Rip Off Britain - Spectacles

geriann

you can get glasses at Poundland and QD very cheap.
they're basic, but my man loves his from Poundland.

you can buy them off the shelf at some stores like Lloyds pharmacy.
still chea compared to opticians.

NeverInDebt

Your not comparing the same there is a whole lot of difference between getting glasses from an optician and a £1 shop price is one factor whether they actually help is another

geriann wrote: »

you can get glasses at Poundland and QD very cheap.
they're basic, but my man loves his from Poundland.

you can buy them off the shelf at some stores like Lloyds pharmacy.
still chea compared to opticians.

Nospecs

Hi Folks,

Maybe you can get specs from a Supermarket or online but...

Would you go to Asda to buy a car?
Audi to buy Corn Flakes?

Would you think that the salesman in Audi would know all about your Corn Flakes and give you the best nutritional advice, or indeed would the checkout person in Asda be able to show you all the safety features on your new Audi? I think not.

This is why I use my LOCAL optometrist ,as this is what they spent years studying for. If I have an issue I can simply go back and see them. If you have an issue with not being able to see with the 'cheapies' you get from the supermarket, who's fault is it, there's or yours?

Bottom line is , you wouldn't put cheap tyres on your Austin Martin, so why would you put cheap lenses in your specs??

You can buy a new car, but you only get 1-pair of eyes.

Likewise, 'buy-one-get-one-free', who out there actually believes this quote?
How do you think this is possible? If you go to BMW to buy a car you won't come out with 2... You may be able to get 2-Skoda's for the same money, but then that only works if you need 2-cars......

Think about it...............

Good luck with the 'cheapies', I'd rather look after my eyes....

Personally I'd rather know my eyes are in good shape rather than my missus getting a knock on the door one day from the men in uniform, to inform her that "due to my poor vision from my off-the-shelf specs, I want be SEEING her again".....oh, and the cars been written off........

Good Luck
Nospecs.........

roddydogs

The way she let the spokesperson for opticians off the hook was ridiculous ie "What do you recommend, online or going to a shop".. And the 25p refers to the plastic blanks, without grinding and all the associated costs, bit like saying you can buy a table for the price of the wood.. And Boots for one wont give you the PD to buy online.

hansi

Anyone who buys glasses from an optician after an eye test must need not just their eyes examined!! I have a very strong varifocal prescription and I was quoted vaious prices over £200 in about half a dozen outlets. I found a company (not online) who provided me with a very good frame and the lenses for £60. I have been going there for years now. Opticians profit margins are outrageous:mad:

tidus

You can't just look at the lens price in isolation. Its not 25p anyway, but what do you want us to say? If its really £1, or £2, it still looks like a rip off if you don't include other costs.

Ignoring for now all the running costs people not involved in retail tend to forget (power, aircon/heating, advertising, business rates, rent, accountancy, and many many more) - just think about the man hours involved in supplying a pair of spectacles. Optometry involves many trained people and can be very expensive in terms of one-on-one contact.

For example
20 mins with Optometrist (degree/professional level training)
20 mins with Dispensing Optician (diploma/foundation degree level)
(throw in a few mins with receptionist/support staff too)
30 mins lab tech to cut and fit lenses
(and throw in a few more minutes with one of the above to check fitting on collection, satisfaction, answer questions, take payment)

We don't have a tradition of itemising these costs on your purchase receipt, but they are in there. The eye exam, in particular, costs way more than the £20 or so you or the NHS has paid for it.

Honestly, very few of us are that well off. My business has been running at about breakeven point since the recession.

livinginportugal

I agree that spectacles in the UK are very expensive, but I paid 600 euros for a pair in Portugal! That's why, for my last pair, I researched the online retailers. To cut a long story short, I paid 95 British pounds for a pair of designer glasses with varifocals and transition lenses from a company called Glassescrafter. Problem is, they haven't delivered - took my money on 4 November (via Google Checkout/Visa), responded to a couple of my chase up emails, and are now totally ignoring me. Beware - do not use them! I am not starting the long process of trying to get a refund via Google Checkout (don't know if that is possible) and/or Visa (don't know if they still do that). If anyone knows the best route to take I would be very grateful.

roddydogs

Dont forget a lot of online stuff is sourced from abroad......thats why their cheap.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Ive got a day off today(well work from home) and this programme is terribly made and edited.. Now on about Payday loans.. we all know what thats going to do for you.

nedmundo

redcard wrote: »

You're the second optician on this thread not telling how much you really pay for lenses.

Funny that.

And there'll be many more. You don't wonder into any shop and ask what the cost price of a product is. If anyone did tell you, you'd jump straight to the conclusion that it was a rip-off, because you wouldn't factor in the overheads and other costs.

There's a big difference between gross profit margins, which this program & this forum concentrate on and net profit margins, which I can assure you are not that big at all, unless you're Dean Butler - ex owner of Vision Express that is!