Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

ciliaryblue_company_representative

nellykim wrote: »

Hi... Can anyone tell me please... Would an optician be willing to fit new prescription lenses ( varifocals ) into the frames already being used at the moment ?..Has anyone ever done this ? what's to stop people doing this if its possible - they would save even more, surely ?

thanks

Hi nellykim, there are many places that will do (should do) this on the high street, there are some websites too (ours is one that reglazes only) that will do it for you. Shop around and you'll find some good deals I'm sure.

nedmundo

nellykim wrote: »

Hi... Can anyone tell me please... Would an optician be willing to fit new prescription lenses ( varifocals ) into the frames already being used at the moment ?..Has anyone ever done this ? what's to stop people doing this if its possible - they would save even more, surely ?

thanks

As CilliaryBlue chappie says, most Opticians are able to do this, although you may have to be without your specs for a few days (or weeks) whilst they are sent away for reglazing. If you find a practice with an on site lab, they can glaze the new lenses whilst you wait.

System

loudcloud wrote: »

I work for a large High Street optician. While I agree totally with Martin and the savings that can be had online, I feel that I must voice some concerns with using such services.

Firstly, “Pupiliary Distance” or PD. Using a mirror to take this measurement is a good idea. The problem arises when you have a mid to high prescription.

When you Sphere, or sph for short, is greater than 2.50 then having this measurement out by more than 1.0 of a millimeter can create something called prism. This can cause dizziness, headaches and sickness, as well as poor vision.

Well it's human error at the end of the day, an optician can make the same mistakes. This is what happened to me with D&A (Dollond & Aitchison) - I was overcharged and given a COMPLETELY wrong prescription. I did not find out the PD was wrong until I went to another opticians this year - my PD was 65 according to D&A when it is actually 61. Unless my face has shrunk they were almost half a centimeter out! And I paid £170 for JUST the lenses!!!

I'm sticking with contact lenses and only wear glasses at home or when my eyes are tired. I risked it and made my first online glasses order last week and will write an honest review here to help others when I receive them.

edtaa

I've just received my order from Zenni Optical. I ordered one week ago and the glasses arrrived from China by courier today. Amazing service and value. Glasses are great. I registered with the site so I could post this message just because I was so pleased with this transaction.

Steve_xx

edtaa wrote: »

I've just received my order from Zenni Optical. I ordered one week ago and the glasses arrrived from China by courier today. Amazing service and value. Glasses are great. I registered with the site so I could post this message just because I was so pleased with this transaction.

The problem with receiving goods from other countries (with the exception of EC member states) is that they are liable to interception as they arrive in the UK. If they are intercepted you can find yourself liable to pay excise duty and VAT on the items.

sandy2_2

There´s a customs declaration on the front of packages sent and completed by Zenni and I have never had to pay customs or vat.
Sandy

Steve_xx

sandy2 wrote: »

There´s a customs declaration on the front of packages sent and completed by Zenni and I have never had to pay customs or vat.
Sandy

I would suggest that y0ou have been lucky. There may be a duty to pay of around 2.9% and then VAT, plus an administration charge.

edtaa

I didn't pay duty either although I have frequently done so when ordering golf equipment from the USA. Even if I had paid duty, the amount would have been very small as the total cost for two pairs of glasses was under £30. They've already proved their worth as I was able to spot a typing error in a file name that I had missed with my previous pair that had cost £200 from an optician in France.

bob_regis

Wondering if someone could help me re:glassesdirect.

I have been reading through and they seem to be quite highly recommended on here but can someone explain their home trial.

I understand that I can try 4 pairs of glasses at home and as long as I send them back after a week I have no obligation....except...it says this on there website:

It's free if you decide to buy

With almost a fortnight to get to know your glasses you can make absolutely certain whether they're right for you.


Thats the bit I don't understand. If I don't buy any frames after the home trial how much will it cost me?

glassesdirect_company_representative

bob_regis wrote: »

Wondering if someone could help me re:glassesdirect.

I have been reading through and they seem to be quite highly recommended on here but can someone explain their home trial.

I understand that I can try 4 pairs of glasses at home and as long as I send them back after a week I have no obligation....except...it says this on there website:

It's free if you decide to buy

With almost a fortnight to get to know your glasses you can make absolutely certain whether they're right for you.


Thats the bit I don't understand. If I don't buy any frames after the home trial how much will it cost me?

Hi bob_regis,

The Home Trial service used to cost £5, but we've now made it free, so it's free postage there and back, you don't have to pay anything for it, whether you end up buying something or not.

That sentence is left over from before the change when it used to cost £5, which you got off your order if you bought something, I'll make sure that's changed. Sorry for the confusion.