Any tips on haggling for cheapers glasses?

BigTezza

Hi

I just wondered if anyone out there has any tips for getting better deals at High Street opticians? I get my eye test paid for by my Company but the cost of glasses is down to me. I currently have lightweight photochromic single vision lenses in my general pair but as they don't darken when I'm in the car I also need prescription sunglasses.

It never seems to matter what deals and offers these people advertise i.e. I always seem to leave the store a couple of 100 quid lighter and wondering why I didn't qualify for any deals!

I'll be sticking to the main High Street stores again i.e. Specsavers, Boots, Vision Express and D&A. I know you can order glasses online and save a fair few quid but I like to try various styles on in store and don't want to leave it to chance and end up looking like Arthur Askey.

Has anyone ever successfully haggled themselves a better deal at a High Street outlet or are their prices set in stone?

Thanks

niceola

The prices of glasses are ridiculous! My last pair were ordered online at glasses direct.

They were under £30 which included antiglare lenses and delivery. I am extremely pleased with the customer service too as the first pair i ordered looked awful on me so they advised me to return them for another pair!

They are well made and comfy to wear, I know you are not to keen shopping online but if you are not willing to fork out the money its maybe a viable option. :D

bluenose5_2

try this first they take about 4 weeks SelectSpecs.com

car25

ASDA opticians are currently doing 2 pairs for £90, not sure if it includes sunglasses, may be worth a call to check.

Tigsteroonie

Asda's deal kinda includes sunglasses, in that you can pay £10 to have a tint applied to the lenses. I got one pair normal, one pair with a heavy tint for driving in the summer.

elfen

Boots Opticians usually have good offers on, but I went to Specsavers - I trust them and they are really good. I won't mind having to pay a little extra just for the CS

greytroot

I used glassesdirect - £18.50 all in magnificent - I only wear them about 6 times a year. Normally contacts.

BigTezza

Thanks for the advice everybody - lots for me to think about!

Enterprise_1701C

If you are reluctant to use online stores (though I have done myself) then people like Specsavers start doing BOGOF including sunglasses in the run up to summer normally, it is normally in frames over £70 though so still quite steep.

dnomyar

Its good to be in one of those health plans. My family are with BHSF and we pay around £25.00 per month. You get 75% back on glasses upto around £220.00 per year per person amogst other cash benefits for hospital day cases or stay in hospital and 75% back on dental as well. Over the past 6 years, we have had more out than we have paid in.

I just got new glasses from D & A inbetween Christmas and Newyear and checked online for any vouchers. I found a 20% off, a free eye test voucher (if buy glasses over £100.00) and a voucher for 2000 nectar points. I already had a voucher from work for my eye test. So after my test I advised them that I'm looking to spend around £250 and would like to use all 3 vouchers together (they state in the ts & cs that only 1 voucher per transaction) or I pay for my test with my free voucher from work and take my business for glasses elsewhere. They accepted, I got a nice pair of Police frameless glasses with antiglare and anti scratch. Should have been £250.00, with my 20% off was £200.00 after BHSF cash back of £150.00 and £10.00 in nectar points. I only paid £40.00.

BigTezza

Hmmm, thanks. This is getting more and more interesting.

I've only had a few minutes to check out the online suppliers mentioned but on the face of it they do more or less what people like Specsavers do. In other words they advertise glasses at a cheap price but once you tweak your requirements the price goes silly. For example, if you want lightweight lenses rather than milk bottle glass then that adds money, having reactolite lenses adds more as does choosing half-rimmed/rimless frames.

On balance I'll probably visit a High Street outfit - just a question now of finding the best vouchers/deals. It seems that being armed with those might provide some ammunition to haggle. I've never haggled in an opticians before but in the current climate I thought "Why not?". If anyone else has had any haggling success I'd be grateful for your advice.

Thanks again all.