that I'd be rescheduling everything. I was getting more frustrated, and the Dr started in on my "bad attitude" and how I would not be given an exam. So I went into major de-escalation mode, got the tech to agree to "test" me on the softs, and went back with the Optometrist, who make me repeat THREE times that I understood that I would not get my prescription if I failed the "test". Which turned out to be nothing more than demonstrating that I could insert and remove the contacts, something that I'd been doing every day (only slightly differently) for over 40 years. So I did get the prescription, with a lot of very unnecessary drama caused by the office's assumptions and not communicating their expectations and requirements prior to my arrival at the clinic. Unfortunately, I'd bet that very few potential customers read these reviews before making an appointment. The prescription is fine, my advice is to be prepared to wait, and possibly have to make more than one trip for something that has never taken me more than one trip to get done.

Don't ever buy glasses at Costco Optical. My husband ordered two pairs of glasses from Costco's optical department. One pair I believe he was talked into. Both glasses were progressive, but he cannot read with them unless he lifts the glasses up. One pair is tinted, but unless you shine a spot light on them they don't tint at all. The other pair are sunglasses and are so tinted you can't see three feet in front of you. And why would you need prescription sun glasses if you have tinted glasses? We went back to Costco to talk to them about the issues with the glasses, and they were so rude, and told us to bad. I couldn't believe it. Obviously the optical department doesn't have the same customer service as the Costco Store.

We scheduled 3 eye exams because Costco was in our network. When I canned to schedule, they told us that we had to pay upfront and could submit for reimbursement to our insurance company. What they DID NOT tell us is that their doctor is independent and is not part of any network, so your insurance will NOT reimburse you. So, I am out $270 because they were not honest with us.

Dr. Ha gave me lower power contacts saying the previous Dr overprescribed. I wasn't sure, but she said I could come in and sign a form to go back to the original prescription. I tried to make it work, but it doesn't. When I went in to sign the form, she wanted $80 more to make the switch. I feel like I made a bad decision to trust her with my eye care. I also feel cheated bc I paid her for an exam, and a prescription I won't be able to use.

The people at the glasses center are great. The receptionists in the optometrist office are doing their best with the incompetence they work with. The OPTOMETRISTS are clearly there JUST for overpriced exams. They diagnose other concerns, are apparently unable to enter required information into their system or communicate it to anyone else in the office. They insist you return for a referral (hopefully with their concerns noted, but not likely). Due to nonexistent inter-office communications, you'll just waste your time...please go elsewhere for your exams

TL;DR Doctors don't pay attention to your eyes unless they have to. The receptionist is AMAZING but the Drs are blegh. I went there on March 29th for an eye exam, when I left there I was having issues with my contacts and glasses I had ordered. I called to get rechecked. (My brother had the EXACT same issue.) They scheduled us for the same day then called a week before our appointment to re schedule. They switched us from Dr. Ha to the male dr. My brothers prescription was off by a significant value. He was rechecked no problem. I go in the eye Dr. keeps asking/telling me I have diabetes. (Recent routine screening for diabetes came back negative.) My prescription was off by so much that he kept insisting I must have diabetes. He then had me wait for over 45 minutes so he could recheck my prescription and how my contacts were fitting to my eyes only to ask me three more times if I have diabetes.

The new independent optometrist is a joke. I have called 3 times 3 days in a row. No one calls you back and my original appointment they had no clue who I was or what you called for. I used to live Dr Berry but this new team is not organized at all and you can tell they have no clue what they arere doing. I will still get my contacts st the optical center but I'm done with the doctors office.

I wish I would have read these reviews first! I liked Dr Berry, but this guy (Dr Ha.. or someone - the tall heavyset guy) hates his job. I went back to let him know my contacts would not allow me to see distance very well, but I can see …

I was hesitant to use Tumwater Costco optical after reading other reviews, but I have had good experiences so far. I recently shopped for frames there and found several that I loved. The variety and price is amazing. Also, I called the …

Very long, slow waiting line. We are all frustrated. One member was in same line for 2.5 hours 2 days ago before reaching counter. What is problem? Please improve this, Costco. We are increasing our virus risk the longer we wait. I appreciate the service and the workers, but this is not Costco standard.

Called to order my contacts like usual and was told they are too busy to take my order and that I should call back later that day. I think that's ridiculous- it takes 2 minutes to get my info and take my card number. Plus she was not …

Pulling a number, waiting 15-20 minutes, never acknowledged by the lone staff member is just not a good experience. She is also very slow and unfriendly. I will purchase my glasses elsewhere due to the poor experience at this location. I used to love this location. Maybe Hawks’s Prairie is better?

We live in a different world, but to be treated like your a kid called into the principal's office. I was told by the Doctor that I "had to" keep talking to a minimum, even to ask simple questions. This really was one of the worst service …

I love Costco. I appreciate the workers and their help during these times. I feel safer in Costco than I do in most stores. Costco has never let me down. Thank you to all you workers for your help and your dedication. You are the best!

I rated as 1 because there is no less number. A 0 should be perfect. Total rudeness of a technician there. Very bad customer service!!!! Dont go there if you dont want a bad experience. The optometrist are very good but for buying glasses go somewhere else. Its a shame that people like her work at customer service.

5 stars for their glasses selection and for the initial appointment with the technician when placing my order. He was a nice pleasant gentlemen, too bad I don't remember his name. MINUS 3 stars for my pick up experience yesterday. The wait was LONG. Only 2 numbers in front of me. I was told that you had to have a ticket for any service. Yet, a lady behind me was pulled in front of me by a guy and was helped before me. There were still 2 people in front of me. The lady helping these two customers was taking her sweet time slowly walking around..... doing everything slooooow..... who cares if customers need to be somewhere else! I had enough time waiting, maybe 15-20 minutes, observing her. She had ZERO personality, no smile, not a nice word, borderline rude. Finally it was my turn, hurray! She was so bad adjusting my new glasses. She was only bending one nose rest leg on left side which made the glasses feel and look awkward. When I brought this up she made me feel bad by saying "Well, YOU didn't let me look before you rushed to the mirror." "Oh, sorry" - I replied with a smile and she just rolled her eyes! My husband was observing all this and told me that that was not the first that she rolled her eyes and made unhappy face. How about you bring the mirror closer to your station so I don't have to run around looking for one. Or maybe follow me to the mirror so I can see if your adjustments work. And while you're at that, maybe smile occasionally? I eventually left, my glasses are still not adjusted and do not feel right. But I couldn't stand staying there, watching her sour face and her rolling eyes :-(. This lady should not be allowed to be around customers. Love Costco, loved my first experience at their Vision Center, hated my second visit.

I wish I would have read these reviews first! I liked Dr Berry, but this guy (Dr Ha.. or someone - the tall heavyset guy) hates his job. I went back to let him know my contacts would not allow me to see distance very well, but I can see mid-level ok and up close ok. He basically blew me off with “That’s the best you’re gonna get!” Wow. The staff are very confused. They are new but need better training. So confused that when I went in for a third follow up for contacts, I was sat down for an exam. I had to explain I already had an exam. Plus, they kept calling to verify my appt then had to reschedule me. Horrible!

I was hesitant to use Tumwater Costco optical after reading other reviews, but I have had good experiences so far. I recently shopped for frames there and found several that I loved. The variety and price is amazing. Also, I called the optical department for pricing information, and the technician I spoke with was helpful, friendly, and patient. I didn't feel hurried and she answered all my questions. They are definitely worth a try.

Called to order my contacts like usual and was told they are too busy to take my order and that I should call back later that day. I think that's ridiculous- it takes 2 minutes to get my info and take my card number. Plus she was not apologetic or nice about the inconvenience she placed on me. I'm on my lunch break and often times can't call after work. Also, on a previous order I was never called to let know they were in. Getting seriously irritated. Follow up. Just called and the amount of time it took to place my order... under 2 minutes! Took longer for the person to tell me to call back than just take my freaking order!

We live in a different world, but to be treated like your a kid called into the principal's office. I was told by the Doctor that I "had to" keep talking to a minimum, even to ask simple questions. This really was one of the worst service experiences I've had in along time. There are a lot of other great people that deserve your business. Don't take it here.