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Well folks it seems like Costa Del Mar has joined the likes of Luxotica. Their customer service has become horrible and their quality has followed suit. I have been through this a few times with different manufacturers as they get too big to remember what it was that got them there. It's a shame too because these have always been my favorite fishing glasses. Just check around before you make the same mistake that I did on my 4th pair...needing service on a pair that broke twice due to structural flaws within 6 mos.
Hey FishFan56,
This is Laurie, and I work for Costa. I saw your post and wanted to see what I could do to help. Can you please email me at laurie@costadelmar.com and tell me a little more about your case?
I'm sorry about what happened to your glasses, and it concerns me when I hear you say that we've become "too big" to care.
I'd really appreciate it if you get in touch with me.
Thanks...Laurie
I live with it for as long as I can and send them in for the required shipping. And I have to pay to ship also. So its 20 bucks or so. Kinda of irritating but they are the best for my eyes. I will continue to use them. I just cant figure after 5 years why they cant fix this problem permanently. They turned my last pair around really quick.
Update...I paid for two pair of costas to be repaired in february. One that I had definately scratched, and one that the lense just cracked. I was told that the frames had some kind of contact inside of them...made no sense to me but I was given no other option but to pay to replace the lenses or just throw them away. So now I just sent BOTH pairs back to Costa. I just happened to drop and step on my brand new brines, so I cannot fault Costa but my triple tails have got the same dang cracks that I argued about in february. So they looked at them again and gave me the same story. I was also told that the glasses can crack if left in a car and these are not warrantied...that sounds very strange to me. I spoke to a senior advisor that offered me 10.00 off lense replacements but when I called them back I had the displeasure of speaking with a rep that would not honor this. This guy should not be in customer service as he was blunt and argumentive.
Through all the years I've spent on the water, all of the Vuarnets, Revo's, Maui Jim's, Oakleys, and the like that I have bought, lost, ruined, etc., I have to tell you that I am completely dissatified with Costa Del Mar. If they spent a fraction of their time trying to accomodate their customers instead of trying to get everyone on the fishing tours to help them market their glasses, they would be a better company. That's all they do is find ways to not stand behind their product, offering to repair your glasses for what a dealer would pay for a brand new set...and then trying to make you feel like they are doing you a favor! Customer service is what keeps me loyal, and I've spent my last $ with Costa Del Mar.
Update...I paid for two pair of costas to be repaired in february. One that I had definately scratched, and one that the lense just cracked. I was told that the frames had some kind of contact inside of them...made no sense to me but I was given no other option but to pay to replace the lenses or just throw them away. So now I just sent BOTH pairs back to Costa. I just happened to drop and step on my brand new brines, so I cannot fault Costa but my triple tails have got the same dang cracks that I argued about in february. So they looked at them again and gave me the same story. I was also told that the glasses can crack if left in a car and these are not warrantied...that sounds very strange to me. I spoke to a senior advisor that offered me 10.00 off lense replacements but when I called them back I had the displeasure of speaking with a rep that would not honor this. This guy should not be in customer service as he was blunt and argumentive.
Through all the years I've spent on the water, all of the Vuarnets, Revo's, Maui Jim's, Oakleys, and the like that I have bought, lost, ruined, etc., I have to tell you that I am completely dissatified with Costa Del Mar. If they spent a fraction of their time trying to accomodate their customers instead of trying to get everyone on the fishing tours to help them market their glasses, they would be a better company. That's all they do is find ways to not stand behind their product, offering to repair your glasses for what a dealer would pay for a brand new set...and then trying to make you feel like they are doing you a favor! Customer service is what keeps me loyal, and I've spent my last $ with Costa Del Mar.
The reality is that this is not the same company. I have owned Costas for over 10 years. I have 6 pairs. 4 of those pairs where old school! Java, Triple tails, wife has Isabellas and so on. Each pair was bought over 3+ years ago with the exception of the Corbinas and Blackfins. They looked well enough or I thought but the rubber kept coming off, and I mean OFF!!!. I was informed that this is a warrantied item, but really, after a couple of months!! I was just informed that Costa Del mar was bought by CROSS INK PENS!! over a couple of years ago!! WTF does an ink pen company know about making a sunglass, not to mention one of the best name brands in the fishing market to date! My Java 580 is still in fantastic shape and is over 6 years old except it lost one of the "C" logo on the side. I dare not send it back and get a new pair of S&$t to replace it!! it is a shame but they where one of the best glasses I have ever owned but I can replace them now at ACE hardware!! Really!!! Where is the great marketing department taking this company.. let me see. I would like some paint, silicone and ohhh btw a pair of 200ish pair of 580's. jeez really!
Well folks I have to say that yesterday I was pleasantly surprised by one of the senior people at costa del mar. They sent me a certificate for a brand new pair of glasses for all of my trouble at no charge. That is the customer support that I had always come to expect from CDM, but as of late, I hadn't seen it. Laurie saw my post here and seemed concerned but I never thought anything would come of it. I stand corrected and will thankfully keep my costas on while gamefishing here in South Florida! (Now if I could just get them to send me a cross pen...what's up with that?!!!)
Thank you Laurie...you walk the talk!
And by the way Blackwater...if you contact repair and tell them about the missing "C" inserts, they will send you new ones. Just a touch of crazy glue and they're fixed. I've had them come off on 2 pair and they sent them right out to me.
Costa Del Mar Sunglasses 
