Great Cheap Glasses Hunt

nedmundo

GlassesDirect wrote: »

There are basic reasons that glasses are so expensive - cross subsidisation of the services offered by the opticians themselves (ie, they charge less for the eye test, but much more for the glasses)

To try and stop people from going online to buy glasses some opticians will resist giving you your Pupillary Distance (This is, as it sounds, the distance between your pupils. We'll write another blog post on this topic soon, and will be having a discussion with our Senior Optician about PDs).

To give you an idea of what some American opticians feel about their customers and the online opticians (and the services that we and they provide), it can be worth eavesdropping on some of their conversations.

Optiboard is a forum for Americans in the optical trade. There have been many comments about the online trade, and PD measurements.

Here is the link to the USA forum: www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27534&highlight=pd+online talking about PD measurements which many opticians are reluctant to give out.


To quote:
1. "Online eyeglasses appeal to the cheapest and most moronic people out there. If I lose a few drooling idiots with no money to the online crowd, I'm not sure I even care."

2. "Tell them to take their own. If they feel they do not need us, they they can do it themselves (note, I am no longer in the industry, so I can make statements like that)."

3."My policy is 'no PD', period."

One member of the USA forum tried to point out that by providing a service of measuring PDs etc, it could actually be a useful way of keeping customers returning to him, but he was in a very small minority being shouted down by the other contributors who think that everyone who orders online is a moron, and any glasses bought online will be awful and won't work.

At Glasses Direct ( www.glassesdirect.co.uk) we've had over 100,000 happy UK customers since 2004, and made over 200,000 pairs of glasses. If our customers had not been entirely happy with our products and service, we'd have been out of business a long time ago.

The optical industry is changing, and we're part of that change giving a better deal. People, including myself, will still buy from the highstreet, and online. We buy books from Amazon, our local book shops, and Waterstones. One of our website team has bought glasses online and from a local optician, he now has 9 pairs of glasses. One is from a high street optician and is the same cost as all the other 8 bought online put together!

Indeed James & Co.
What you fail to point out is that the Ocular Centration distance (OC) (and not PD) is the responsibility of the dispenser of the optical appliance. Whether this is the online supplier or the patients responsibility is still a grey area and really the problem of yourselves and your 'Senior Optician' or Dispensing Optician to use the correct terminology.

What is well documented though, is that the OC can differ according to the appliance being dispensed and that if all Optometrists dished out the Pupillary Distance (PD), to be used as the OC, then it can be inferred that they are in supervision of and therefore responsible for the dispensing, of which they have no control.

So James & Co, you will see that the issue is not purely a financial issue, but more a legal one. Perhaps you should stop trying to place the legal liability on us by getting patients to demand a measurement which may not be correct for the intended purpose and perhaps you should tell your customers the above rather than implying that if we don't issue PDs, it's because we don't want them to go elsewhere, when in reality, we don't want the liability for someone elses failings!

moneysaver

barginunter wrote: »

I totally agree about ciliaryblue - total turnaround in a week, excellent results, will deffo use them again.

Another vote for Ciliaryblue here. Will use again when needed.


Moneysaver

nedmundo

nedmundo wrote: »

Indeed James & Co.
What you fail to point out is that the Ocular Centration distance (OC) (and not PD) is the responsibility of the dispenser of the optical appliance. Whether this is the online supplier or the patients responsibility is still a grey area and really the problem of yourselves and your 'Senior Optician' or Dispensing Optician to use the correct terminology.

What is well documented though, is that the OC can differ according to the appliance being dispensed and that if all Optometrists dished out the Pupillary Distance (PD), to be used as the OC, then it can be inferred that they are in supervision of and therefore responsible for the dispensing, of which they have no control.

So James & Co, you will see that the issue is not purely a financial issue, but more a legal one. Perhaps you should stop trying to place the legal liability on us by getting patients to demand a measurement which may not be correct for the intended purpose and perhaps you should tell your customers the above rather than implying that if we don't issue PDs, it's because we don't want them to go elsewhere, when in reality, we don't want the liability for someone elses failings!

It looks like Glassesdirect have decided that this site wasn't the best place to spread their doctrine after all, as they disappeared from this site - speaks volumes about the motivation for their crusade!

grahamawright

I've used GlassesCrafter three times with no problems. Okay, they're in Shanghai and delivery will normally take anything between 10 to 20-odd days. I have two pairs of designer rimless glasses (genuine - as confirmed by my friendly local optician and who couldn't even hope to compete with the prices!). I wasn't happy with the transitions lenses in one pair (my error) and returned them to Shanghai for replacement clear hi-index lenses (15 days getting there, completed the next day and returned 10 days later). Admittedly communication can be a struggle sometimes - I find it better to keep the language basic and (politely) direct. They tend to make use of 'set' replies for common queries that are sometimes not quite appropriate, but I always manage to get there in the end. Overall - they supply good quality glasses with the highest currently available high index lenses at a fraction of UK prices. But it requires a little patience and understanding.

fittaedae

Hello folks! Hope this is the right place to put this post!

Beware Next Vision (yes the high street shop) they have a site accessable through their online shop selling glasses, two pairs for the price of one..... fantastic.... or so I thought.

I picked two pairs of rimless glasses and in total the thin, anti reflection, anti scratch glasses plus delivery came to £183.94 for 2 pairs, perfect!

Spoke to lady on thurs who confirmed my prescription and even changed one of the frames as I had changed my mind!

Now today I have a message left on my phone to say they cant supply my glasses!!!

Apparently they cannot supply glasses higher than -5.00 SPH.... mine are -5.00 SPH??? Plus it has the option to order the -5.00 SPH on the site (the lady I called says it does not), now is this not misleading customers? My argument is that if they cant supply lenses at -/+5.00 why the heck are they available on their order site?

The lady says that it states they cannot supply these lenses in their terms and conditions, I cant find it and neither can the nice man from Consumer Direct that I also spoke to today.

Just really angry, I really need new glasses and cannot afford to pay the prices that the high street opticians are charging. :mad:

Has anyone else had problems with Next Vision or problems with a SPH of
-5.00??

Kinda depressed me cos I did not realise I was blind! :cool:

fittaedae

Thanks Imgee98 for the info, I will have a look at the site you mention, I am not particulary fussed if they are rimless, I just thought the next offer was a massive bargain.... it did seem too good to be true! Still I have sent a letter of complaint to the head office after speaking to Consumers Direct, they agree they are breakin their Terms and Conditions, will see what happens!

adsk

Another satisfiied Ciliary Blue customer. Got 1.67 reactive lenses for £95. About 60% less than it would have cost from my Optician. The refurbishment service made the frames look better than when they were new!

glenboast

Hi,

Just bought a pair of glasses from ExclusiveEyes.co.uk and I miss say I am thrilled with them..... excellent range and good customer service. Specsavers quoted me £120 and I got a better pair for just about £40. Certaily worth a try!!

glenboast

Hi,

Just bought a pair of glasses from ExclusiveEyes.co.uk and I must say I am thrilled with them. I received the glasses in 4 days and their customer service is excellent. Specsavers quoted me £120 and I got a better pair for just about £40. Certainly worth a try!!

:T

dizzyjo

Apologies if this has been covered before but I haven't been able to find info on it anywhere...
I currently wear a pair of rimless glasses that were made about 4 years ago and I have always been really happy with them, anyway I have been trying to buy a new pair but have been told by a few places that they can't make rimless glasses in my precription due to the level of 'cyl'. One eye requires a +4.25 sph and -4.00 cyl. Any ideas of any shops or online suppliers that may be able to make rimless in this prescription? Many thanks for any help with this problem.
(p.s.The shop that made my original glasses haven't got any frames that I like at the moment otherwise I'd try going back there)