Comments on: How to Buy Quality Eye Glasses Online & Save Hundreds

By: caro

caro — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:54:07 +0000

I live in the Netherlands. We have one company for online glasses and they are still expensive. I’v been paying $ 400 for my glasses every other year. Last month I decided to go modern and try online buying. My best option was a USA firm. The price was worth the gamble. For $ 90,00 I had a super Kam Dhillon 3022 frame with progressive lenses, incl. shipping! In 7 days I received the parcel. Stupidly enough, It turned out I ordered the wrong frames. Coastal Contacts told me: “no problem, Just send them back, and re order the right frame, they would pay for all the costs. Today my new order arrived and they are really great. They send them express, special rush delivery. I would highly recomend them. Great frames and lenses, total guarantee and very personal service.
When buying frames first try out frames at other highroad shops, so you know what you want (I always know what I want and I stick with that.)

My tip: Coastal Contacts. I checked out all USA firms, it took me a full week to compare them all. They have wonderfull frames, also brand names.
1. Pay attention buying online at the size of the frame, read their information carefully. Bridgewidth and frame width is important, it makes al the difference how your glasses look awesome or just plain ok.
2. Search for a coupon on the internet, copy and paste the number when asked for, I got 25% off!!!.
Sorry for bad English.
That’s all, good luck.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:27:20 +0000

Hey guys, I’ve used a couple of online retailers in my life and I found that eyebuydirect.com holds the top spot in all around value, customer service, website efficiency, selection, and pretty much everything you need. Loved their “try it online” feature and the prices are incredible!

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:48:49 +0000

I had a bad experience with BigEye Optical. Avoid.

By: Tay

Tay — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:41:16 +0000

I had a simular experience when I had to buy a new pair of glasses to replace the ones I lost. When I went to the optician they tried to charge me almost £300 for a pair of rimless spectecals. I was told the price for my frames would be a little more expensive because of my strong prescription.(an index of 1.6) So instead of getting taken to the blody cleaners by a high street optician I decided to search for glasses online. I mean they couldn’t be any more than I was just about to pay.

Thank God I found Brill24. co.uk
I was able to buy a pair of rimless “Mackay“frames with anti refective, scratch resistant coating, and EMI coating for about 50 Euro. My regular optician tried to charge me for each one of these extra features.The coolest thing about the website in my opinion was the fitting room. You can upload a photo of yourself and try on all the frames you’d like before buying. After loging in and selecting my glasses I procced to to fill in my prescription information. The next morning I woke up with an email from Brille24 stating that I had entered my prescription information incorrect. After correcting my prescription information my glasses arrived after only 12 days!!!!

By: Ryan @ IQ test

Ryan @ IQ test — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:14:22 +0000

Yeah you definitely want to watch out forr anything you ahve to use to add on. I agree with the last commentor. Try some of those things and save some of that money.

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:18:26 +0000

Great article. As other commenters have pointed out, you are giving up something when you order online, and opticians provide additional service and expertise that is not available from the online retailers. But, you’re saving a heck of a lot of money too.

I think it’s a lot like going to Best Buy and having them help you pick out all of the stuff you need to set up your home theater and then having their professional install service come set it up, making sure the T.V. is the right distance from the couch, the surround sound speakers are in the right place, etc. You’ll pay a lot, but you’re getting extra help and service. Alternately, you could save lots of money on your home theater if you shop around for the components individually, educate yourself using online home theater guides on how to set it up correctly, and do the installation yourself. It may not be quite as good as when the professionals do it (but on the other hand, maybe it will be). Either way, you’ll have saved tons of money.

By: Sterling

Sterling — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:16:56 +0000

My Zenni Optical glasses were $92 (progressives, transitions, anti-glare, etc) and I’ve had them since July and the anti-reflection coating has started peeling off – both lenses – and stuck at halfway. I could deal with ALL the way but now I can’t use them. I’ve emailed as to how to get it off or fixed – not much chance there – but no response… I have worn glasses all my life and know how to take good care of them…

By: NancyG

NancyG — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:05:08 +0000

While the optician brings up a lot of valid reasons to be cautious I think the online option is a really good alternative for many reasons. My in store shopping experiences have been much more negative than most of my online purchases. Usually a store has some salesperson, not the actual optician, helping you pick out frames from behind a counter, often steering you towards particular styles that may or may not be flattering. The selection online is fantastic, especially with Rx sunglasses, and if you know what shape of frame you want you will have thousands of options.

One big thing to look for when buying online, however, is the size of the frame. Pay close attention to the measurements. I have a beautiful pair of Rx sunglasses that I can never wear because they always fall off my face since they are too big.

By: allen

allen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:31:37 +0000

If you’re worried about them going bad “in a few months” then buy a new one for EVERY month online! At $10 each and $5 flat shipping for zenni optical, that’s still only $125. Hundreds less then at the Optometrists.

By: Doc B

Doc B — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:55:40 +0000

Glasses and contacts are medical devices. Optometrists spend 8 years in school and $200,000 to prescribe eyeglasses. Opticians spend 2 years in school to learn how to adjust and fabricate glasses. The tools needed to make a pair of glasses cost $25,000-$35,000.

There is a very large difference in the quality of frames. I spent much time adjusting state provided medicaid frames versus quality frames. The quality of plastic, composition of metal,types of hinges, ect. Many cheap plastic lenses are made in Japan and actually flake. I have seen paint completely peel off the temples of plastic frames in less than 6 months due to improper clear coat.

There is also a large difference in lens coatings. For example, inexpensive nonglare coating can peel and get foggy within months of purchasing new glasses. The more expensive nonglare will last years longer. Ask anyone that has purchased Walmart glasses.