We're pretty big fans of Costco here at The Ascent. I might be going against the grain a bit by saying this, but even if you buy everything else at Costco, you may want to slow down and really ...

As a bespectacled American, I have spent many, many hours of my life in optical centers and ordering glasses and contacts.

The opticians employed by Costco Optical work independently of the store, which means your bill goes to them, not to Costco. Translation: Anyone can visit Costco’s optical center, membership or not!