Ever wonder why eyeglasses are so expensive? 60 Minutes had a really interesting piece on the Italian eyeglass manufacturer Luxottica that helps explain why. Luxottica now manufactures just about every major designer eyeglass brand in the market – Gucci, Prada, Ray Ban, Oakley, Michael Kors, Armani, Tiffany & Co, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Versace, Chanel, Chaps, Paul Smith, Vogue, etc., etc…
Not only that, but they also own or run the retail channels – Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, Spectacle Hut, Sunglass Hut, and Oliver Peoples. All but a few brands sold at these retailers are made by Luxottica.
AND they even control some of the payment channel by owning the second largest vision insurer, Eyemed.
So not only do they manufacturer a large majority of the glasses (their CEO estimated that at least half a billion people own a pair they manufactured) – but they also set the prices. If you’re an optician or retailer, you want their brands. If you’re a brand, you want to be in their stores. You have no negotiating room, and when you do compete, Luxottica refuses to sell your brand at their stores, and then buys you out after your stock sinks, as they did with Oakley.
If you are insured by Eyemed and buy a Luxottica brand from Lenscrafters, for example, Luxottica has made the glasses, sold you the glasses at prices they’ve set, and even paid themselves for part of the glasses through their insurance arm.
I won’t say the “M” word, but they control the market.
So what can you do to avoid paying so much for glasses?
How to Avoid Paying High Prices for Eyeglasses
As consumers, we are willing to pay a lot for eyeglasses. They are functional, they protect our eyes, they grace our beautiful faces, they are a focal point for those who look at us, and some of us are completely disabled without them.
So long as we are willing to pay high prices for glasses, Luxottica and others are going to charge us high prices. Luxottica is banking on us being in the dark on why prices are so high, so we think it’s just the way it is. But we are partially at fault for not being informed, or being informed and not caring.
Should we pay hundreds for a pair of glasses when they cost so little to make?
NO!
And as an informed consumer on the path to financial bliss, HELL NO!!
So what can you do to avoid paying so much for eyeglasses?
Tip #1: Do not buy brand name eyeglasses.
You will pay an exorbitant amount for the name punched on that frame. And, since Luxottica owns most of those brands and sets the prices and their profit margins, you pay even more.
I’m sure we’ll here the quality argument in the responses, but name stamped on frame does not equal quality when it comes to glasses. It’s no different than grocery store brand name/generics. I’ve purchased a number of high quality, off-brand eye glasses that have stood the test of time and abuse better than more expensive brand names.
If you’re trying to impress others with that brand stamped on your face, you’re impressing the wrong people for the wrong reasons. And you’re getting price gouged to do so.
Tip #2: Use your HSA or FSA to pay for glasses tax-free.
You can annually contribute pre-tax funds to an HSA or FSA and then use those funds to pay for your glasses (or contacts) without paying taxes on your withdrawals (they are considered qualified medical expenses). If you’re in the 35% tax rate bracket, you’ve just saved yourself 35% on your eyeglasses. Congrats! Note: this only applies to prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, and prescription contacts.
Tip #3: Buy your glasses online. Stay away from brick and mortar retailers.
You can buy a great pair of prescription glasses online (lens included), for less than $100. There is enough online price competition going after this informed consumer audience, that prices have stayed low. These guys have carved out their own niche online. They don’t compete for uninformed consumers like Luxottica does.
I’ve covered how to buy glasses online previously, and in that post I recommend a few low-cost online eyeglass retailers, and you can easily find a quality pair of glasses online for less than $100 (frame + lens). Here are a few of my favorites:
- Warby Parker: I like their proprietary frame quality and style, try-before-you-buy, and the prices are reasonable.
- Glassesusa.com: 30%+ off first frame at link.
- Lensabl: Glasses, contacts, and they will even craft lenses to fit frames you already have. Exclusive 15-25% at link.
- Eyeconic: 5% off at link.
- 39dollarglasses.com: always affordable!
- Eyeglasses.com: 15% off at link. Good selection.
- SmartBuyGlasses: 15% off at link. Good selection.
If you’re looking to buy contacts online as well, most of the retailers listed above sell them. Additionally, check out:
- Glassesusa.com: 30% off entire first order.
- Warby Parker: 20% off your first contacts order.
- Lensabl: Get 15% off contact lenses at link.
- Eyeconic: 5% off at link.
- Discountcontacts.com: 20% off at link.
Ultimately, once again, it pays to:
- be informed
- shop around
- act
Eyeglass Cost Chat:
- Will this knowledge of Luxottica dominance change your eyeglass purchasing behaviors?
- If you’re still pro-brand name, what is the justification?
- If you’ve purchased glasses online, what is your favorite online eyeglass retailer and why?
After buying online, I will never buy eyeglasses again from the eye doctor/retailer. I had a great experience with Warby Parker.
I just saw them, thanks for the tip. It’s absolutely ridiculous how Luxottica can get away with this stuff. I thought cornering a market was illegal, and after seeing that show on CBS how Luxottica pushes out competitors, now THAT I know is illegal yet they get away with it. It would be interesting to know how much money Luxottica “donates” to politicians. I was in the eyeglass store yesterday, $300 for frames that looked identical to $5 sunglasses I saw in a newspaper stand.
This whole frenzy about Luxottica is ridiculous. If 60 minutes and the author had done their homework they would have discovered that while Lux is the single largest there are several other frame manufacturers that are almost as large (at least as far as frame manufacturing is concerned). Where they differ is that they don’t have retail outlets, they sell to the eye Dr’s and independent opticians of which I am one. They manufacture a better quality frame and these “retailers” also offer a far better quality lens than you will get either online or at one of the Lux. outlets ( sears, lenscrafters, or target for example.) The quality of the frames usually offered on line is quite frankly crap. I have had several patients try online glasses only to come in and order new glasses after only a month with their online “bargains” and when I deliver their glasses they have actually thrown the online glasses away. In fact I have with their permission taken a couple as examples of what you can expect online.
There is a reason why most states license their opticians. It’s because there is more to eyeglasses than meets the eye. (Like the pun). In most cases the measurements need to be accurate. This becomes more critical when we start wearing bifocals. Make the wrong measurements here and the glasses might just be worthless.
As to the cost most optical shops that I know use the typical 2.5 times markup. This allows for a reasonable profit after all expenses are accounted for including overhead, ins, etc. I seriously doubt that you see your optician or optometrist running around in a mercedes. Your Ophthamologist on the other hand probably does.
Meh. You seem to gloss over the persistent issue: Why on earth are such easily manufactured, cheap-to-make, etc. frames (and lenses worth 400 dollars or more?
Answer: because people are willing to pay it?
That doesn’t satisfy me. I buy perfectly good glasses for 1/10th the cost at zenni.com or eyebuydirect.com and have been very satisfied with the fit, look, and function of these companies’ products.
You independent folks are going to have to compete one day.
Please bear in mind that billions of dollars are literally wasted each year on overpriced glasses, and that money is finite. Middle class kids are having their educations damaged, eating cheaper food, riding around in less safe cars, and a hundred other little insults because families are over paying for glasses. And it has to stop now.
A Mercedes Benz has a hefty price tag for the quality of vehicle that it is. Or, even more how about Bugatti – all hand made to ones custom order. Or, you can drive off a lot in a new mediocre car and be proud of it. No difference in the eyecare industry. Prices are what they are for reasons. Ignorance is not justification for belief. Understanding what goes into what’s on your face to assist your vision has complexities. One would trust to an online retailer and call it “fine”? That’s the person who says wearing a seatbelt is more dangerous than not. You have one set of eyes to last a lifetime – and you’d let some invisible entity process glasses and trust they are perfect? Wanna play Revolver Roulette to? I am one of those who did just that. I have a high power and wanted to save a buck – so, I went to an Online Retailer and ordered a pair that I paid $159.00 with a progressive bifocal and what I thought was a quality frame. After being elbowed, my glasses broke on the left side in 2 places and my lens fell out. I took them to my local optician, who, I went to for years, and told me that he was going to charge just to handle online glasses. Anyway, he located a frame the lenses would fit into until I could get a replacement from my online retailer (4.2 weeks, btw). He immediately noticed that the lenses looked wrong and asked my how my vision was. I told him it took about a month to get used to and he replied, “I’m surprised you can see anything at all, the lenses are switched eye for eye. Conversation led to another eye check with the onsite doctor, and now I have to wear prism lenses to get my eyes to “reset” because I wore the wrong power for a little over a year which caused muscle pull and when I wear the correct glasses without prism, I see double images. I thought my glasses were fine from the online retailer, but just as most customers posting on here, i was ignorant and uneducated about the importance of quality materials, service and knowledge – I guess I don’t mind paying a little more, because it could cost you a lot more in the long run when trying to save a buck.
What car brand do you own? What brand of jeans do you wear? What brand of sneakers do you have? The point is this – you became loyal to a brand because of your success with its quality recognition. You pay a little more for those products because they make you either feel good, look good, or both. Otherwise, you could buy a clunker car to save money, go to a thrift shop and buy used clothes and shoes. You most certainly will get what you pay for – why is that thought process so different for glasses? When you first receive a pair of eyewear form Zenni, or whatever online retailer, sure they look good, but what about the usage over time? Were the optics made right? Who is going to back their product longer than 30 days? There are so many different angles with regard to the “hidden costs” that makes $40.00 online valuable to you on the upfront. Would you trust a heart surgeon diagnosing over the internet and prescribing you drugs from the internet – when you don’t know where they are coming from and who regulates it. The point here is this: There is a market for everything. What you want out of your purchase is going to require a cost – only the consumer dan decide what they are willing to spend. Just understand that there can be a bigger cost than just saving a buck.
And this is why I wear custom hard contacts. I avoid all this nonsense. I buy my backup frames from Warby, Costco, or some other non-Luxottica company. I then have them shipped to the UK where I get HD glass lenses that last for years without a scratch and are super thin. (They won’t give you glass in the U.S. for some reason.)
I used to adore Oliver Peoples, but noticed around 2007/8 that quality took a dip. Low and behold that is about the time they were acquired by Luxottica via Oakley who couldn’t figure out how to get around Luxottica for some reason. Costco offered them a great deal and they balked. Now they regret that decision. Oh well, live and learn.
I enjoy dodging Luxottica. My optician thinks the quality is dreadful, but her owner insists on selling them, so I just get my evaluation done there. They pretty much lost my business otherwise.
When glasses cost >$300 with good insurance there is a problem. I bought my online and will continue to do so. Tell your crap to my wallet.
I just came from lens rafters the ray Ban frames were only 159 it was the other 900 dollars that could not be explained no way that 900 dollars worth of craftsmanship or any other thing goes into making lenses.
I work for the state and I have (as far as I’ve been told) the best insurance available. I go to the eye doctor or lens crafters especially and try to do the math. I’m covered for $200 for frames 85% on lenses 100% on exam and xrays. I pick a frame of good brand $140 frames for me and my daughter on her own share of insurance a 110 pair.. after all is said and done I am asked to pay $545 out of pocket. That’s roughly $1100 or more if you add what my insurance is supposed to cover.. I don’t get where all the costs come from
To licensed optician
Sorry we are not buying your crap ie both what you say and the low quality product you claim is high quality. LOL
The glasses I buy online are far superior to anything I can get locally and the cost is a small fraction. As far as bifocals yes you need to be sure the measurements are correct. So what you are saying we are all too stupid to actually understand and make those measurements. Yeah only someone licensed by a government can do it. We all know how well government works. lol :-)
Sorry to burst your bubble but you are way off the mark. Of course when people bypass your services it hurts your bottom line. We feel so sorry for you. :-( Yeah no. :-)
Couldn’t agree more. Its almost like, well, they’re getting paid to diss all online lower cost optical services. I also understand that we should all practice ‘buyer-be ware’. But guess what, thanks to these customer reviews there are some great on line options. This brick n motor optician lost credibility not pointing this out.
$400 for a piece of plastic? How gullible do you think the public is?
Just remember to also measure the distance from the bottom of the glasses frame to where your eyes should be. Too many online stores don’t do this, they just want you to measure the pupillary distance and average the vertical distance. Vertical distance from frame bottom to eye is also important.
That is not True! Name them?? !!
“most optical shops that I know use the typical 2.5 times markup. This allows for a reasonable profit” So you add $150 to the $100 cost, for 10 min. work calling/fax in the prescription to the lab. I call that extreme greed($900/hour) !! And I bet the cleaning people who clean your office, get paid very good(NOT)!
I hoped like hell they would be good. The focal point was too high. I had to raise up the frames to look through the right point. They really were terrible. Maybe I am too fussy. Even the optometrist can get this bit wrong and then you are stuck until you have had enough and try again, When I finally get a good pair, it’s like the world opens up. Only cost me $100 to find out so it was worth it.
Online glasses are crap. They don’t fit right and their model is based on sending you pairs until they’re not bad enough to make you return them.
Maybe if you are like Smokin Paul and aren’t doing very well financially – still dining on Hot Pockets, ordering tap water at restaurants, and determined to run every business owner out of business out of jealousy (until nobody has a job, like him) – then maybe you are the kind of person to wear ghetto glasses from the internet. Maybe “good enough” is good enough for you and you choose to see your world through internet garbage, injection-molded from China. To each his own.
Luckily for the rest of us there are still people with some dignity and self-respect and the brick-and-mortars can still provide quality eyewear. And Luxottica is a vertical monopoly (for all practical purposes), but you can find lots of much better independent lines that the celebs are wearing.
ROTFL you are a very funny guy. :-) Umm hate to burst your bubble, online or brick and mortar are all mostly manufactured in China. High taxes, the EPA, other government laws and bureaucracies have driven business to manufacture outside the country. Those over priced brick and mortar glasses you buy cost no more to manufacture than the ones sold online. However your brick and mortar has little competition and is selling at a massive marked up monopoly prices. They have little incentive to make them better or worry too much about quality. The online sellers are in competition with other online eyeglass businesses. Also to compete with brick and mortar they need a superior product as they can offer no in person support.
With Bill’s long rants I think it’s safe to say his eyeglass business is suffering from real online competition. Yes Bill you are going to tell us your have no part of the business. I already do not believe you. :-)
You must have nothing to compare to, or else you wouldn’t be making the comments you are making. You can’t measure the space between your pupils yourself. This is ridiculous. Also, you must have a very simple prescription, so are easily led to believe you are seeing the best you can in the cheapest of lenses. I have a complicated prescription and the difference between my vision in the quality lenses from an in dependent retailer and lenses from online vendors and lense crafters is remarkable. The 2nd time I got glasses from an online vendor, it turned out they didn’t even match the prescription I was given. They were like the prescription, but were not exact enough to give me clear, strong vision. You are way over the top on this topic in terms of rage and outrage.
Well well Professor Jane where did you get your degree in anything remotely eye or optical related? No, using your eyes to look at porn on the internet does not count. ;-)
Do you even know what pupillary distance is?
Are you aware of this new invention called a camera that can take a photo of a ruler held up to the eyes while the subject looks into the distance? The camera was invented around 1816 so maybe you missed that. ;-)
Funny when I had my last exam and asked the Dr what my pupillary distance was she came up with the same measurement I did with a camera and a ruler. Weird I know. I mean someone making a simple measurement, it sounds impossible doesn’t it. Hahaha ROTFL :-)
Oh and anyone reading your post will almost certainly take your word on the quality you got very seriously… NOT! :-) The only thing I am wondering are you a troll or a paid shill?
Oh and the “I have a complicated prescription” is hilarious. We are talking lenses something that has been around since Galileo.
I have gotten BETTER Quality online than at brick and mortar stores for much less. They lasted longer and some I still use even though my “complicated prescription” has changed. But who am I to believe, some nut job on the internet or my Doctor and my lying eyes.? :-)
Jane your post is lacking just one thing, credibility.
Glad you’re happy with yours.. I personally will never buy glasses online again. Prescription way off and frames look cheap and never fit right. I’d much rather pay a few extra bucks, see clearly and feel comfortable.
Ok your telling us you can’t make a simple purchase and when you do its really really bad. Hahaha So the rest of us are just too stupid to know the difference LOL OMG do you hear the words you type? :-)
My prescriptions were right on according to my Ophthalmologist. I guess my Ophthalmologist is also stupid. If only we listened to you first. LMAO hahaha Yeah NO! the quality is better online and the prescriptions are dead on. Let me say this another way, your full of it! ;-)
Warby-Parker is awesome!!! I have not actually purchased glasses from them yet, but I have paid the $1 (I think) to have 5 frames with non-prescription lenses to me, so that I can try them on.
They even have someone text you, to see if you need help finding the right fit! I think you can send them pics or maybe video chat, and tell them what you like and don’t like and they will help you find the perfect frames for your face.
Plus, they are all stylish! And the fact that I get to try on 5 pairs, means I can play with the different shapes, without the pressure of eyeglass doc office people wanting my choice ASAP.
That really helped me b/c I wasn’t sure if I could pull off round frames… had always gone rectangular, square or cat eye, but I did like the round ones and that is what I wear now!
You are part of the problem and the reason why legitimate brick and mortar retailers are closing up. Warby Parker is just another cheap Chinese made manufacturer that spent all their money on branding! When you buy or support this crap you and going against your own country! Thank God Trump is going after these companies who are screwing our own economy and flooding our marketplace with this cheaply made junk!
I have made 4 different purchases from Zenni optical, and I recommend them to pretty much everyone I know. I do add the stipulation that you need to know your facial measurments (not just your PD and your prescription) for the best results. As an example, I have a wide face [not a fat head :)] so when I order, I know that my frame width needs to be at least 133 mm, but not over 138 mm, because that would be too wide. There is not a good way to return the glasses while getting any money back unless there was a mistake on their part. I’ve had a few pairs fit weird, but I’ve never had a pair that I couldn’t wear.
I love the tint options for sunglasses (I’ve had 3 pair as my prescription has changed). I get the anti-glare coatings on un-tinted glasses, which range from 4.95-14.95 right now and they work great. My suggestion is to always order more than one pair. At the average price for my glasses, which is $15, the $4.95 shipping rate seems like a lot. Sometimes they’ll discount the shipping based on promotions, but $5 on a $50 order isn’t so bad.
When people compliment my glasses, one of my favorite things to do is mention how much they cost. They are always astounded, and ask where I got them.
I know this post is old, came up while googling something else. I agree i use zenni optical for my self and my husband. 1/3 cheaper then glasses where I live, and we had ins. Perscription has always been correct.
Seconded, HP! I LOVE Warby Parker. Amanda M, they’re more expensive than Zenni but they will send you frames for free to try on before you buy. Go to their site, pick out five pairs you want to try, and they mail them right to your house free of charge. I can’t buy frames without trying them on (I’m terrible at judging what will actually look good on me) so this has been a lifesaver for me.
I will also never buy again from the doctor/pharmacy. My current pair of frames came from Kaiser, at a cost of less than $300 out the door.
I’m going to try buying online.
“If you’re trying to impress others with that brand stamped on your face, you’re impressing the wrong people for the wrong reasons. And you’re getting price gouged to do so.”
At least your article didn’t come off preachy… Oh wait.
Do you also yell at expensive cars, as they drive down the road, letting them know that they could have bought a Kia, with a 10 year warranty? Or better yet, ride a bike?
As far as Luxottica, let me give a couple words of advice. First, companies have been vertically integrating since the term was invented. This is good for stockholders, which is what companies are structured to satisfy. Jobs are being created. The economy is being stimulated. If you are choosing to specifically come against all other vertically integrated companies, then sharpen your pencil, because you’ve got a lot of writing ahead of you.
Second, please do more research than watching ’60 minutes’ for 12 minutes. Just like most anything else… some parts are true, some parts aren’t. The only way to get to the bottom is to dig deeper than watching television.
Third, Luxottica only has about 20% marketshare. There is other fierce competition in manufacturing, and retail (Walmart, Costco). Again, a little research goes a long way.
In the end though, good call on the HSA, and I have had some great experiences with Warby Parker.
“Do you also yell at expensive cars, as they drive down the road, letting them know that they could have bought a Kia, with a 10 year warranty? Or better yet, ride a bike?”
Actually, yes… my favorite past-time. This is a personal finance blog, man!
Fair enough. I enjoy your website, but thought you were a bit ‘prescriptive’ (pun intended) with the tone of the article. In my opinion, it’s worth pinching pennies in meaningless parts of your life, in order to put them towards a purchase that sits on your nose every day for 2 years. In addition, you might not think that there are sacrifices to your frame /lens quality when you buy them for $39, but there certainly are. Whether many perceive that lack of quality is a different discussion. What is certain though, is that the frames won’t be fitted as well, and the lenses won’t be placed as well. I’ve had to send multiple pairs of online glasses back for this reason. When I took them to my eye doctor to see if the precription was wrong, my doctor drew on the lenses and showed me how they weren’t placed correctly for my face. There’s a bit of risk involved in the online process, which many might be able to tolerate.
Cars quality can endanger your life while glasses quality can just give discomfort. But you can easier buy a replacement for $10 if your prescription is off. If you have the money and like to show off with your brand name glamor then I think it’s fine. But if you’re going into debt and sacrificing the quality of your life with an inability to pay your bills you’re probably making a bad choice.
Honestly though, I’d rather make friends who respect me as a person rather than how ritzy the things I own are. And if your self worth is based on such materialistic things then there is probably a problem. I think that is what the commenter is getting at.
To each his own I guess. I do like the comfort of good quality items, but I think when it comes to glasses, the price difference between online sellers and the doctors office is insane. And there is really not a big quality difference either. I’ve been wearing cheap $10 glasses and they have been holding up just fine. I think these high priced glasses are a racket. While it is unfortunate that the employees who work for these price gougers may suffer when people start wising up and shopping elsewhere. But that is the market and I don’t think consumer suffering justifies it. And these companies either need to change their business model or make something else that actually justifies such a crazy price.
Just got my eyeglasses delivered to me from Zinni yesterday, thanks to this blog (and the comments). I paid $130 for bifocals, frames have spring hinges. I like them very much. I was surprised by the “austerity” of the packaging – they came in a flimsy plastic case, no care instructions, and made in China (possible shipped directly from the mfr in China?). But they did include a microfiber cleaning cloth. Anyway, very happy with them & paid for with my HSA, so they were “free”:)!
I am a retired optician. The information here is a mix of true and not so true. I left the optical field because of the abuses heaped on the public by most retailers. Eyeglasses need to be fitted, preferably by someone with experience and understanding. You could cause yourself skin irritations or worse with an ill fitting frame. If your wear multifocal lenses you must be measured by a knowledgable professional while wearing the exact frame in which the lenses will be placed. If your frame becomes crooked, or uncomfortable you must have it put back into proper alignment. It IS true that buying frames with a “designer” name on it is no assurance of quality and there are many good manufacturers other than Luxottica. When you need eyeglasses ask for recommendations, do some shopping, ask questions.
I, too, am an optician and you are right on the money with your comment. It’s easy to be a hero in people’s eyes if you REALLY know how to adjust frames and how to troubleshoot a patients problems with frames, lenses and, to a limited extent, their vision. A shame that most people, new to the optical world, are showed a couple of films, given a “high sales” pep talk, and sent out to sell some glasses! Nothing wrong with that, all businesses must have sales, but it would sure be nice if the companies would place adjusting, troubleshooting, and coaching in as high a sphere as sales.
Yes with brick and mortar stories they have overhead costs and rent to pay which is understandably more expensive than online stores, but still $400 for a bit of plastic, metal and glass is not justifiably if in other countries you can buy a decent pair for $50-$100.
When I became an adult one of the first things I did was get a pair of much needed eyeglasses. My optomitrist flat out ripped me off with a pair of $160.00 frames. He then never sized me up and let me choose a frame that was too big and wrong for my face. To top it all off it would cost an additional $110.00 for an anti-glare coating. I decide not to get the anti-glare coating simply because it’s not in my budget to do so.
A month goes by and seeing the reflection of my eyeballs everytime I turn a computer screen on or go outside was becoming too much for me. I decided to look online when to my amazement I could have gotten a knock-off brand of similar style for about 1/5th the price. This of course included the anti-glare coating. I bought the glasses and wore them for two years straight without any problems.
I am just joining this website after spending an exorbitant amount of money on prescripon eyeglasses. In recent years, I have been purchasing glasses from myeyedr. Last weekend, my eyeglasses broke so i immediately went online to gauge my available options, and of course , there were no retailers open when I needed them, except for myeyedr in bethesda on Sunday afternoon. I went, i bought, i received today, and now… Eh….not so sure I like them. Just want to confirm my return options now.
LOL it’s funny because I have literally also been to that myeyedr in Bethesda, they are the WORST with their price gauging and deceptive pricing! I would never recommend them to anyone and hope people wise up and stop going there. Private eye doctors are so much better, lately I have been going to an eye doctor in DC and I just ordered contacts and glasses through Costco saving hundreds of dollars from what the eye doctor would have charged me.
The wayfarers were among the ideal selections in both equally departments and were being applied extensively by present day manner designers.
This is the cause why they are a single of the most sought right after sun shades today.
You have to ask yourself why do glasses have to cost more than a Ipad, I phone, bicycle…I can go on. Really is there that much metal/plastic and labor involved in making glasses. Does a person stand in “Italy” and hand make a pair of glasses all by hand? No!
Your local eyeglass store person will tell you that the fitting and sending off the information to the manufacturer takes ++time. They will also make it look like they have to make precise calculation that cannot be performed by the average person. Heck they will even tell you plastic and the metal used on the glasses has gone up in price by 1000 percent and glass has become rare. If you believe all that…..you truly are sucker.
I think there will be always people who will pay for the brand name stamp to show they paid more.
If the cost was more realistic of what it actually cost, then I would be willing to pay it at a local store. Until then …I will be purchasing online.
Opticians buy frames for 50p same applies when they buy contact lenses. Not a bad profit. Trust me I know have family in the business.
Not sure what you mean by 50p, I hope it’s $50 a frame, otherwise I wouldn’t brag of the family.
Mr Google can’t you Google?
50p currently is $1 USD
No, frames do not cost much. You can’t get better ones by paying more. Can you get a better light bulb if you pay 10,000 for one? I’m a winemaker and at some price point it costs no more to make a bottle of wine. A $200 bottle of wine doesn’t cost more than a $20 bottle to make. The price is based on other factors such as supply, demand. If you can make people believe something is worth more then you can get them to pay more but the cost of making it does not go up, only its perceived value. Also having a market monopoly like Luxottica has is a good way to drive prices sky high.
Mr Google who should we believe? You a guy that can’t do a simple Google search for “50p” aka 50 pence, or the many others that actually make sense and swear by the quality compared to brick and mortar stores? Yeah that’s a tough one… NOT! :-)
You lost your whole argument and blew your entire rant when you didn’t even realize the person spelled his name as Mr. Goggle, NOT Mr. Google.
Not only that but you assumed he knew that the p stands for pence, when the person was probably American and had no idea what you were talking about.
Mr. Troll (Smokin?? Paul)
please leave. you are contributing nothing but nonsense to an intelligent discussion. obviously you must own stock in a cheap online eyewear company.
Ok hold on a second. Designer sunglasses are not all neccesarily expensive. The Designer brands mentioned in this article are some top of the range designer brands. Chanel, Gucci, and other brands are not going to be owned by your average sunglass buyer. You can get Ray-Bans and Oakley’s for much cheaper than $300. I can get Ray-Ban Aviators for $145, not factoring in my negotiating powers to lower the price. And when you think about it you are paying for better quality. $5 sunglasses do not have adequate UV protection, have abismal quality, and are made as temporary sunglasses, not keepers. While Luxottica is a monopoly, and I despise that, there are very sunglass brands not made by Luxottica.
Still have my (glass) RayBans from the early 1960’s. Better than anything I’ve tried on the present market in lens quality. Bought them in 1975 for $7.00.
I’m amazed so many are willing to be so cheap with their eyes/vision. Eyeglasses are not exorbitant because of the frames. Eyeglasses are expensive because of the lens technology. Technology we all want in our TVs, tablets, cars, etc..yet some reason view as “gouging” when we place it before the only set of eyes we’ll ever have. What good is high definition television without high definition optics in our lenses? If you think your online distributors are providing the best technologies at a fraction of the cost you are sorely mistaken. In fact, your online distributor doesn’t even have access to top tier technology. Just as a name brand stamped on a frame doesn’t make it a superior frame, so too calling something “antiglare” or “progressive” doesn’t elevate it to the best available. Walmart sells shoes and clothing less than Brooks Brothers. We all recognize there is a difference. So it is will lens technology. Fitting a lens properly is child’s play for many, until you have a large refractive error, a great difference in Rx between the eyes, progressive lenses, etc. Attempting to become the expert here is quite frankly ridiculous. It’s akin to trying to fit yourself for braces. Frame choices…knock yourself out…find something that’s comfortable and your style. But lenses…online retailers are anything but equal.
I understand the difference in lens quality, and see it. I have a low prescription with no other issues, so lower quality is not an issue for me.
If all of what you said was true, then the cost of glasses at a normal eye doctor/distributor wouldn’t range hundred’s of dollars between brands. The ‘old man/lady frames’ are $100, while the Burberry brand is $500, same lenses, same staff, same amount of time making frame, different “brand” (even though they were most likely made in the same plant by the same technicians).
Beware of the Luxottica Trolls
I love the obviously paid trolls or profit interested parties defending the outrageous prices and practices of this corporation. I love them actually defending monopolies as job creators when anyone who has taken an economics class knows monopolies hurt markets, consumers and generally hurt the economy by pulling resources from other markets into one where they don’t belong.
Lenses don’t cost that much to make and frames cost next to nothing to make. Cutting edge lenses should cost you $50 or less and frames about $5. I’ve worn cheaper and more expensive. Fitting counts, but costs nothing and takes 5 seconds. At the eye doctor today, they told me that my insurance covers a bit more than half of the total cost of my glasses. So the price of the glasses with lenses was $636 (120 for frames and 516 for regular lenses) and would still cost me $260 out of pocket. I felt like I was on some kind if hidden camera prank show and just walked out. I lived in Asia for the last few years where they charge reasonable prices for good glasses with those very same lenses.. Because if they charged $636 no one could afford it and they wouldn’t be able to sell any.
When buying anything, I think you should always compare what you are buying to something else on which you could spend that money and ask yourself if the price makes sense. I just bought a new touch screen laptop computer with a 750 GB hard drive for less than the price they gave me and a new smartphone for less than the post insurance price. I’m late to this thread but thanks for the article. In the past, I’ve used Costco and Walmart. They both have cheaper prices (still expensive, but not quite as outrageous). I’m trying Warby Parker after reading this thread and will try other online retailers or wait till my next trip to Asia before buying from these jerks. I feel like I’m surrounded by idiots and millionaires. People drive outrageously expensive cars with the same/lower performance, reliability and safety ratings than a car like a Mazda, accelerate like they didn’t just spend $4.00/gal on gas, spend $250 on glasses that should cost <$50, and god help us with the amount of money people waste on brand name clothes and shoes in this country. In my opinion, in the age of the internet, if you aren't researching reviews, alternatives and discounts on your major purchases you're either a moron or a millionaire.
Thus, the outrageous small-business-killing success of Walmart and of Bezos and Amazon, right? (BTW you didn’t mention gigantic gas-guzzling $45,000 pick-up trucks racing along blizzard-ridden freeways, careening around other vehicles cuz their drivers love the power.)
I agree with everything about Luxottica in this article. They just feed off the “name brand fools” and do it well.
As an Optician in a brick and mortar retail shop, I must disagree with some points made about us. First off, I don’t carry Luxottica. I don’t support Luxottica’s eye wear ‘M’ in any way, except for taking Eyemed insurance. Anyway, I don’t have rx glasses for $40, but I will adjust, repair, change nosepads, and clean your glasses from the time you purchase until you die, for free. And you will pay a fraction of the cost of buying into the Luxottica ‘M’.
I had a lady brag to me about the high quality eyewear she bought online for $99. Her glasses were crooked, her nose pads were spread wide apart and the bridge of her glasses just rested on the bridge of her nose leaving a huge mark. I was just about to offer to adjust them, even though I shouldn’t, and she started on about how we opticians should be ashamed of ourselves. Shocked, I bid her a good day walked away.
I guess my point is, service. An optician is still about service. Customer service is what once made this country a great place, but it is dying, because of things like this.
So please, hate the brand, hate the Luxottica’s ‘M’, but don’t hate the rest of us!
I think that it would be a pretty good income stream if a brick and mortar store offered a service to those of us who don’t want to pay so much for glasses. An adjustment and prescription check for $15-$20 is something I would happily pay to ensure my less expensive frames are the best tgey can be. (I told a person at my optician’s office that I got mine online; she was surprised to find that they fit very eell and the prescription was spot on.)
Mr. Optician/Optometrist, I would be happy to buy my glasses from someone like you. I went to MyEyeDoctor who was strongly recommended by my company’s HMO for glasses. I got my eye test done and it was very professional. It was paid entirely by my Health Insurance. When I went to buy frames and discuss lenses is when I felt I was being ripped off. Their selection at the store I originally went to was very limited. They had nothing that I couldn’t get at America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses for $70.00 for 2 pairs. The starting price was $179.00 for frames from the 1950’s that looked as if they would not only be uncomfortable but probably wouldn’t last long. The first pair that were near the style I wanted cost $379.99 per frame. These were slightly better and were close to the pair I bought from Walmart a few years ago which were great by the way. Then it came to lenses. Progressive lenses in the cheap frames would only cost me $15.00 by using my company’s eyemed insurance. I thought that was reasonable and eyemed was good insurance for covering most of the cost. I simply couldn’t stand the cheesy looking frames. I went to another MyEyeDr. store where I knew the selection was better. I tried on several decent looking frames that seemed to be made much better. When they gave me the price with their #2 quality lenses it came to over $900.00 out of my pocket. I told them their other location said it would only cost me $15 for the cheap $179.00 frames with their second best lenses, and this person said the first store had made an error. It would actually cost me around $600.00 for the lenses and about $40.00 out of pocket for the frames as my insurance only covered $130.00 of the price for the frames. I thanked him and left. I have bought cars for less. I called Costco and found they sold a wide variety of frames that would meet my specifications and their best progressive lenses for a fraction of the cost of what I would pay at MyEyeDr. So if you can sell me a decent looking, fairly non-breakable set of frames, and progressive lenses with all the bells and whistles including the ability when I look out of the corner of my eye to be able to see in near-sighted corrective vision that is what I’m looking for. I am going to send this article to my company so they know what we are dealing with by using this deceptive eyeglass insurance.
I am interested in your experience, as I also have the EyeMed insurance, recently purchased glasses, and we blown away at the price – over $800! and I had to pay almost $500 of it. I know I have an expensive (strong) prescription and have poly carb bifocals, but 3 years ago I bought from WalMart without insurance for $390. My prescription has not changed that much either, according to the eye dr. So, I don’t know if the biggest reason is the insurance, or because it was at Pearle Vision. I am rather tentative to order online because of my lens prescription, which is still over $300.
In addition, and for clarification, I did NOT buy designer frames. I have a small face and actually have gone to wearing children’s frames, as they fit much better in my motorcycle helmet. My frames were $139.
Thank you for this valuable and sensible contribution!
Like so many other types of businesses, eyeglasses and hearing aids for some reason are wide open to inflated prices,since they are not under any control. Drugs fit the same description as so many products are way over priced due to both greed and monopolies. Our government is rife with corruption and payola to politicians. Until price controls are implemented, we are at the mercy of large corporations whose bottom lines are more important then fair market pricing.
Price controls will insure the poorest of quality and a lack of supply.
The real problem is lack of competition. Big business goes to the centralized power of government to help eliminate their competition. Monopolies are supposed to be illegal in the USA but yet some do exist by lobbying government. Also it’s not so easy when the company is based outside the US.
We do not need any price controls, less government rules, less regulations, rules and laws. Basically less government, except for breaking up monopolies. If there was more competition the high priced monopoly would not exsist. But there is some competition from online companies and the high quality and low prices are what true capitalism aka the free market can do. :-)
One of the reasons brand name eye glasses are expensive is because the design often patented or trademarked… so buying cheap knockoffs is actually akin to stealing…
Glasses should only cost a mark-up of double the actual cost to produce and put in frames at the most. If frames cost the eye doctor $25.00 and the best lenses only cost $150.00 (which is an exaggeration)the consumer should only have to pay $350.00 whether insured or not. The technology that is built into glasses now-a-days, is developed to find a way to make functional lenses for less cost (cheaper)thus adding profit to an already over-inflated market. The idea that a person should shut-up and swallow what is incredibly unfair price gouging went out in the 1960’s when people stopped being total sheep to the Medical, Optical and Dental wolves shoveling 900% markups at the public and making them believe it was the only thing that would save them.
This doesn’t make sense. Retailers also have overhead costs, not just the cost of the frames and lenses. A shop in NYC is going to have overhead 10 times more than a shop in a small town in Arkansas.
It’s not anywhere NEAR stealing. The fashion industry has been doing this for hundreds of years. And you can’t patent the style of eyeglass frames.
If you tell the optical shop that the cost of the glasses will be covered by insurance, the sales person will max you out every penny from the purchase. But you need a pair of glasses for your daily life, so you are literally hold hostage by whatever optical shop you buy the lens and frame. I hate to be a reluctant consumer of the greedy optical shop that make unreasonably high profit by taking advantage of my vulnerable vision, a kind of discrimination to the disabled.
Anyway,it was disgusting, leaving me a bad aftertaste to hand out several hundred dollars for a simple pair of glasses.
With the help of internet, and online shopping, I will definitely seek the alternative.
I don’t understand you people… The eye is literally the most complex part of your body. Yes you can buy online for very cheap, and you will get lenses that are made very cheap, with a cheap frame.
First, this is first. Not all lenses or even lens materials are equal. Secondly, not all frames are equal. Thirdly, when you buy glasses from a retail store you have to keep in mind that not only are you paying for your glasses, you are also paying for the technology behind the lenses, the optician/receptionist/teach/lab works(the ones cutting the lenses) the ability to keep a store running, just like at any other store… If they can’t keep the lights on they won’t be open for long. You are also paying so the company can make some profit, and incase of mess ups requiring the use of more material.
With shopping online you are not getting the same quality, you are removing jobs, customer care, trouble shooting, and accurate measurements.
Personally I do not believe anyone should be able to sell nor buy Rx glasses online, just like Rx drugs.
That being said I do think that places such as Lens Crafters do need to lower the pricing…
By all means yes you can buy from a website that isn’t going to ask what you actually will be using your glasses for and you can get a coating because you like it… But the website won’t tell you if you live on the ocean , work with oil, are a welder… Don’t get the anti-reflection coating. It won’t tell you that your lenses might chip, or isn’t right for what you are doing in your job, it won’t let you know why you don’t need this higher end lens, or why you do need that high index lens. And after you get them from your website don’t dare go to a place of optical business and ask them to fix your glasses for you, go back to your website and ask them to fix it for you.
While your eyes may be the most complicated part of your body, my brain is the most complicated part of my body. lol
David: Good points! Although, I also disagree that the eyes are more complex than the brain….
I’m resulting to buying cheap reading glasses and scavenge frames off of them now, every optometrist in town tells me “you have to get a new eye exam here blah blah blah blah our frames blah blah blah $20 per lense plus our time, including “cheap” frames: $180″
It takes them less than half an hour to make the pair and then they try to get me to buy a second pair for $30 with 2 year insurance for another $60, and special lenses ranging from $20 to $70….
And the eye exam was $50, I know my eyes are important but its a shame the store thats trying to “help” me is making me gouge them out by their pricing.
Zenni is terrible. Shoddy work not worth the cheap price. We ordered two pairs of glasses with an identical prescription. We received two pairs of glasses with slightly different prescriptions.
When worn, one pair would result in slightly blurred vision, dizziness, etc so we took them to an independent retailer and sure enough the axis on both lenses was off slightly (on the messed up pair).
We contacted customer support and sent the glasses back. After a month or so they came back to us (after we had to ask them what is going on) and said the glasses were fine. We asked about the difference in prescription and they said they would test them again.
Finally got back to us that the glasses were within an acceptable margin of error.
They have an acceptable “margin of error” when producing glasses to match a prescription.
In other words, what you order is not necessarily what you get – but that is just fine. You’ll “get used to them.”
I call BS. Every pair I have ever ordered front Zenni optical has been perfect. The quality is better than most.
How much do they pay you to post these stories?
In fact I’m wearing a pair from Zenni right now that’s about 10 years old. I’m about to buy some new glasses as my prescription has changed a little. I’ll probably be ordering from a few online sellers including Zenni. I bought a couple pair from Zenni about 10 years ago that were clearance priced at $12. It’s the pair I’m wearing. The optical coating has some wear but mostly intact. My brick and mortar glasses had the optical coating waring off in less than two years.
Say when I go to bed tonight can you tell me another story. How about another fiction story. ;-)
just purchased glasses
polo with hd reflex that were 250.
i didnt really care about the price because im financially independant and 21 years old . (hooray thanks to capitalism)
and i was just searching online that anti reflex lenses are cheap as heck
and the dude at the brick and mortal shop was acting as if it scientific and expensive.
you learn something new everyday i guess the glasses industry are owned by the jews lol (jk)
next time i buy glasses im going to get them online from a respectable store that are not dressed like doctors selling you lies.
Dear Mr. Financially Independent (whoopty frickin dooo 4 you! :p )
I’m not one of “the jews lol” but……….. just. go. awaaaayyy.
Hi ,
I already have a first pair of prescription glasses but would like a second pair for emergencies.
I can send my prescription, how much will a second pair cost if i supply my own frame?
Kind regards
So, I go to the eyeglass store and they give me the estimate $770.
My buddy used to work at Iris and he was making himself designer
prescription eyeglasses/sunglasses for $15/piece.
He had like 10-20 different pairs.
Okay… Somehow this seems wrong. I’m not talking about the price.
What’s wrong is the fact that people either go blind or have their
eyes gouged out by ridiculous prices. WTF is wrong with society.
How is this not extortion?
People/companies are so god damn greedy that I can’t fcking
afford to see.
People are old, sick, poor, taken advantage of, and the worst part
is the problems are far beyond eyeglasses and closer than neighbors.
Well, people seem to recommend that zenni online store. For $30/piece it’s cheaper enough that I could wipe my arse with them if I’m not satified.
I always said selling eyeglasses was was better than selling drugs
Huge profits and it`s legal.Keep buying suckers!Im liveing large.
People easily spend 1,000/year on cell phones, hair styles, and coffee.. Etc. But God forbid you purchase quality eyewear so you can SEE without headaches and eyestrain. When you save money online it’s because you have cut out the optician, the person who measures and fits your glasses. 50% of all online glasses are made incorrectly! Cheap retailers, including Walmart, Sam’s, and Costco all use discontinue discontinued and old/inferior technology when making your low price glasses…..
I have had issues with trying to by my prescription from an online retailer. I had two main issues with the glasses I purchased:
1. I do have a progressive lense and I can’t get the same “fit” from online that I did from the the optician doing an exact measurement of my eyes. My experience here follows what the optician said a few posts down (or up), if you your sense type needs a more exact measurement, you will have a hard time getting a pair of glasses that work well for you.
2. The AR coating that Zenni Optical uses does not doe a good job of reducing glare, especially at night. It is almost as if there isn’t even an AR coating on them. I even purchased end AR coating that is water and oil resistant. Again, my experience follows that optician when he said, you get what you pay for. Of course, I think I only paid $14.95, so I probably did.
Perhaps if I just had a single vision prescription, I could satisfactorily purchase my glasses online. However, I couldn’t, and I had to go back to the brick-and-mortar store to get my prescription right and a quality lense. What makes it even worse is that Zenni will only give me 50% of my money back on the return.
Eric, Zenni would only give you half back, wow you must be out almost $10. Better pay hundreds retail so your not ripped off.
Yes the progressive lens measurements has to be done right. If not you will not be satisfied. Next time contact Zenni to send your glasses in for lens replacement. Tell them your concerns about fit and I think you will be very happy. I guessing they would make more pairs to those same measurements and you would get back two or as many pair as you need.
You AR coating that is water and oil resistant. Why not the regular coating. Are you sure the new glasses from the brick-and-mortar has the same water and oil resistant coating? I guessing its not and likely not more oil resistant than the regular coatings.
Hmm I don’t believe you that you got an inferior product from Zenni. I still have, and use, a pair from Zenni that are about 10 years old. My prescription changed a little but I use them at work so no loss if they get damaged. Ten years later and the coating is still in tact. I clean them regularly and the anti glare is as good as any pair. Perhaps you are getting cataracts or work in the industry and its affecting your bottom line?
In any case I’m here to tell people the quality is better than the high priced garbage being touted as superior. Oh and BTW I can make measurements like pupillary distance etc. Oh and I didn’t need permission from government to make them either. If my glasses are tilted I know right away and can make my own adjustments as well.
If someone is unable to do these simple things, a 12:00 flasher, then by all means get gouged. Might also think about paying someone to help program your microwave and other clock so they are not flashing 12:00. ;-) lol Hence the term 12:00 flasher. For the rest of us thinkers we’ll do nicely ordering online.
August 29, 2018
I was just quoted $700 at an optical shop. That seems an exorbitant amount of money for some plastic glasses.
I’ve heard of Zenni Optical and would like to try them, but I am concerned about how I will get the pupillary measurements. And to make sure they are correct because I know that is very important.
You can get quality glasses without spending $700. Just shop around. Even still, if they last you 4 years, that’s less than 50 cents a day to see your world clearly without headaches or looking like you wear clothes from garage sales.
Katherine Kaviuk get a ruler that has Millimeters on one side. Hold ruler across the bridge of your nose near your eyes, preferable about half way up your eyes. Now have someone take a photo of you doing this while you look into the distance. Take the photo and measure the pupillary distance. I use the left edge of one to the left edge of the other or you can just eyeball the measurement. Its not a critical measurement and even if you are off by a millimeter or two it will be fine.
So I don’t have glasses… So I know next to nothing about this.
My boyfriend does have glasses, and he has designer frames. I’m trying to get him new glasses through a gift card, so he can pick out his own frames, and get an exam for new lenses… As someone who has no experience with all this stuff, I have no idea how to go about this. I believe he would want to get some “fancy” ones, because that’s just how he is, but I’m confused as to how to go about this. It sounds like the only way to get designer frames is to go to a physical place. Am I correct? And are they going to be crappy? I just need some advice as to where to get a gift card.
I even just found an online example: a Dalix eyeglass frame I’m strongly considering. On their site, as well as Amazon and ebay, this frame is being sold for $22.
On the websites for 38/39dollarglasses and glasses2go, this frame is being sold for $99 under the name Independent Eyewear. I first saw this frame on these sites where it’s being sold for $99. Then, I found the frame on Amazon/ebay/Dalix sites for $22. It just hit me when I saw on the Dalix site that the model number for this frame was identical to the frame with the Independent Eyewear name I found first.
This is why I only go to Warby Parker. Great frames, great lens, free adjustments and amazing prices!
Price controls will insure the poorest of quality and a lack of supply.
The real problem is lack of competition. Big business will use their money to influence the government to help eliminate their competition. Monopolies are supposed to be illegal in the USA but yet some do exist by lobbying government.
Also it’s not so easy when the company is based outside the US.
We do not need any price controls, we need less government rules, less regulations, rules and laws. Basically less government, except for breaking up monopolies. If there was more competition the high priced monopoly would not exist. But there is some competition from online companies and the high quality and low prices are what true capitalism aka the free market can do.
Peter said it all. Competition is what drives quality and price. With competition you get low prices and higher quality. Or you can pay way too much and just think you are somehow getting more when you are actually getting less. Try the online sellers for yourself, see the truth for yourself. Like another post stated if you get a bad pair they are inexpensive enough you can wipe your ass with them so you have nothing to lose.
The truth is you will be satisfied with the quality and become a repeat customer of the online competition. :-)
ummm, that copy-and-paste by Peter makes me think that PeternPaul are the same lobbyist Zenni shareholder guy!!! HA! :D
My vision started to decline in my late 20’s to the point where I needed glasses. I went to Walmart Optical thinking they would be cheapest. The exam was covered by insurance (but was around $50). And the glasses and lenses came out to about $50. I thought it was kind of spendy given I chose one of the cheapest pairs they sold.
One day I decided I would look into getting some prescription sunglasses and went to a Lenscrafters. I left the store when the clerk told me the cheapest he sold was $220. Spending $220 for something I would probably lose at some point seemed like a really bad idea.
Then I searched on line. Found a place that offered prescription sunglasses (and glasses) for $5-$10 each (goggles4u.com). I bought them and they are just as good as anything in Walmart or for that matter, lenscrafters.
So yes, #1 piece of advice:don’t shop retail for prescription glasses. While Luxottica may not completely corner the market, It appears they’ve done enough backroom deals to make sure its difficult to procure affordable eye wear in the brick and mortar environment.
If your concerned about eye measurements (and numbers required to order online), request them from your optician during an exam. You’ll still come out ahead.
Could not really read through all the topics, but IMHO there’s two things here;
1. Frames – I agree frames are waaaaay overpriced and there is a Monopoly by lux
2. Lenses – several arguments here on measurement, being a physical/medical condition we should not play with our eyesight. So individual choices on lenses/contacts will be differ in each of us. Online options are plenty.
Just to add to the list of cheap retailers above: smartbuyglasses.com
Their own brand SBG collection starts from $29 and they offer alot of different lens options.
I bought my glasses for 17$ on zenni. Better than the $500 pair my eye Dr wanted me to buy from him. To the fools defending $400-$900 glasses… y’all are ignorant and deserve to pay $900 for a thin piece of plastic and some glass…
I love Warby Parker, especially since you can do a free home try-on before buying a pair. They also have several retail locations across the country, where you can get free adjustments if necessary. Definitely not worth paying the crazy high prices commanded by the Luxottica brands.
I am sorry but online is just as expensive!! So not true what you say. I don’t know why progressive lenses have to be so expensive. It was already expensive with single vision for years ever since I can remember but with progressive it is double the price. Ok, I understand I won’t want to pay $15 but around $200 should be reasonable for frames and lenses. Many people like to change their frames yearly or so. We are being gypped especially in Canada where prices for everything is higher than other countries in the world when you compare cost of living.
Socialism costs money, other peoes money. Thus the price of goods goes up in various visible and hidden taxes.
Have you tried Zenni Optical? It’s the last really inexpensive online eyeglass business I can find. Quality is great The others are more expensive but still a better deal than brick and mortar.
What I would like to know is what do you do when finding the right pair of glasses is tricky? I am so sensitive to pressure on my nose and have a rather narrow face. Most Optical stores care very few frames narrow enough for me let alone the cheaper vendors like Zenni or Costco. I do feel I could find something at the optical center that works with my optometrist, but their frames and lenses add up to $500 plus. The best and most comfortable pairs of glasses have always been bought at the optical center that is part of my optometrist. They just do such a better job at finding me a good frame and having more options for frames that would work for me. I’m in dire straights right now with no comfortable glasses (I just get less tolerant with age, ugh). Is there anywhere to go for more reasonably priced glasses when I’m such a hard fit. If I have to pay $500 for glasses every few years I might just have to get eye surgery.
How do we get all the nice and fancy coatings and copay/deductibles though if we purchase online? Can anyone point me in the right direction?
My major problem was not the glasses but a decent prescription. The advent of the new bells and whistles optometrists gave me the weirdest results for about 5 years. Changing optometrists did not help in fact my old old glasses were way better. Different opticians verified the glasses were exact to the prescriptions. Finally so pissed off I searched out and found an old semi retired ophthalmologist with his antique equipment and guess what. Yup of course perfect vision, no weird stuff happening and no vision changes. Eyemart fixed me up with 2 pair of trifocals for $140.
I worked for LensCrafters back in the 90’s for several years, then went on to work for a high end optometrist, and for VSP. Even back then, not only did LensCrafters overpriced their customers, they cut back the bonuses that was once given to their Opticians(Now hiring sales people, which cuts their costs for an experienced worker). Lenses are dirt cheap, which I learned at VSP, but doctor offices hike the prices so they can make more than just a few extra bucks, normally up by 100%. This is why I got out of the business. It’s about helping the people, not taking away, for those with now insurance, their paycheck.