Beef with Coastal Contacts

[jcabana]

I tried to order glasses recently from Coastal Contacts because I
really like the design of many of their discounted name-brand frames.
I have ordered 10 pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses from
sites (Goggles4U, Zenni, LBW, EyeBuyDirect) in the past, so I figured
it would be mo different.

But when I put in my prescription to the Coastal Contacts web form, I
was automatically blocked from buying their three cheapest frame
options! They left me only the choice of buying the "super-thin
lens" ($50 extra), or the "ultra-thin lens" ($100 extra).

My prescription is -2.25 -1.75 3 in one eye, +.25 -2.50 177 in the
other. I have ordered the standard/default lenses in all my prior
online buys, and have been very content with the results. What
gives? This experience leaves me feeling that Coastal Contacts is
practicing the same frustrating bait-and-switch that many of the brick-
and-mortar opticians engage in. Has anyone else been able to get
around this?

[J. Evan]

This likely has to do with your -2.50 Cylinder. Most stock lenses go
up to -2.00 and outside of that it's a custom lens. I know that other
online places charge extra for any Cylinder over 2.00, Coastal
Contacts is not the only one.

I would certainly contact CC directly about this and see what they
say. I would contact several people at different times just to be sure
of the answer.

I also have an extreme prescription and many online stores charge me
extra for my Sphere over +4.00. Coastal Contacts doesn't, so they
really work well for me. EBD or $39 Glasses charge me a lot extra for
my correction compared to Coastal. Different vendors offer different
advantages.

Give them a call and see what's going on.

J. Evan

[O-H]

On Dec 10, 7:03 am, jcabana <jmban...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have ordered 10 pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses from
> sites (Goggles4U, Zenni, LBW, EyeBuyDirect) in the past, so I figured
> it would be mo different.

....

> My prescription is -2.25 -1.75 3 in one eye, +.25 -2.50 177 in the
> other.  I have ordered the standard/default lenses in all my prior
> online buys, and have been very content with the results.  What
> gives?  This experience leaves me feeling that Coastal Contacts is

Zenni charges +9.00 automatically for cylinders over 2 (+ or -). I
have -2.25 for one lens and so know that yes, this extra charge does
happen with Zenni. I have ordered twice from Coastal Contacts and
specified -2.25 in one lens, there was no extra charge or change to
lens possibilities (at least that was the case a few weeks ago when I
last ordered). So it looks like anything over 2.25 is CC's point
where they charge extra vs 2.0 for Zenni. Perhaps CC has to order-in
different blanks or perhaps they have found customers unhappy with
higher cylinder in their standard lenses. I've found them responsive
to questions, I would ask them if they can tell the reasons.

[jcabana]

I can understand charging extra; most places charge me extra, as you
justly noted. "Extra" in my mind is a $9 charge, or a $10 charge. But
50 to 100 dollars? That is far, far steeper than the online average
-- and forcing me to order high-index lenses instead of offering
standard CR39 lenses with a -2.50 cylinder seems lazy and unfair.

As you suggested, I will call them to find out if there is more to the
story.

jcabana

[jcabana]

I did call Coastal Contacts. As it turns out, they do not have the
capability to make lenses with a cylinder of -2.50 in any of their
three thicker lens types. I would have to order the super thin lenses
starting at $50 extra. Other sites can fill my prescription for only
$9 extra using a slightly thicker lens.

Since paying an extra $50 to $100 is cost-prohibitive and would defeat
the purpose of saving money by ordering glasses online, this means I
won't be ordering glasses from Coastal Contacts. Thanks for the
advice.

- J.

[O-H]

I think I need new glasses or new fingers but I need to correct what I
wrote earlier ..

It's not -2.25 for one lens, that should have been -2.75 and Coastal
did not charge extra. I just went to their site and re-entered the
prescription and chose the same frame (Ltede 1002 brown) to verify
they haven't changed their procedure or charges since my order. Using
prescription
OD -1.50 -2.75 90
OS -2.25 -1.75 105
PD 63

Coastal offers me 1.5 index free ie included in price of 49.95 (it's
default checked selection), or 1.59 CR (+19.95), or 1.61 (+29.95), or
1.67 (+49.95) or 1.74 (+99.95)

So for default 1.5 index lens Ltede 1002 - total price 49.95 including
a cyl -2.75, no upcharge.

(Actually when I ordered I selected 1.61 and they're nice glasses)

Are you choosing a frame with bigger lenses? Maybe in a much larger
lens edge thickness would be too great and CC determind that from
frame selection?