I am a monthly contac lens wearer. I have amblyopia and a slight astigmatism. I also have small cataracts no one thinks are bothersome or require surgery. I easily use readers for close work. I am nice and easy to work with. :) I had recently changed my insurance coverage and no longer had Kaiser optometry coverage. I went to the private Optometrist in Mission Valley Costco, Robin Slikker, O.D. I had a good exam and went home to try lenses. I found I was just not seeing well, distance nor close with readers. I made another appointment with Dr. Slikker, a few weeks out. Her office called to inquire why I was returning. I nicely said I just couldn't see well and maybe I needed glasses over my lens for driving. The day before my appointment her staff called me to say "Dr. Slikker reviewed your chart and, especially with the cataracts, there's nothing more she can do for you." I was shocked. I was willing to pay for another exam and glasses so I could function! I told the staff person I was very disappointed with her response. They then offered a refund. Yikes, I had never thought of asking for my money back. Of course I let them reimburse my exam costs. So, I made an appointment with Dr. Dinh at the La Mesa Costco office. I scheduled an appointment quickly. He was enthusiastic and skilled. He took my situation as a challenge and worked hard to get me a prescription I could function with. Whew! I can drive safely! I can read up close with my readers again! I am now comfortable. Thank you so much to Dr. Dinh. I would like to add the office staff were so pleasant and courteous. The optical assistant was skilled and appropriate. Joslyn and Miranda were awesome. read more

Another great experience with Dr. Slikker! I took my 93-year old stepmom in yesterday and Dr. Slikker was so helpful and patient, great at explaining various issues and making recommendations that included buying off-the shelf readers and using an eye gel for dry eye. It was a challenge going to Costco Mission Valley on a Sunday afternoon (and couldn't find handicapped parking) but the positive experience made it worth it. And, Virginia at the front desk was so upbeat and positive and put out such a happy vibe. The exam was $99 and the additional optional retina scan (which gave great feedback) was $29. $128 total for great peace of mind. I have been to Dr. Slikker myself but I now live further away so now I go to the Costco in Poway. read more

Dr Robyn Slikker is the kindest, most fun, compassionate, professional, optometrist I've met in my life thus far (though at 66 I'm still a young man, I may meet many more in the years to come). She's thorough and excited because she loves a patient who's interested in the whole world of eyes, which for me are as mysterious as the Upside Down or the emotional intelligence of JD Vance. Dr Slikker can be found at Costco in Mission Valley. I kid you not. read more

EXAM OFFICE INSIDE COSTCO VISION CENTER ... gave me a lot of WTF moments. This is part of the Costco Eye Center. They are the exam office with the optometrists and exam equipment. First time getting and doing eye-anything here. I made an appointment a week in advance. The front staff of the eye exam office are very professional and kind. They took my insurance info, did the pre-exam (measure the eye, take picture of the eye, etc.) and set me up to see the optometrist. Front staff, again, were very friendly and professional. However, the Optometrist - different story. The optometrist I saw was Dr Nguyen. I found him to be weird and making odd comments. I mentioned my current glasses (progressive lens) seen kind of strong and I never had adjusted to them pre-exam. You also can't tell someone they don't need glasses prior to giving them an exam. Also, from my last exam (1.5yrs ago) I was in a motorcycle accident where I nearly lost my vision in both eyes. On top of that fractured one of my orbital eye (wall and floor), had bleeding behind the eye for months, etc. I've seen multiple eye specialists and doctors. I think I have the right to get my yearly exam that my work benefits provide?! During the exam when determining which lends is clearer he would make comments that made me question if I should have come to this place for my prescription. WTF MOMENTS. "You said you have glasses since you were young. I don't know why, you don't need glasses" (WTF. I had bifocals since I was 8yrs old, I'm 41.99yrs old and seen many optometrist through the years who prescribed me glasses. Maybe my eyesight isn't terrible where I'm blind as a bat but my history shows I have slight stigmatism in one eye and I have to hold the book or get close to my computer screen to read better - that doesn't sound like perfect vision to me?!) In the exam, me deciding which lenses sees better. At times some looked identical and I really couldn't determine which one was better. I get this response "You pick one. (So I pick one because I had no choice). You pick that one? You want it stronger then your other glasses?" (WTF!!! I don't know. I'm picking one to the best of my damn vision that looks best at the time of the exam. I'm not purposely picking stronger lenses. Keep your side comments to self and do your damn job. I was quite irritated with him.) Clearly I need glasses if the optometrist gave me a prescription. Oh but you know according to him pre-exam "I don't need glasses". SMH Until the next review... read more

Had the pleasure of being seen by doctor Han Bui O.D. Today & was so pleased! It was packed in their small place but the front desk did a good job managing their operations to keep us safely distanced while filling out our paperwork. As a mechanical engineer I stare at a screen for 8-10 hours a day and I had not gotten an eye exam since 2015 so I was long overdue fearing the worst considering my glasses didn't seem to work as well as I remember! Overall I paid my $10 copay & am very happy I got the extra $ 29.00 Retna photo to get a better assessment of my eye. **clinic tip for selling more of those upfront....explain what the doctor Han did so well in the room about the old school dilate the pupil method only capturing a smaller zoomed in picture instead of a clear broader image that truly helps a doctor look a bit closer at the back end of your eye! - Scheduling online was easy - Get the extra retna photo - Choose Dr. Han Bui she went above and beyond addressing my needs and concerns! - @neeks93 on insta read more

Robyn Slikker, OD - @neeks93 Proudly able to see again! - Optometrists Near Me - San Diego, California

Dr Slikker is fantastic! I don't think I've ever reviewed an eye doctor because it's always pretty much the same. I always go to Costco optical and am temporarily in San Diego, so I picked the location closest to me. Dr Slikker and her front desk team are so kind and friendly, from start to finish. When I came in, both front desk people were on the phone, but one slid me the welcome forms with my name already on it. It's such a tiny thing but also so nice to know they were expecting me. That's how the whole experience felt. Dr Slikker goes out of her way to make sure any questions are answered, and she's super knowledgeable. We chatted about the differences between dailies and two week lenses, the environmental impact, the pros and cons of lasik for my particular prescription, and so on. My eyes never change so my visits are always pretty cut and dry but I actually enjoyed my time with Dr Slikker and her office. Oh- they're also super efficient as far as time goes. No wait! Great experience. Totally recommend. Will go back. read more

Dr Slikker is such a sweet lady. She is patient, kind and I left the aptmt with multiple transitional contact lenses samples to try. I found the perfect one out of them and I am delighted with the whole experience. read more

First time ever writing a one star review!! My husband and I tried called and left messages for three days straight. Not only do they let the phone ring off the hook but they didn't bother returning our phone call. I called the optical dept and the nice lady Paula told me she would walk my message over to them. They STILL did not return my call. I drove from Julian to go to their location to get what I needed. When I arrived I told the two women behind the counter that it's absolutely unacceptable that they didn't return our calls or answer their phone. Zero accountability, instead of apologizing and taking responsibility for the fact that they do not have proper staffing she implied that I was lying. The shorter one with glasses just kept rolling her eyes while the taller older gal took no accountability. I told her I get that you're busy but they need to figure out a SOLUTION to the high volume of calls. I told her they need to hire someone to take calls, she said we don't have room. I said the individual can work remote, she said we don't do that here. Their solution to a veteran customer that had to drive an hour to get an answer was "it's just the way it is" It's insane to me that they don't think they need to figure out a better way to handle calls. No meetings with management, no solutions. Just a shoulder shrug and no accountability. They take advantage of Costco members. Making a killing off the members and providing awful customer service. There is a huge waitlist for optometrist to get into Costco, because of the amount of customers and walk-in they get. They make a significant amount of profit. That's what's so disgusting about it. They have the money to hire a person to just take phone calls but they don't because it's not about customer service. They didn't even bother to apologize, instead laughed it off as I was purchasing my husbands glasses. I told the front end manager about the situation. Sam, apologized and took accountability for their irresponsibility but it doesn't matter, they're still going to ignore their phone calls. They've lost my husband and I as a customer and hopefully with this review they'll lose a couple more. read more

First timer today. The service felt scammy. Optometrist Ryan Nguyen hurried through my exam. The very, very little* he was able to articulate came off not only as rude, but highly unprofessional. There is a certain level of expectation with certain service industries, as there is for medical and professional services, and this was akin to a cheap $10 dollar haircut where you're wondering if your barber is gonna slice your ear off AND you agreed to it SO you better like it. Or a nail salon. Or a foot massager. Not kidding. Do not ask Ryan to repeat himself because he's not having it, he's snappy, his 'word' is final. The man CANNOT speak English to the level that's is expected! He claimed, I think he said, he had worked with many offices and they send clients home without lenses after exam, which isn't true, or at all my experience for the last 4+ years at the optometrist in the Walmart at Murphy Canyon, and 10+ years elsewhere. He also said there is nothing I could do lol talked as if I were getting a free service from an unwilling provider. Receptionists were made aware of the situation. For those of you that had insurance and didn't get a prescription, I got mine but I paid out of pocket. After reading reviews in multiple platforms, I must add he asked me to take my mask off multiple times because the fog from my breath was hindering his ability to do his work. I wasn't screened for temperature either. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Robin Slikker for more years than I want to admit. She has always shown the highest level of professional courtesy and ability. Today, I was able to take advantage of a cancelation and saw the doctor within an hour of my call. Everything went well and I was in and out within 45 minutes or so. Dr. Slikker answered all of my questions and was very helpful in suggesting the types of eye-ware that would work for me. She has a wonderful and supportive personality, and makes you feel good about your eye care. That's hard to find nowadays in the medical world! read more

Robyn Slikker, OD - Optometrists Near Me - San Diego, California

So helpful! Took me in last minute & was very informative & supportive for what will truly work best for me! Very grateful to Dr. Slikker & trust her so much for the future. read more

$159 for a contact lens eye exam without insurance as of March 2024. $20 more for astigmatism

Great customer service. The entire staff was extremely helpful and kind! This will be go to for any optometry needs

My first appointment with Dr. Slikker. I ended up leaving and not getting my scheduled exam as they were understaffed and beyond busy. They weren't able to give me a time frame for when I'd actually be able to be seen. So I can't comment on the actual exam but you're probably better off going to a smaller and better staffed office. Whenever I notice the front office being in disarray with one person doing everything (check in, check out, taking payments, doing parts of the exam) I question the overall service I'd get. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and exam with Dr. Robyn Slikker in the Mission Valley Costco. She is ultimately extremely professional but also very kind and engaging, talking you through the process and also giving practical advice all the while keeping things upbeat and moving you along in the process. She is wonderful and her staff is the same. I would give her more stars if I could. read more

I always pass by her office, but never thought to stop in. Dr. Slikker and her staff were pleasant. They all seemed polite, but overworked. Probably too much foot traffic being in Costco. I got my annual eye exam here and did not have to pay anything out of pocket. However, Dr. Slikker insisted that I dilate my eyes (due to family history, and for the sake of eye health), which is fine by me. But to be completely honest, I felt a tiny bit pressured to do it and it cost $15? I don't even rmbr anymore. I think i felt intimidated by her super serious explanation of how important it was. Anyway, I got my prescription afterward and went on my merry way. TLDR: Good Optometrist & pleasant experience, but I actually switched and went to see Dr. Ta at New Optix instead (right inside of 99 Ranch @ Balboa). She's really cool and gets straight to the point. No fluff but still gives you that valued feeling as a patient. read more

Don't bother calling their office. You will not reach anyone. They're a bit transactional so don't expect superb customer service. They're conveniently located in Costco but don't answer their phones. read more

Been coming to Dr Robyn for years. Honest, kind, knowledgeable service. The pleasant, high quality service is something you might not expect at a high volume site, but Dr Rob n delivers consistent results,. She keeps a great history of your records. read more

Dr Davison was amazing. Super kind, helpful, patient. The place is a clean, Covid safe and a good deal. I called several other places before going here. Other places are super expensive. Highly recommend read more

Bad experience with Dr. Bui. It was my first time going to an optometrist (never worn glasses), so I guess shame on me for going to Costco. It seemed like she rushed through everything, wasn't very pleasant and gave no guidance after my appointment was over. My advice as a first timer: Call the optometrist closest to where you live and ask how much the eye exam will be. It may be a few bucks more expensive but I GUARANTEE you will receive better service. Schedule it with them so that you know your are getting your moneys worth. My local optometrist costs $180 for first timer no vision insurance, basically same as Slikker bad office and Bio's bad service read more

Long-time Costco optical customer here; we moved into town recently and tried the Costco nearest our home in LJ. Big disappointment; the Dr seemed only interested in hurrying through the exam and saying "NEXT!". So I said NEXT too, and the following year we tried Dr Slikker, although not at all in a convenient location to us. Getting an appointment wasn't easy, which can be seen as a good thing. I am older, with some eye issues not solvable by a simple optometry visit, but I was there to fix a bad prescription from the year before. Dr Slikker was patient and took the time to hear my other issues; we went through the exam and she gave me a prescription. Turns out, when I got glasses made from that, they weren't quite right, although better than before by several levels. So I opted for the re-do they offer. She refined her exam and when it turned out her testing showed the original RX was essentially correct, but I still couldn't get good vision out of the glasses, she leaned on her years of experience and figured out that Costco optical needed to make a change in the way they measured me for fitting. So I went back to the counter with a very minor correction in the RX, just a tweak really, but with new instructions for the opticians. I am pleased to say that this did the trick. Because of my other issues, I still do not have 100% vision, which she had apprised me would probably happen from the outset, but I am now functional. With the prior doctor's Rx, I couldn't trust myself to drive and had to fall back upon glasses made several years ago which, even though an old Rx, were at least semi-functional compared to the bad ones I got from the other Costco. Thanks to Dr Slikker and her staff, esp Tracy at the desk, for getting me fixed up. I sent my wife to Dr Slikker as well and we will be back next year. read more

I don't know how she doesn't have 5 stars!!! The place is friendly, clean and everyone is very inviting. She gives you more than enough samples for contact lenses to try so you can make informed decisions before picking which lenses you want to go with. Simply put, she's the best!! read more

Easy to make an appointment and appointments are very quick with minimal wait time. The staff is super nice, and I've always had a pleasant experience. Highly recommend. read more

This review is not for Dr. Slikker because I did not have an appointment with her, but I visited her office. I just wanted to comment on how kind and attentive her office staff is, specially the two women running the front desk (sorry I did not catch their names). They answered all of my questions and were very sweet. Their manner alone will keep me coming to Dr. Slikker's Office. Thank you! read more

THE best optometrist. Dr. Slikker CARES! Her office staff is friendly and so helpful. So convenient since they are right inside Costco. Great office hours. read more

I been coming to this office for years and noticed the customer service has gone down hill dramatically. Making appointments online is easy but plan to spend 30 minutes to 1 hour pass your appointment time and maybe longer depending on the day. The front desk is unorganized and skip the order of how the appointments are schedule. So that adds on top of your wait time. I will be looking for a different office to get future eye exam and won't be drive extra miles to come here anymore. read more

My appointment was at 12pm. At 12:20 the assistant did the preliminary exams. At 12:45 the optometrist finally saw me. She was helpful and nice. I was done and left at 1pm. The exam was not worth the 1hr visit. read more

I came in for my eye exam, here's what I would like to say about my experience. It's inside of Costco so very easy to find. Make an appointment beforehand because they get busy but I believe they do take Walkins if it's available. I called two days prior to my appointment Doctors are Very professional and smart. Asked me many questions to help understand my eyes and family history. Very articulate and walks you through everything. Front desk ladies are sweet and accommodating. Great first time experience I would highly recommend this place. read more

Love Dr Slikker! Since relocating to California, I had not found an eye doctor that had been as good as the one that I had in Hawaii. Dr Slikker is top notch! She recognized some issues that I have had in the past and even noted that my previous Dr had done a good job at caring for my eyes. I liked how she explained what each test was that she was performing on my eyes,I found this helpful. She has a friendly manner about her that is warm and that is key when you have someone in your face looking into your eyeballs. Which can be a little bit creepy when someone is all in your space and practically pressing their nose to your face while looking at the inside of your eyes! Her office is located right in Costco. She also gave me a few sample contacts to try out. Which I ended up buying because they wore better than the ones that have worn for years. I would definitely recommend her to other people and have done so. read more

This was my second visit for an exam with Dr. Slikker. Let me just say she is just absolutely caring and personable. I've had prior eye doctors who were nice enough, but seemed to just go over a check list. However with her, she was extremely thorough. She went over my previous prescription(s) and talked over how I was not 100% satisfied with those contacts. She gave me details of the brands and what they were made of and she suggested a new brand that she thought would best suit me. Yet still she wrote out 3 different prescriptions so I can make that determination later for what worked best and that I have those options (monthly, biweekly disposibles, costs). She really took her time explaining her findings in the "health" portion of this eye exam. And after awhile of just sitting there and listening to her soothing voice, I came to the conclusion that this woman was a guardian angel. I think I even saw a bright light behind her head. haha She just got me to really think and evaluate some of those things she was informing me about. She even showed great excitement that my prescription didn't go up! Whoopee!! I'm already blind as a bat, but hearing that it didn't get worse like usual..awesome! Damn, that's like going in for your annual physical to find out your blood pressure and cholesterol level went down! Really, you can't ask for much better than her. read more

I love any place I can get my eyes checked and a 48 pack of toilet paper! I never saw Dr. Slikker, just keep hearing her name. I saw a Vietnamese Optometrist, and he reminded me a lot of the Thai guy in The Hangover. He was very nice, but also very to-the-point. The receptionist (Giorgina?) was very helpful and keeps you moving efficiently through the process. One thing to note, this is Costco (although operating independently, they are still inside a Costco), so do not expect donuts and coffee or delightful conversation. This is straight-to-the-point eye checkup/exam and out the door. They were very efficient, and I will be going back. $49 for glasses exam, $89 for contacts, and add $15 for eye dilation. 4 stars, would be 5, but no coffee and donuts. read more

Gather 'round for a tale of how little regard I have for my health, my children! I have medical and dental insurance through my job, however, I don't have optical. So when my parents' insurance dropped me at age 26, I decided that the six months' worth of contact lenses I had would have to last as long as possible, which ended up being approximately 13 and a half months. It was like Depression Era rationing except for my eyeballs. "One month disposable" turned into "until your irises turn orange" and a tear across a lens was easily remedied by a tiny dot of super glue. You might think, "why didn't you just wear your glasses instead of risking your eyesight?" and to that I answer, "because I look like Elvis Costello with coke-bloat in glasses, and also it's none of your business." So to recap: I care more about looking weird than I do about potentially GOING BLIND. Sadly, my final pair of jury-rigged, duct-taped lenses slowly disintegrated on my eyeballs this past week, leaving me wondering how I'd go about getting new ones when an appointment at my old optometrist cost as much as a 3-bedroom ranch in Arkansas. A friend mentioned that Costco offered cheap vision exams ($89 flat if you need contacts), so I called up to make an appointment, and was lucky to score someone's cancelled slot the following day. I can kind of sympathize with all the folks who mentioned that the receptionist wasn't the most friendly of ladies... she was a little short on the phone and not too welcoming upon arrival. But watching the steady stream of patients through the office (6 in the hour or so I was there), I can understand her not having time to be a sweet, jovial "can-I-get-you-a-magazine-or-a-hot-towel" type that you might see at some private (re: expensive) optometrists. Get over it, peeps. Sit down, fill your paperwork out, and wait quietly for your UNDER $100 EYE APPOINTMENT, JEEZ. As everyone has said, Dr. Slikker was quick, accommodating, and knowledgable (she answered a bunch of annoying Qs I had about allergies and contact lens issues), and even sent me on my way with a few samples to try. A++, would allow to dilate again. Also, you don't have to lie about having a Costco membership or attempt to limbo past the security guards at the entrance (which one did I do, you ask? I'LL NEVER TELL)... although if you plan to purchase lenses there, you'll need a card or someone with you who has one. read more

Dr. Slikker is my favorite optometrist, and she's at the Mission Valley Costco 4 days a week. She's patient, respectful, and professional. She explains things well. I'm always confident that she'll get my prescription just right. Optometrists have to work close to your face, to see the health of your eyes. When someone needs to be "in my space", I want someone that I feel comfortable with. I always feel comfortable with Dr. Slikker. I first met Dr. Slikker when she worked in a different office, prior to Costco. Over the years I've tried other optometrists, but always return to Dr. Slikker as my fav. Costco has good deals on glasses, and they come with a good guarantee. So it's very convenient that Dr. Slikker's office is inside of Costco. You'll need an appointment as she's popular. They do take walk-ins, if there is a cancellation or a no-show. But I like to make an appointment. My only complaint is that when I called to make an appointment, I could only reach the voice mail, even though I called a couple of times. But since I really wanted to see Dr. Slikker, I did leave a voice mail for an appointment. It took over 24 hours for me to receive a call back from the receptionist so that I could schedule an appointment. I get my eye exam and prescription from Dr. Slikker, and then I walk over to the optical department of Costco to buy my glasses. I don't wear contacts any more, but in the past, after having the eye exam for contacts, Dr. Slikker gave me some samples of different types of lenses so that I could try them. On my recent visit, I only got the eye exam for glasses, and it cost me $59 for the eye exam. I didn't get my eyes dilated this time...there's an extra charge for that. The receptionists have always been professional and cordial with me. It smells delicious like freshly ground coffee in the waiting room, because it's right next to a coffee grinder at Costco. So be warned...a visit to Dr. Robyn Slikker's office will have you craving coffee! read more

You will be putting your life at risk by going into this office. There were absolutely no COVID safety measures followed during my brief experience in Dr Slikker's office. While the receptionist was friendly, no one took my temperature or asked me questions about whether I had any symptoms. There was no hand sanitizer anywhere in sight. So after the receptionist looked at my glasses, I had to ask for sanitizer to clean them. (She did not have gloves on. And her mask was loosely fitted and not properly on her nose and face.When I finally got to see the doctor, she was wearing a cotton bandanna as a mask. When I questioned her about whether it was a proper facial covering, she went into a defensive posture saying something about everyone needing to wear a facial covering that they're comfortable with. When I challenged her and said, " but you're a doctor. Shouldn't you be wearing a medical face mask? " She looked embarrassed and said she wasn't comfortable seeing me. I said," that's good because I'm not comfortable seeing you." I left without an eye exam. I reported her to the Costco store manager but since she doesn't work for Costco, I doubt any action will be taken. Clearly, I will never be going back there again. read more

I have seen Dr Stryker several times. I love her as an optometrist. However, like other reviewers I have had difficulty get through on the phone or getting calls returned. And the assistant is difficult to understand. Dr Stryker gets 5 stars for her care, but her office management gets one star. For the past 3 days I have not been able to reach them. For the past 2, I have not been able to leave a message because I think the box is full. I did leave a message Monday (they are closed Monday), but that message has not been returned. I had the same problem last year and the year before. read more

Nice but weird I'm not sure yet if the prescription she gave me is the one I need, I'm going to get a second opinion.

I am so sad that I only need to see Dr. Slikker once a year. Charming, talented and a joy to visit with while receiving an excellent exam. It was with Dr. Slikker that I had my 40-year-old eye exam and she recommended mono-vision as my method of correction. She explained the concept thoroughly and managed my expectations so I knew how the next week of adjusting would go. Dr. Slikker was right on target and in a few days my vision was perfectly adjusted. It's wonderful to find a professional who really knows their craft. Thanks Dr. Slikker. See you next year! read more

Dr. Slikker is undeniably a very professional, efficient, and knowledgable Doctor of Optometry. She thoroughly explained all questions and misperceptions I had regarding my vision. She is a very pleasant person and I'm glad I decided to stop by her office. She has a comforting personality and I highly recommend her service to anyone and more so everyone. On a side note, her receptionist should speak clearer instead of mumbling entire sentences and walk around instead rolling her chair from one end of the room to the other... Unpleasant visual of a professional business. read more

Dr. Slikker was great, very thorough, complete and personable. I was expecting a cattle call, but wanted to get my eye exam at a reasonable price since I do not have eye exam insurance. (it was $49) But it was NOT a cattle call, was really surprised how nice she was and really took the time to get the correct Rx and was very caring! Her receptionist was friendly and easy to converse with while waiting for my exam, not sure if it was the same woman that was mentioned in other reviews (they did not seem to like the receptionist) but I would not agree with those reviews at all. I would highly recommend getting your eyes checked here! I have never seen better with my new glasses based on the Rx and the great eyeglasses from Costco. FYI, It is best to schedule an appointment to minimize your wait time. read more

Incredible and happy experience! I went there without appointment on a busy Saturday morning, just to check it out. The assistant said that she had a spot. I had my visit done immediately and the doc was GREAT: very detailed, precise, and full of useful advices. All for $69. On the previous years I had visits with "fancy" doctors, paying $250, $175, $155, and all of them were WAY worse than Robyn Slikker. For services, it's not always true that you get what you pay for. read more