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They also can’t require a membership to get an eye exam, so if you don’t want the pressure to buy glasses there, Costco is a safe bet. They’ll give you your pr

They also can’t require a membership to get an eye exam, so if you don’t want the pressure to buy glasses there, Costco is a safe bet. They’ll give you your prescription and literally wouldn’t sell me glasses even if I wanted them, since I wasn’t a store member. I did have to measure my own IPD though, which I did with a ruler and a mirror. EDIT: another reply notes that they did get their IPD at Costco, so this might vary by location. As they mentioned, the optometrists are independent.

walrus01 8y ago
Fun costco fact, in Canada and in many US states you also don't need a membership to use their pharmacy. And also in many US states where they sell alcohol they legally can't require a membership to buy it.
- wlesieutre 8y ago
  I think that’s the case here in Connecticut for alcohol, though I’ve not gone and checked.
  - crankylinuxuser 8y ago
    I know for a fact that Indiana is a state that cannot put membership barriers on alcohol. I first saw a sign declaration in Sams Club stating that. When I went to the front desk, it was much gnashing of teeth to get the manual override for "alcohol exception". And then they demanded I do the mandatory member search. Members agree to. I'm not a member. I dont consent to searches. Maybe it makes me an asshole ; they're free to make it truly member only by removing alcohol. And also as another note, any alcohol sales in Indiana must be offered to all legal-to-purchase people. You cannot say "10% off with a kroger card". That's just as illegal as requiring a membership card.
    - RandomTisk 8y ago
      What is a "mandatory member search"?
      - logfromblammo 8y ago
        The receipt check is the mildest version of it. They can search your cart, and potentially also your person, for store items that you haven't paid for. If you are not a member, you have not consented to it, and the transfer of ownership already occurred at the point of sale. So you can walk past the exit line and right out the doors. Attempting to hold you in the store against your will could be considered kidnapping.
        gibybo 8y ago
        Doesn't Walmart do this without a membership? How do they get away with it?
        wlesieutre 8y ago
        (Disclaimer: not a lawyer) Walmart might tell you not to leave, but legally speaking they probably don’t have grounds to stop you from leaving, and it may in fact be illegal for them to try. Some states have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopkeeper's_privilege https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopkeeper's_privilege But that still requires cause to believe you stole something, and as far as I understand it, declining to be searched on its own doesn’t provide cause for that. Costco has a membership agreement where you consent to being searched, Walmart does not.
        kough 8y ago
        I have a friend who used to load up shopping carts with cases of beer and then slowly roll out of Walmart back when he was underage. They're not legally allowed to stop him and corporate policy is to avoid chasing down thefts. Do with this information what you will.
        schaefer 8y ago
        when they ask - you say "no, thank you". They get away with it by training the vast majority to consent for no particular reason.
- fencepost 8y ago
  Costco's pharmacy generally also has excellent prices and makes them available through their website (for self pay or non-insurance meds, insurance co-pays are for you to determine). https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/drug-directory-main https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/drug-directory-main
  - Ductapemaster 8y ago
    +1 for Costco's pharmacy. In the rare occasion I need a prescription filled, its usually considerably cheaper than CVS or Walgreens. Plus, I'm prone to sinus infections and they have generic sudafed (real pseudoephedrine, not OTC) for just under $2 a box. Every other place in town is 5-10x that for the same thing.
rhinoceraptor 8y ago
A tip for anyone measuring their own PD, shine a bright light in your eyes so your pupils constrict. That will make finding the center a bit easier.

walrus01 8y ago

Fun costco fact, in Canada and in many US states you also don't need a membership to use their pharmacy. And also in many US states where they sell alcohol they legally can't require a membership to buy it.

wlesieutre 8y ago
I think that’s the case here in Connecticut for alcohol, though I’ve not gone and checked.
- crankylinuxuser 8y ago
  I know for a fact that Indiana is a state that cannot put membership barriers on alcohol. I first saw a sign declaration in Sams Club stating that. When I went to the front desk, it was much gnashing of teeth to get the manual override for "alcohol exception". And then they demanded I do the mandatory member search. Members agree to. I'm not a member. I dont consent to searches. Maybe it makes me an asshole ; they're free to make it truly member only by removing alcohol. And also as another note, any alcohol sales in Indiana must be offered to all legal-to-purchase people. You cannot say "10% off with a kroger card". That's just as illegal as requiring a membership card.
  - RandomTisk 8y ago
    What is a "mandatory member search"?
    - logfromblammo 8y ago
      The receipt check is the mildest version of it. They can search your cart, and potentially also your person, for store items that you haven't paid for. If you are not a member, you have not consented to it, and the transfer of ownership already occurred at the point of sale. So you can walk past the exit line and right out the doors. Attempting to hold you in the store against your will could be considered kidnapping.
      - gibybo 8y ago
        Doesn't Walmart do this without a membership? How do they get away with it?
        wlesieutre 8y ago
        (Disclaimer: not a lawyer) Walmart might tell you not to leave, but legally speaking they probably don’t have grounds to stop you from leaving, and it may in fact be illegal for them to try. Some states have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopkeeper's_privilege https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopkeeper's_privilege But that still requires cause to believe you stole something, and as far as I understand it, declining to be searched on its own doesn’t provide cause for that. Costco has a membership agreement where you consent to being searched, Walmart does not.
        kough 8y ago
        I have a friend who used to load up shopping carts with cases of beer and then slowly roll out of Walmart back when he was underage. They're not legally allowed to stop him and corporate policy is to avoid chasing down thefts. Do with this information what you will.
        schaefer 8y ago
        when they ask - you say "no, thank you". They get away with it by training the vast majority to consent for no particular reason.
fencepost 8y ago
Costco's pharmacy generally also has excellent prices and makes them available through their website (for self pay or non-insurance meds, insurance co-pays are for you to determine). https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/drug-directory-main https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/drug-directory-main
- Ductapemaster 8y ago
  +1 for Costco's pharmacy. In the rare occasion I need a prescription filled, its usually considerably cheaper than CVS or Walgreens. Plus, I'm prone to sinus infections and they have generic sudafed (real pseudoephedrine, not OTC) for just under $2 a box. Every other place in town is 5-10x that for the same thing.

rhinoceraptor 8y ago

A tip for anyone measuring their own PD, shine a bright light in your eyes so your pupils constrict. That will make finding the center a bit easier.