Time for new eyeglasses…

[A930Rocket]

I went to see the optometrist a couple months ago, and my prescription has barely changed the last two years. I had a brand new pair of glasses I got last year, but I couldn’t find them, so I went back to the optometrist to get new glasses. I wanted to give him the business. My cost was $500 after insurance, and the total was $985 for one pair. 😳

So, I looked at Zenni online and got two pair for $250.

The mark up at brick and mortar stores must be huge.

[stevej37]

Yes, it is.
My last two pairs at Zenni were progressive bifocals and the cost was $105 each.
With my Priority Health Medicare....both were free.

The Zenni fit is better than I ever had in a b&m store.

[Evans, Marv]

I was at the eye doctor at Kaiser a couple of months ago and and inquired about some prescription, sun glasses for driving at the optical area. I was surprised that they would be covered by my insurance (Medicare), and I was eligible for glasses every two years. I don't see how "brick & mortar" places get away with those mark ups.

[Zeke]

I think if you have a separate dental and eye policy, or are covered by company insurance, you can get the glasses at the in-office optometrist. Otherwise I can't see how they do much business either with places like Costco, etc. Not saying Costco is the best or cheapest, but they do a ton of buisness.

[Rusty Heap]

Glasses must be marked up 1000% or more........

"You really think the frames cost $300-$400 to manufacture?"

Reminds me of buying a mattress.........it doesn't take $4000 to make a good bed......

[stevej37]

Another thing about Zenni...if you have a question when placing an order or about your new glasses, it's super easy to talk to them and get results.

I changed my prescription on the last pair and when I entered the numbers online I mistakenly put +2.00 instead of -2.00 for the spherical on one eye. I couldn't see anything through that lens when the glasses arrived.
I called and she asked what my script said....and said they would send replacement glasses free as long as I returned mine.

[A930Rocket]

I could’ve gotten them for less, but I asked for progressive, no glare, auto darkening, etc.

Ordering the glasses was quick and easy on Zenni. It took a picture of my prescription and uploaded it, then it takes a picture of you holding a credit card or similar to get your PD. In 10 minutes, I saved $350 on one pair. I bought a second pair for back up.

[Baz]

5 pages:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/918534-ordering-glasses-online-5.html

[craigster59]

I once read that there are 2 big French frame "manufacturers" that handled 80% of eyeglasses under different brand names. They had a monopoly on the biz until Zenni, Warby Parker and others came along.

[fxeditor]

Don't forget Costco. They have a great eyeglasses dept. What I like about them over Zenni, is that you still get fitted for your glasses by a person who actually has experience on getting your P/D measurement, and will actually make sure your new glasses fit your head properly. The Costco prices are comparable to the online retailers.

[TimT]

Warby-Parker is no longer the bargain they once were.. recently they opened a brick and mortar store in an upscale mall near me

I just need a simple script for reading glasses...Last order from Zenni was one "nice" pair of glasses for 29.99.... and a few pair of 6.95 frames that I leave around the house, and in my cars so I always have a pair of reading glasses nearby..

I use to buy at least a pair from my optometrist to support a local small business... but eff that now...

I think its Luxotica thats the parent company to all the designer frames..

[JackDidley]

I have a pair on Zenni with glass lenses that I wear for painting. Easy to clean glass with acetone. My daily glasses came from Walmart 8 years ago. They are light weight and the frames flex big time and they fit my face perfectly. I get an exam and new lenses yearly and insurance pays for most of it. I think my cost is $20. If I did not have insurance I would have another pair of Zenni'.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Glasses must be marked up 1000% or more........

"You really think the frames cost $300-$400 to manufacture?"

Reminds me of buying a mattress.........it doesn't take $4000 to make a good bed......

I have a frame that I really like. I think the manufacturer may have stopped making them, so I found another on eBay new for $55.

Most of the frames that I look at when I have purchased them in the past were in the $150-350. I generally don't even bother with anything more expensive than that.

I prefer my glasses to be light weight and have adjustable nose pads (unlike many sunglasses or plastic framed glasses). Rodenstock makes (made?) really nice glasses. They made a lot of the glasses for Porsche Design. I always go with frames made of titanium. My everyday glasses weigh 4.7g (that's probably just the frame) which makes them much more comfortable.

[porsche tech]

Before cataract surgery when I wore glasses, I wore Silhouette frames for many years. They were so light, felt like you weren’t wearing glasses. I would replace the lenses only and keep using the same frame. It was still expensive for the progressive bifocal lenses…glad to be done with all that.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

Before cataract surgery when I wore glasses, I wore Silhouette frames for many years. They were so light, felt like you weren’t wearing glasses. I would replace the lenses only and keep using the same frame. It was still expensive for the progressive bifocal lenses…glad to be done with all that.

I had a pair like that for about a year. Lightweight, but when you took them off, they were like a spring, and I had no place to store them on me. if I took them off.

[A930Rocket]

What I was talking to the lady today about new glasses, she gave me the price. I told her I wanted to find that pair that was brand new and she said the frames were only $50, thinking I wanted to use the frames with new lenses. The real cost was in the lenses.

[Baz]

As far as finding out your PD number.......I asked my optometrist to provide that to me when I got my last contact lens exam. I told her I was using Zenni for my eye wear. It's no biggie because I've also bought eyeglasses from her and wanted her to know what was going on.

I always bring her a plant too - and she always says her husband will know how to care for it because she doesn't have a green thumb. As my eye doc though she's fantastic!

[A930Rocket]

Baz, I’m going to call the optometrist office tomorrow to get my PD. When I was pricing out glasses, she measured it for me. When I did the.Zenni Selfie with a credit card to get my PD, it came up to 61 (mm?). I measured that on my current glasses and it looked right, compared to what she marked on the glasses I was thinking about.

[pavulon]

Like so many things, there are apps for measuring pupil distance.