Buying specs on-line

[mygeorgie]

Please move if posted in the wrong place

Has anyone bought specs online? If so are there any sites who are really good or any to avoid?
Any help or advice would be appreciated

Thanx

[ScarletBea]

My gf's bought from Glasses Direct several times and is quite happy with them. She found them out here from the boards, so if you do a search on the name I'm sure you'll find more details in other threads.

[pogofish]

I bought a pair from Goggles4U earlier this year & I must say I was impressed.

My prescription means that I'm usually well stitched-up for lenses (typically £300+ for a pair) at even discount opticians here & when I saw a frame I liked, with the right lens spec for about thirty quid, I thought it was worth giving it a go. The quality of the frames was fine & the lenses were excellent & beautifully fitted. They also arrived well withing the 14-day delivery schedule.

The only minor concern about the whole transaction was not with G4U but with their US-based merchant company - After I filled-out the transaction, I got an email from them asking for a whole lot more info & a scan of my passport etc. I got straight-on to my card security people who told me that they had no other untoward reports about the firm but agreed that this was "far too much information required" & suggested I simply told them to put-up or shut-up.

So I sent them an email, worded to the effect of "either process it or cancel it then" & copied it to G4U - which was fine, everything went through ok. :)

One thing to remember with online specs - To avoid undue eye strain, you need your interpupillary distance as well as the prescription info. Your optician has to give you this if you ask, or any high st optician can easily measure it in seconds. Much easier to do this than fiddle about with the various DIY methods the spec sites suggest.

:)

[EdInvestor]

I've been very happy with both Glasses Direct and Specs on the net. Fast service, excellent product, all prespricptions absolutely fine and very reasonable prices.:)

If ordering coloured frames be aware that colours on the internet may be a bit misleading - it may be sensible to get them to post you a printed catalogue to be sure.

[sillyvixen]

One thing to remember with online specs - To avoid undue eye strain, you need your interpupillary distance as well as the prescription info. Your optician has to give you this if you ask, or any high st optician can easily measure it in seconds.

your optician does not have to give you this. it is the responsibility of those dispensing the prescription not those prescribing.

[PixiePie]

Another good review of Glasses Direct - never had a pair of glasses I am so happy with (which I find hard to believe myself, but there you go) and they only cost something like £21 all in. Loads of people have told me how nice they look, I've had no eye strain at all and they came super quick. Will certainly be using them next time I need a pair, or if I fancy treating myself to a different look - they came in a really sturdy case as well so hopefully there won't be any accidents like with my last pair :o

Hope this helps :)

[cattie]

I've bought a couple of pairs of glasses from Selectspecs.com & more than happy with the service & frames.

I was able to speak to somebody on the phone who gave advice as to which frames they felt would be more suited to somebody with a small face. And regarding the pupillary distance, you have the option to send an old pair of glasses so they can take the measurement from those & they are returned to you within a couple of days.

[nobby24]

Specsavers website is brilliant, you can upload a pic of your face and add all the different styels of glasses to see how they suit you!

:cool:

[bathgatebuyer]

Everyone at work swears by Glasses Direct. Can't complain about them myself - 2 pairs for £50 delivered to my door or over £400 for 2 pairs that I once paid before I heard of Glasses Direct.

[PixiePie]

Specsavers website is brilliant, you can upload a pic of your face and add all the different styels of glasses to see how they suit you!

:cool:

But you still pay their ridiculously overpriced prices - you can do the same at Glasses Direct (and the other online only outlets no doubt) and you can have frames sent to your home to try on if you really want as well (think there is a P&P charge for this of a couple of quid).

[maple41]

I have recently used SelectSpecs (www.selectspecs.com (http://www.selectspecs.com)) after researching from here. They were very good and were the only ones who could supply a pair of designer frames I had seen and felt were very suitable (in Vision Express at nearly £300 + lenses, coatings and fitting) In total I paid £100.90 including anti reflective coatings, anti scratch and thin lenses. Highly recommended. By the way, they are based in Margate Kent, so perhaps easier to get hold of if you have any problems.

[Crabman]

Hi mygeorgie, you may find Martin's article useful:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/cheap-glasses

I've moved this thread to the Health & Beauty MoneySaving Board :)

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1009335#post1009335)) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

[Running Horse]

It is interesting to see what opticians have to say:

http://www.theoptom.com/viewtopic.php?t=4

I am not an optician, but did make glasses for years, and would not trust online suppliers for my glasses.