Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

mean_momma

nedmundo wrote: »

If everybody did that, there would be no Boots or other practices to go and try specs on! What would you do then?

High St practices will always be necessary for the basics, but after that the big business seems to be fashion specs. We can benefit from style advice by the hoards of assistants in some of the big optical stores, at a price, but those of us without thousands to spend on several pairs of specs need to check out the online deals.

As for Boots, they may offer a second pair free, but mention high index lenses and suddenly they are not free after all. No thanks to the offer of a cheap frame with milk bottle lenses!

nedmundo

My point is that without the dispensing of specs, the eye examinations would be economically unviable and the big chains like Boots would pull out of eyecare all together.

[Deleted User]

I broke a lens of my glasses and all I want to do is buy a new lens and have it fitted. I have had the prescription 3 months and the glasses coast me £300ish. I went back to the opticians that dealt with me in the first place and they want £180 odd for one lens.

does anyone know of a company that will replace a lens for cheap?

it is too expensive for me to buy a new pair, especially when I just want a lens replaced, but I cant find an online supplier who deal with high prescriptions but not selling complete sets.

Edit:

so I am looking for reglazing of a high-index glass lens of complex prescription

nedmundo

You need to find out exactly what brand and design of lens was used and then try someone like Ciliary Blue. I've had no dealings with them myself, but I know that they supply to the trade and have only seen positive things posted about them on this forum.

I'm surprised that the original Opticians aren't being a bit more reasonable to help a loyal customer out. How much was the frame originally - minus £60? The £180 quoted doesn't add up.

mean_momma

nedmundo wrote: »

My point is that without the dispensing of specs, the eye examinations would be economically unviable and the big chains like Boots would pull out of eyecare all together.

I can only assume that big chains got into the business because the boom in fashion frames was reckoned to be a lucrative business? I'm not sure at what point Boots started dispensing specs, but presumably they didn't always do it?

Somebody, somewhere along the line, has been making a huge profit from plastic frames that probably cost pennies from the Far East. Plus, a profit on the lenses, although that would involve much more customer service.

You only have to look at those huge, brightly lit High St stores full of designer frames to see that they have been raking in the money, otherwise they couldn't afford prime rental units. Boots, sorry to say, don't have a 'cool' image, so are unlikely to offer much competition in the fashion stakes.

Presumably, the NHS will still provide eyecare for tests, perhaps somewhere less convenient than the High St. As for the big chains, some may give up trading, but no doubt the strongest will find another angle to keep the profits rolling in.

kmeast

I have just received 2 pairs of glasses from Metsuki, and am posting to say I cannot recommend them highly enough!!:T

My partner ordered a complete pair from them about 6 months ago (he found the designer frames he liked in Boots and made a note of the style no) and they have been great.

I have since bought frames on ebay and sent them to them to have lenses fitted to my prescription, and they have been returned all completed within a week!! One pair of Guess glasses was exactly the same as some that cost me £130 last year, and cost £14.99 on ebay for the frames and £14.95 for the lenses from Metsuki, plus the cost of posting them.

I decided to look for a cheaper alternative due to an over zealous toddler breaking my glasses and am so glad I did!

judexx

flexiblefish wrote: »

I broke a lens of my glasses and all I want to do is buy a new lens and have it fitted. I have had the prescription 3 months and the glasses coast me £300ish. I went back to the opticians that dealt with me in the first place and they want £180 odd for one lens.

does anyone know of a company that will replace a lens for cheap?

Edit:

so I am looking for reglazing of a high-index glass lens of complex prescription

Try Cilary Blue - have just had some specs reglazed by them - and was very impressed by their service and price.

www.ciliaryblue.com

wishiwasarichgirl

mean_momma wrote: »

Presumably, the NHS will still provide eyecare for tests, perhaps somewhere less convenient than the High St. As for the big chains, some may give up trading, but no doubt the strongest will find another angle to keep the profits rolling in.

At the moment the cost of an eye test is highly subsidised by spectacle sales. If high street opticians lose too much business to the internet sellers they will have to charge more for the sight test.

The NHS currently pays opticians less than £20 (except in scotland) for an eye examination. If they were to refuse to pay the actual amount needed to cover the opticians' costs, and the optician was not making money from selling glasses then they would stop providing NHS tests and many people may find themselves in a situation similar to trying to find an NHS dentist.

I don't think this will happen anytime soon though. Most people prefer the convenience of popping into the store and trying on as many frames as they like from the dozens on offer.

dejjones

I have just received a pair of glasses from EyeExperts and everything is in order, but like some others on here I find the customer service very poor.
When I placed the order, and payed the money (on Visa Credit) I received no confirmation from them and it's not possible to access the order via their website.
I requested confirmation by email and eventually got it.
I still however have no receipt, other than my credit card statement.
I need a receipt to claim back some of the money from HSA.
Does anyone know a way of contacting this company other than by email, which they seem very reluctant to reply to.

SallyD

I am very happy with Cilliary Blue for replacement lenses and www.giarre.com for frames. TKMaxx sometimes have frames, so its worth checking them out if you have a branch nearby.