Real life MMD: Should I buy glasses from my friend?

joehoover

There's a glasses offer today from lensway on the MSE email, you'd need to act quick though as it ends.

Otherwise, as people have said, just mention you need new glasses, can she do you a deal, if too expensive just say so, she won't be annoyed, she may only be dissappointed if you never asked her at all as she may be glad to help.

cazpost

If she is a close friend,hopefully she will be aware of your financial situation,or at the very least you will feel able to tell her your situation. She may well be able to give you a better deal than you imagine, or offer you the chance to spread the cost. If she is a real friend she wont be offended by you going elsewhere if you can get a better deal, but she will be offended if you dont ask her advice in the first place.
However, if she isn't a close friend,more of an acquaintance, then I don't think it matters either way.
I go to an independent optician, have done since I was a child, and at first glance the glasses on display are horrifically expensive designer frames etc(its an affluent area here) but I always ask to see the 'budget range' which is kept in the cupboard,and has a very wide choice.My last pair cost £75 complete, which I dont think is too bad. Ask your friend, she probably has a budget range too!!

meknowalot-51

Why are you assuming that your friend is going to be offended if you bought cheaper glasses somewhere else.A real friend will tell you that you should have went to them in the first place and got a pair of designer glasses at cost price.Friends help each other out whenever possible.........is this person really a friend or just somebody you chat with from time to time.Do yourself a favour and just ask your friend if they can help in any way,they will either say no or get you a great pair for next to nothing.Then you'll know how much of a friend this person really is.I'm sure your'e going to be suprised with the response you get.Good luck.

supervader

It is possible to buy glasses in a pound shop, if you find that they are suitable it would be very silly to spend great quantities of money on pointless designer glasses, besides often you can buy glasses made by Foster Grants in the pound shop what more could you want?
Surely a good friend would not expect you to waste your money on unecessary items.

Pembroke

There is of course the old adage that you should NEVER buy anything from your friends that way they remain your friends.

All the posts on here are very rosy about how you should get your friend to offer you a good price and how she won't be offended if you go elsewhere but just supposing something goes wrong, the glasses are faulty, or they don't suit you or you get a headache when you wear them will that strain your relationship?

It would be better if you sought out her advice on what to buy and where to buy but ultimately it would be better for your friendship if you didn't buy from her.

dave2

Find a pair elsewhere you'd buy and drop her a line to ask if she's got anything in that price range she thinks you might like.

Your friend has been consulted and as a side bonus she might be able to offer you a fancy pair discounted near to that cheap pair price. I don't think she'd be offended anyway, she's a businesswoman and no doubt understands she is selling up market which isn't for everyone.

Bear in mind that while there's generally a big margin on designer specs, the first chunk of the price (most of the price of cheaper pairs) is the dispensing/lenses that she can't really discount. Secondly designer specs are usually bought on consignment, sold at RRP (sales prices are usually led by the supplier). She may well be under contract not to sell at a discount, so don't be disappointed with her if she doesn't offer you one!

Staff may get glasses free/steep discount but there's a clear marketing incentive to suffer a loss there.

NhocCuteGirlUK

When you find a pair you like, tell your friend. She may be able to get them for you from her supplier - maybe even cheaper.

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cuba2008

I don't really see the problem - after all, if your friend ran a designer boutique selling expensive clothing, you wouldn't shop there just because it was her shop would you? You would go to the High Street like the rest of us. Surely it's the same with glasses - I do get designer but only because I have insurance that gives me £110 a year towards the cost and opticians do buy one get one free deals. I certainly wouldn't feel under any obligation to go somewhere more expensive just because a friend ran the store. Ask her if she is able to price match at least and if she can't, go back to the High Street.

alittlemadam

If this person is a true friend it wont matter to them where you actually bought your glasses from, however they may say after you've bought them that they could probably have gotten them cheaper for you. I think you should tell them that you need some new glasses and that you are shopping around for the best price and looking at all the offers available and will probably go with the best deal. Sometime shops dont always advertise the best deals until you actually ask.

I have looked at buying frames from one place (as they were starting from £25 for designer frames) and then having the lenses fitted elsewhere but have often been told that they will cost.

Marco12452

Go to a reputable optition for the eye test and get your perscription.
Then leave rather than let them talk you in to purchasing their glasses. Don't discount that optition, but shop around for whats best for you including online, tesco, other chains etc.
If your friend is a real friend they might be dissapointed, but will understand.