Great Cheap Glasses Hunt

MSE_Martin

Glasses? Are you going to a party?

No, not that kind of glasses. The eyewear kind. Just as it's possible to cut the cost of contact lenses by buying online, there's no need to pay over the top high street prices.

What do I do?

I'd like to tap the wealth of MoneySavers knowledge to help find and collate a list of where to go, online and offline, to cut the cost of buying spectacles. Click reply to add your find.

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RufusA

To start the ball rolling.

https://www.optical4less.com

Based in Hongkong, but in my experience glasses were of a very good standard (rimless titanium and "designer" shades), and arrived within around 7 days of ordering with no duty or VAT to pay on import. They were also responsive to any questions I asked prior to placing an order.

One or two MSErs have noted that they are less responsive when things go wrong, and like some of the cheap online suppliers they don't cover you against postal damage or repay the return postage on faulty items!

After ordering I liked the glasses so much I asked if MSErs could have a discount which they kindly obliged by offering 6% off (min spend $60).

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=60063

HTH - Rufus.

brinky_2

My father and I have bought several pairs from https://www.spex4less.co.uk

Every pair have been absolutely spot on. Register for a newsletter and you get a free tint or free antireflection coating ( a fancy anti refelection coating with UV and EMR filter built in).

Glasses are made in Bolton and generally returned within a week.

I have had less satisfactory experience with other companies. Please IM me if you want to know which ones.

fatboyonadiet

I used www.irisoptical.co.uk maybe not the cheapest but cheap for designer frames, also had a policy with HealthSure which paid for all but £35 of my new glasses!

chateau42

Think Glassesdirect.co.uk has been mentioned previously. Have purchased prescription reading glasses twice. Both superb at £15 each + £2.50 postage. This month had eyes tested at High Street chain, showed them and they were grabbed out of my hand to test, both for durability and for prescription correctness. Passed, reluctantly I guess. £15 the cheapest but reasonable range, tinted, bendable, multi-vision. Catalogue available. Have tried most high street opticians, glasses expensive and, for me, don't last. Not into designer stuff but these are superb.

layces

I have just bought Varilux varifocals with antireflection coating including frames for about £120 delivered from the US. Delivery took about a week and I am delighted with the quality. The link to the company is https://www.39dollarglasses.com. You need to fill in details from your prescription and the site takes you through all the options with helpful details on the choices. Highly recommended!

koru

For a bricks and mortar alternative, so you can be sure what you are getting, Costco are really cheap. They have designer brands such as Dior, Calvin Klein, Armani. Prices vary, but they have a load of Calvin Klein frames, for instance, at about £40, including ordinary lenses. They have opticians on site, who do eye tests, if you need them.

prop

I have bought a pair of designet style glasses with phtocromatic lenses from https://www.goggles4u.com for $49. The price is in us$ but they are delivered from pakistan a bloke from work on my advice got a pair of clear glass ones for $12.
You just put in your perscription and wait for them arriving. A Bargin!!

Paul

cat.jon

Can definitly reccmomend glassesdirect.com - paid £25 for prescription lenses and frames - no gimmicks or hidden extras, tho special lenses carry additional charge but still excellent value and quality. Prices start at £15, and go up to about £65 for designer dkny glasses. Web site and catalogue give all measurements, can even try glasses virtually via web site. Company state reasons for cheapness as having no high street overheads, or resident opticians to pay - they just manufacture and dispatch glasses.
Very pleased with this service - will definitly use them again.

Gillyches

layces wrote:

I have just bought Varilux varifocals with antireflection coating including frames for about £120 delivered from the US. Delivery took about a week and I am delighted with the quality. The link to the company is https://www.39dollarglasses.com. You need to fill in details from your prescription and the site takes you through all the options with helpful details on the choices. Highly recommended!

I have just ordered a pair of Varilux varifocals with the coating using your tip... I am pleased to be able to spend SO much less than they would have cost me in the UK by the usual methods. I had my eyes test two weeks ago and was dithering about whether to take the plunge and get the prescription. Up to now I've had decent long distance vision and just bought reading glasses from Sainsbury's for about £16 and they have been great. However, as I'm getting older my eyes have deteriorated and I was shocked at the price quoted!

I am looking forward (no pun intended) to seeing (and again) what they are like. Thanks muchly for the tip!!! ;-)

donnabythegreen

Try www.designerglasses.co.uk for complete prescription glasses from £15.00
I ordered mine on the tuesday night and recieved them on friday morning. I would recommend them to anyone!