I have some aviator style Costas, and the point where the frame connects to both lenses on either side of the nose bridge, the lenses have cracked. WTF? I'm careful as hell with those glasses.

Does Costa have a warranty?

I'm sure they will cover the repair / replacement under warranty. I had some frames crack a few years ago, and they took care of it promptly at no addtional cost to me.

My guess is they'll send you new glasses. They have good customer service.

They do have great customer service, but nothing is free....

Sent in a pair of Brine's a few weeks ago. The plastic frame right above the lense had cracked. I figured they would replace for free. I get the e-mail from Costa: $49.00 for new frames. WTH??

I call Costa, and they tell me they conclude the damage is not from "normal" wear and tear. Bummed out, but wanting my Costa's back, I authorize the $49.00. They fixed them nicely, sent them back quickly, and polished up my lenses. All in all - I was happy with the service, but felt a bit cheated by the whole 'lifetime warranty' bit.

I've heard that lenses are hard to get replaced for free. However, it sounds like you have a good case. I just ordered some Costa Wingman's (aviator as well), and hoping that doesn't happen to mine. Love em. My go-to's for shotgun shooting, and dove hunting this fall.

[This message has been edited by PFG (edited 6/15/2011 10:47a).]

I sat on my old ones in a golf cart and shattered the lenses. $85 replacement was less than a new set. They sent me a brand new set.

If it's $85 my money is on Mouth trying epoxy first...

Mouth, those are polycarb lenses yes?

get the glass lenses.

Yes, they're poly, I think. 480 or whatever if I remember right.

I always put them back in the case. Unfortunately, the aviator lenses attach to the nose bridge with a single rivet through the poly lens itself, and that is obviously a weak point. I have a wider face, so the glasses frame has to bend out a bit to slip on my head.

I have a pair of Ballasts that doesn't have a frame. The nose peice attaches directly to the lenses. They get stress cracks after about 2 years of service. I am on my 3rd pair and Costa replaces them every time I send them in. You just have to pay S&H.

I also had the silicon inserts come off my Fathoms and they replaced the earpieces for free within 10 days of mailing them.

Aye, I'm pretty sure you'll only pay S&H.

I sent in a pair of 580's last month. Replacement lens and shipping totaled out just over $100. Customer Service gave me the same BS about not normal wear and tear (true btw). At that point they already had them and I would have had to pay shipping to get them back broken. I thought cheap fixes were part of what I was getting for $200+ ....don't count on it

My wife sent in her cracked Maui Jim's at the same time. $25 fixed and shipped.

My experience is similar to drive on. Thought the big ticket Costa cost meant I could abuse them, and have them fixed for cheap. Not so.

I sent a pair in with an earpiece broken off just two weeks ago.
Got them back two days ago. Brand new pair and only cost me $10

Maui Jim is better and has excellent customer service

Glass bsvplastic lenses

If the lenses are poly and you took care of them, the frame may have been a tad too small for you. Constant stress on the lenses will cause poly to crack, which is why I generally steer people to other materials. Glass is my favorite material, but it's harder and harder to get it. Both hi index and trivex (a cousin of poly) do not have the cracking issues and have better optics than poly. So, with costa, always go with glass, if possible. It will be heavier, however. With Maui Jim, go with glass or their evolution lens (which is a hi index).

Also, epoxy on a lens is a bad idea and very likely to jack up the frame as well.

I have had a very similar experience to some of you (and TEXAG96) with my fathoms where the silicone came off of the earpiece. It has happened three different times and each times, costs me about $70, as they say it is "normal wear and tear" and not covered. One time they told me it was sunscreen or natural skin oils from my ears causing it. WTF?!?! They are SUNGLASSES that you wear on your friggin head!

The last time it happened I asked if they would let me switch to a different frame type that might not have the same issues. They were happy to do so, if I paid retail (in other words, no help at all). If they had even credited back what I paid for the glass-lensed Fathoms (about $175 I think), would have happily done that.

So, still have the Fathoms, still like the glasses until they break, then not quite as thrilled with the replacement service...

Sorry, edit to say that my frames were the same as TEXAG1996, but the service has differed in that they have not replaced them for only S&H.

[This message has been edited by broken antler (edited 6/16/2011 2:56p).]

Are they made in the USA?

It seems that the warranty work on Costas is really spotty. You might get one person who will take care of just about anything if you handle S&H or you might get somebody who wants you to pay a big fee.

It's weird because I've heard people who totally abused their Costas get them replaced for virtually nothing while others who babied them get hosed.