Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

JulianF_2

I'm afraid that £100 extra seems to be about the going rate. If you found a site that did them online they would charge about the same as they have to pay someone to physically dispense them for you. It's just expensive whichever way you cut it!

bucksliz

Thanks JulianF. Looks like I'll be waitng for the January sales then!

Also can anyone clarify this. I am entitled to an NHS voucher off the cost of my glasses. Can I only claim this from the place I had my eye test? For example if I take my perscription to another optician to get the glasses will I still get the £50 off?

roddydogs

Variofocals are worth every penny extra-no more "lines" on the lenses which scream "Old Person"
Beats my why Rolf Harris with all his money cant afford them (look next time u see him on Telly)

TetrisRock

I'm in a bit of a pickle. Well, not really. I just want some advice.

I've already got glasses, i've had them for a couple of years but my eye test tells me my vision has changed slightly. The woman at Dolland and Aitchison said that I could send them away and get them reglazed. I can't remember how much she said it would cost (can anyone find that on their site? I couldn't.) Also, because i'm in Scotland, seventeen years old and in full time education, will I get a discount off of this reglaze or anything?

I already had the anti-reflection/anti scratch coating on them and i'm wondering if i'll need to get that again as well as the reglaze.

On top of that, my parents are recommending I get another pair of glasses as i'm at a loss if I ever lose my first pair. I'm just wondering if the Specsavers will let me use my NUS Associate card to get 30% off this second pair of glasses or if it'd have to be my first.

On top of all this, I was told that the reglaze on my original pair at D&As would take seven days at least. So, because I depend on my glasses, it would be ideal if I could buy this second pair as a "private purchase" from Specsavers (ie: no help in paying from the NHS) and then send my originals away for reglazing at D&As later (getting the NHS discount on that one.) Is this possible?

Gahd, don't it suck being shortsighted! Can someone please help me understand my position at all?! I'm rather confuzzled by it all.

TetrisRock

Please someone help?

tartanannie

Does anyone know how long they take to send out glasses?I ordered about a week ago.Thanks.

astralbee

I'm perhaps being too harsh on myself. I am of slighty-above-average sized face, and finding glasses that fit in an opticians has always been a nightmare. No wonder then I am hesitant to buy online.

4 years ago I found just ONE pair of glasses in a large Dolland and Aitchison store that fit me well and were a style I liked. In SpecSavers I found none. However, just today I had an eyetest in SpecSavers (£16.99 for the test without any special offer, if you are interested!) and tried on a few frames. Happily, there seemed to be many more that fit me now.

Browsing through all the websites Martin recommends, I had to quickly dismiss 90% of the online stores as their sizes were simply not big enough.

The pair I was happiest with online cost £25. They have a service wherby I can try the frames before buying, but that costs £2.50 plus the postage on return. Compare this cost of nearly £30 to the cost of 2 pairs from Specsavers in their recent 2for1 offer and there is not much in it. The pair I liked cost £85 and if I get a similar pair then they are essentially £42.50 each.

SO..... I think I am going to hold onto my prescription and see if SpecSavers have a January sale offer (as the 2for1 ended today. Booo!) :j

Hope this helps the big faced out there!

Darrell

See my big face in my big music video

sandy2_2

bucksliz wrote: »

I had my eyes tested today at a local independent optician and was told I need bifocals. The chap suggested I try varifocals but the extra charge would be £100:eek: Is this about right for varifocals or should I shop around? Having read the article and discussion on here I understand it is quite difficult to get varifocals online and would be better sticking to the high street. I don't mind paying the money but £100 sounded a lot on top of the lenses and frames.

My husband wears varifocals, but as they were sooo expensive this time he opted for a pair over the internet from Zenni Optical and has been very pleased with them

If you are a first time wearer of bifocals it might be better to get your first pair from a high street optician just in case you have any problems getting used to them, although there are a couple of online places who actually come out and visit you if you live in UK

JulianF_2

astralbee wrote: »

I'm perhaps being too harsh on myself. I am of slighty-above-average sized face, and finding glasses that fit in an opticians has always been a nightmare. No wonder then I am hesitant to buy online.

4 years ago I found just ONE pair of glasses in a large Dolland and Aitchison store that fit me well and were a style I liked. In SpecSavers I found none. However, just today I had an eyetest in SpecSavers (£16.99 for the test without any special offer, if you are interested!) and tried on a few frames. Happily, there seemed to be many more that fit me now.

Browsing through all the websites Martin recommends, I had to quickly dismiss 90% of the online stores as their sizes were simply not big enough.

The pair I was happiest with online cost £25. They have a service wherby I can try the frames before buying, but that costs £2.50 plus the postage on return. Compare this cost of nearly £30 to the cost of 2 pairs from Specsavers in their recent 2for1 offer and there is not much in it. The pair I liked cost £85 and if I get a similar pair then they are essentially £42.50 each.

SO..... I think I am going to hold onto my prescription and see if SpecSavers have a January sale offer (as the 2for1 ended today. Booo!) :j

Hope this helps the big faced out there!

Darrell

See my big face in my big music video

I would think one way for you to determine whether or not a frame is suitable for you is to look at the measurements for a frame online (assuming you've picked a style you like!) and try and pick one that has the same - or similar - dimensions as the one you already have that fits you comfortably. That way, you shouldn't be a million miles out on the size.

I like the video, by the way!!

JulianF_2

tartanannie wrote: »

Does anyone know how long they take to send out glasses?I ordered about a week ago.Thanks.

I bought mine online and got them in TWO DAYS (not from g4U, I hasten to add!)!

But this may well be exceptional. I think a week or so is reasonable, even allowing a little for the overloaded mail system at the time of the year.

Most sites have information about their delivery times somewhere on their site - have you looked?