Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

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  • jicms
    jicms Posts: 482 Forumite
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    Steve_xx wrote: »
    You may say that varifocals costs are excessive, but I know an optician who pays:

    1. £38k per annum rental and rates of £22k
    2. Fuel costs
    3. Staff costs
    4. Equipment costs

    Therefore, if he charges an average of £20 for an eye test then he would have to perform 3000 eye tests alone just to pay for item 1 above. That equals 31.25 weeks of work per annum assuming that an average eye test might take some 25 minutes and there are 40 hours in a working week.

    So it's not all as rosy for opticans as you may think at first glance.

    I have just been quoted £384 for a pair of varifocal glasses!! No wonder the store was empty. Do they really expect to keep afloat charging these prices in a credit crisis? This was for the cheapest, reasonably fashionable, designer frame I found. Can't imagine the stress involved if I lost them! They did offer insurance but this only covered damage, not loss.

    I will take a chance and order online. Has anyone successfully ordered their first pair of varifocals online?

    As far as the store running costs, Primark also have large expensive stores to run!!
  • Steve_xx
    Steve_xx Posts: 6,976 Forumite
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    jicms wrote: »
    I have just been quoted £384 for a pair of varifocal glasses!! No wonder the store was empty. Do they really expect to keep afloat charging these prices in a credit crisis? This was for the cheapest, reasonably fashionable, designer frame I found. Can't imagine the stress involved if I lost them! They did offer insurance but this only covered damage, not loss.

    I will take a chance and order online. Has anyone successfully ordered their first pair of varifocals online?

    As far as the store running costs, Primark also have large expensive stores to run!!
    I would suggest that you try Primark for your spectacles. I'm sure you will be suitably impressed with their range.
  • jicms
    jicms Posts: 482 Forumite
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    I think you missed the point!
  • Steve_xx
    Steve_xx Posts: 6,976 Forumite
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    Perhaps you would care to elaborate further?
  • nico26
    nico26 Posts: 823 Forumite
    edited 6 June 2009 at 6:49AM
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    Your spouting rubbish .Primark are a world wide company how can you compare to your local high street optician. £384 is normal for a good quality pair of varifocals with designer frames. In Malaysia you can get a pair of glasses for £30 but with varifocals its different they are roughly the same as uk. You can get them cheaper but with a cheap lens, but with a good quality lens its the same price.
  • bigzippy
    bigzippy Posts: 4,034 Forumite
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    Haven't read anything back, but does anyone know where I can get cheap prescription sunglasses??
    "I am indelibly stained by hope and longing" - Nuts in May
  • meanmum
    meanmum Posts: 610 Forumite
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    For cheap prescription sunglasses, as simple single vision tinted lenses in a huge range of frames, try Zenni optical. There are a number of posts about them on this thread if you just search the thread.
    Complete glasses start at $8, the tint is another $5, postage to the UK is $9.
    To choose a frame, I'd recommend you start with some you have already & measure them to match the measurements on the Zenni site.
  • iceburn
    iceburn Posts: 680 Forumite
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    nico26 wrote: »
    Your spouting rubbish .Primark are a world wide company how can you compare to your local high street optician. £384 is normal for a good quality pair of varifocals with designer frames. In Malaysia you can get a pair of glasses for £30 but with varifocals its different they are roughly the same as uk. You can get them cheaper but with a cheap lens, but with a good quality lens its the same price.

    Also if Primark the store I am thinking of dont they sell clothes? So you are like comparing Apples with Oranges. They are completely different. (I know Nico you not comparing the two.) But reason quoting u is cause what you said about Malaysia, in Italy glasses are very expensive cost like £200 just for the frame. Wife mum can spend between £500 - £1000 glasses. When she come over here to UK that is the first thing she does is get new glasses. It pays for the flight ;-)
  • nedmundo
    nedmundo Posts: 1,160 Forumite
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    jicms wrote: »
    I have just been quoted £384 for a pair of varifocal glasses!! No wonder the store was empty. Do they really expect to keep afloat charging these prices in a credit crisis? This was for the cheapest, reasonably fashionable, designer frame I found. Can't imagine the stress involved if I lost them! They did offer insurance but this only covered damage, not loss.

    I will take a chance and order online. Has anyone successfully ordered their first pair of varifocals online?

    As far as the store running costs, Primark also have large expensive stores to run!!

    Without roughly knowing your prescription and exactly what lenses and frame were involved (i.e. varifocal design, index, transitions, coating etc) I couldn't possibly comment. From the price you mention, I can only assume top end frames and lenses are involved.

    Post more details on and I'll point you in the right direction.
    Beware the character seeking personal gain masquerading as a moral crusader.
    :beer:
  • coolio_2
    coolio_2 Posts: 1,408 Forumite
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    Has anyone used www.london-eyewear.co.uk ? Looking to get some frames from them but wondered if anyone has used them before
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