Costco

Erin Sieglock, Assistant Vice President, Costco Wholesale Optical Operations has banned me for life at all Costco Optical locations in the U.S. The reason stated refers to a letter and phone calls made in 2022.

She does not elaborate but l have the two voicemails and transcripts from the referenced date. The voicemails are cordial and innocuous. The incident in 2022 involves the return of glasses with a half inch darkened stripe down the middle of a transition lens. The eyeglasses were replaced without incident.

When I presented this information to Ms. Sieglock, she changed her reason for the ban to an unidentified incident that occurred in 2017 - over eight years ago but she refused to elaborate. I suggested that Costco was retaliating for an incident with the on-site optometrist when she dilated my wifes eyes without her express permission, made a incorrect diagnosis, and prescribed an expensive drug (off label) that my wife did not need. The optometrist did not provide a translator as required by law.
Ms Sieglock said that the optometrist is an independent optometrist and not employed by Costco.

However, Dennis Davenport, VP of Costco Los Angeles Region state that the optometrist was hired by Costco. She has an office within Costco 20 feet away from the optical department and has an official Costco email address.
I appealed Ms Sieglocks decision to the CEO of Costco, Ron Vachris via registered mail but did not receive a reply.

Also contacted the whistleblower team at Costco. No response.
I have been a member of Costco for over 35 years and have always had great relations with all employees and managers including Meg Vega, manager of Costco Goleta.
Why am I being banned for life at Costco Optical USA?

I am writing to complain about the way I was treated at your Fort Myers branch on 10/30/2024.

The cashier, Soraya, hit my merchandise, which was the food that I was going to pay for, brutally battered against the counter.

I waited my turn patiently, I have the right to be treated with respect, and not as if I had bought leftover disposable products.

That meal will be cooked and eaten by my family, we were doing the monthly shopping, we go once or twice up to three times a month and I can show you that we make a respectable investment for your company, or we used to.

I called the manager and he didn't even apologize while Soraya continued mistreating the merchandise, like a bag of stones, the manager Raul offered me to change the cashier line, he said but that the treatment would be the same, I informed him that I did not agree with the service, that that is no way to treat food and that Soraya was not doing a good job and the proof was that Soraya added merchandise to our cart that was not ours.

Raul stopped us when we were leaving because the next customer noticed the mistake.

When the merchandise is on the island and in the car it is Costco items, when I, the customer, pay for it it is mine and I organize it where and how I want, Costco system is an insult to the food and who eats it, a lack of respect and consideration for the customer, now that their cashiers throw it in the cart and do not allow the customer to put it in their bags, is lack of courtesy, this concept is accepted in the markets because it increased the number of markets and self-checkout, for whatever reasons you want, but that concept is included.

It is also based on the common sense of not putting a bag of potatoes on top of eggs or bananas, the products that need cooler together, that make sense? To you?. I usually bring my own coolers and pack of ice to preserve frozen products.

My husband John witnessed the situation that day, and he was shocked and speechless, my daughter Barbara is the account holder, and I am in charge of the inventory, administration, and purchase of what is necessary, I am a chef, for the house, that is why I personally select what we are going to consume, how and when from which market.

Costco is no longer on my list since I distribute my purchases among other markets where the prices are very good and the service is excellent, Trade Joe, Walmart, Publix, and occasionally Wings', their cashiers are friendly, they are not possessed like maniacs, the clients are respected since the profits that pay their salaries depend on them, the service standards are excellent, clients enjoy the time necessary to make their purchases and the market even offers to take the merchandise to the car.

Soraya's behavior is not isolated, I am tired of this type of mistreatment at Costco Naples, they do the same thing, the self-checkout has so many barriers that it is even slower, and all the controls that are carried out by the "stealing" customer are a pain.

All the rush from the cashier is useless because the stealing control slows down after that, Costco as clients we are all suspicious, the experience is disgusting, never count on me, anymore, and I am a person who reads reviews before using a service or making a purchase because others are generous with their time and warn about bad services and in compensation I also do it, that way we all improve the lives of others, it is a small contribution.

This experience was exactly two months ago, but the way they made me feel was so horrible that I couldn't let it go, the least I deserve is an apology and that's Costco's job.