Unfortunately you get what you pay for
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mizz85
Dec 19, 2011, 6:21:33 PM12/19/11
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Free advice? Bad advice.
If you only wear glasses at night, if you only use glasses for a
computer or you can buy your glasses from walgreens then by all means
buy them online. But if it's a prescription, for the love of god,
get it filled by someone who is knowledgeable about the trade. If you
don't heed this advice also do us a favor and don't bother going to a
local optician to have your frames fit or to trouble shoot your
problems; you already had your hand in putting him out of business,
don't also insult him by asking for his time and expertise for free.
Ira Mitchell
Dec 30, 2011, 9:17:10 AM12/30/11
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This is a bunch of crap.
I've always said that I'm willing to pay for my FULL PRESCRIPTION, but
don't hold a very simple part of it hostage to keep me in your store
so you can force overpriced frames and criminally overpriced lenses on
me. You expect gratitude for that?
Want to know who has put the local optician out of business? Luxottica
and yes, the local optician herself. The world has always been an
adapt or die scenario -- for everyone. So rather than whine about how
unfair something is, use your brain and try to figure out how to use
your "time and expertise" to turn it around in your favor. The old
model no longer works -- and hasn't for some time. Move on already.
- Ira
I've always said that I'm willing to pay for my FULL PRESCRIPTION, but
don't hold a very simple part of it hostage to keep me in your store
so you can force overpriced frames and criminally overpriced lenses on
me. You expect gratitude for that?
Want to know who has put the local optician out of business? Luxottica
and yes, the local optician herself. The world has always been an
adapt or die scenario -- for everyone. So rather than whine about how
unfair something is, use your brain and try to figure out how to use
your "time and expertise" to turn it around in your favor. The old
model no longer works -- and hasn't for some time. Move on already.
- Ira
powrwrap
Jan 4, 2012, 4:33:01 PM1/4/12
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On Dec 19 2011, 5:21 pm, mizz85 <mandileega...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Free advice? Bad advice.
>
> If you only wear glasses at night, if you only use glasses for a
> computer or you can buy your glasses from walgreens then by all means
> buy them online. But if it's a prescription, for the love of god,
> get it filled by someone who is knowledgeable about the trade. If you
> don't heed this advice also do us a favor and don't
Thank you for that free advice.
Chuck Knight
Jan 4, 2012, 6:26:36 PM1/4/12
to mizz85, GlassyEyes.com Forums - Visit the site!
We've actually addressed this problem before, and it is a problem. Welcome, MandiLee Gates, to the GlassyEyes list.
Years ago, I posted a question to the list, and it's still present in the archives, AND featured on the blog, as to whether it is ethical to use the local optometrist as nothing more than a fitting room. I raised many of the same questions as you.
My conclusions are as follows:
1) Most optometrists are rip off artists, but it's not necessarily by their own design. Luxottica, among others, acts as a middleman which raises the prices to levels that simply can not compete with the online offerings.
2) When you use the optometrist's services, always offer to pay them. I do not work for free, why should you?!
3) Storefront, equipment, inventory, insurance, employees, etc all cost money, and it's money which goes in to the local economy. Always shop local when possible, and support your local optometrist. Give them a chance to earn your business...if they fail to do so, it's their failing.
I have a very simple prescription. But that one was bifocal. Shopping local, the prices I got at *three* different stores were all around $400...this is in the Dallas, TX area. One was a WalMart, one was the local optometrist, and the third was a high end boutique. All would have cost the same. Instead, I went online and bought comparable (and they are comparable...my ophthalmologist tested them in every way possible) glasses online. Got 3 pairs, and paid less than the TAX would have been on a single pair, locally.
Since then, WalMart has introduced a line of glasses for as little as $38, out the door...and Sears runs a frequent special for $50. While not as cheap as the online offerings, those prices are in the same family, in terms of affordability, and are stores with local locations. I also posted about this, when it eventually became available in my area.
It is not *my* responsibility to keep your store in business. It is your responsibility to compete for my patronage. When I use your services, I *always* pay the asking price, and if I ask you to adjust my online eyeglasses, I *always* offer to pay for the service...after all, I bought them elsewhere.
It is my belief that this is an appropriate and reasonable approach to the problem.
What say you? I would welcome your input.
-- Chuck Knight
Years ago, I posted a question to the list, and it's still present in the archives, AND featured on the blog, as to whether it is ethical to use the local optometrist as nothing more than a fitting room. I raised many of the same questions as you.
My conclusions are as follows:
1) Most optometrists are rip off artists, but it's not necessarily by their own design. Luxottica, among others, acts as a middleman which raises the prices to levels that simply can not compete with the online offerings.
2) When you use the optometrist's services, always offer to pay them. I do not work for free, why should you?!
3) Storefront, equipment, inventory, insurance, employees, etc all cost money, and it's money which goes in to the local economy. Always shop local when possible, and support your local optometrist. Give them a chance to earn your business...if they fail to do so, it's their failing.
I have a very simple prescription. But that one was bifocal. Shopping local, the prices I got at *three* different stores were all around $400...this is in the Dallas, TX area. One was a WalMart, one was the local optometrist, and the third was a high end boutique. All would have cost the same. Instead, I went online and bought comparable (and they are comparable...my ophthalmologist tested them in every way possible) glasses online. Got 3 pairs, and paid less than the TAX would have been on a single pair, locally.
Since then, WalMart has introduced a line of glasses for as little as $38, out the door...and Sears runs a frequent special for $50. While not as cheap as the online offerings, those prices are in the same family, in terms of affordability, and are stores with local locations. I also posted about this, when it eventually became available in my area.
It is not *my* responsibility to keep your store in business. It is your responsibility to compete for my patronage. When I use your services, I *always* pay the asking price, and if I ask you to adjust my online eyeglasses, I *always* offer to pay for the service...after all, I bought them elsewhere.
It is my belief that this is an appropriate and reasonable approach to the problem.
What say you? I would welcome your input.
-- Chuck Knight
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Beaugrand®™©
Dec 31, 2011, 2:34:08 PM12/31/11
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I ordered my first pair of online glasses the same day I ordered my
last pair of prescription glasses from a "brick and mortar" optical
store. I received them both the same day- the online pair worked great
from the start and fit well, it took the optician 3 months and a
couple returns to get the "brick and mortar" pair right.
WHL
last pair of prescription glasses from a "brick and mortar" optical
store. I received them both the same day- the online pair worked great
from the start and fit well, it took the optician 3 months and a
couple returns to get the "brick and mortar" pair right.
WHL
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