D&A glasses [Rip off?] thread

spring85195

Hi guys,

I just got my eye test today at Dolland & A, the optician is pushing very hard get me to buy the what she called

1.7 lens, which cost 299 pounds
or alternative 1.65 lens, which cost 199 pounds

When I take out my low income certificate (Full time student) from NHS, she checked with her chart and say I am entitled to a 37.5 pounds vocher, however, she say as I bringed my own glass frame, it cost extra 35 pounds handling fee, which cancel out the NHS vochers.

I just googled and see that there are so many online spec seller which go as low as 15 pounds for one! including delivery..

and checked specsaver, their pentex lens ultra ultra thin one is only 130 pounds, I wonder if D&A is trying to rip me off.

Wonder how much is you guy's spec cost?

Sand_Man_2

over the last few years, there has been a movement where online alternatives are avaible. Funny enough, high street optisions acted as a cartel artifically raising prices to make big margins. Its only when online retailers came into the mix when they where exposed. they argue that they have fixed costs, but the percentage markup they make is riduculous

if you decide to go via the online method, make sure you insist for a full prescription. They have to give you certain information my Law.

they only thing tricky somethings to get is the PD measure (pupilary distance) as they don't have to give you this by law. They intentionaly will not give it to you as they know the second you ask that you will be ordering online and not via them. You just have to be forceful and confident to get it. ASDA & Tesco tend to provide it for you without lots of hassle as its not there primary business. If you went to one of the main steam places, they will give you a dirty look as they have been told by high mgt not to give it to you.

have a look at a website called glassesdirect.co.uk where you can read up on this. They will also accept your NHS discount voucher as do other online retailers

i brought my first glasses from glassesdirect. i got some very nice rimless glasses which looked fanastic for about £50. Compare this to D&A or Specsavers who where quoting me £120 plus. Even the extra options such as anti reflective coatings where cheaper via online retailers than via high street (50% plus difference)

3plus1

D&A use Nikon lenses, which are significantly more expensive than Pentex. Because they're better. You're not comparing like for like.

The optician would only have pushed you to get lenses with a 1.7 index if your prescription was quite high, i.e. +6 or -6, or something thereabouts.

D&A do offer a good service, but it is expensive. Having 1.7 index lenses is not a necessity, but it does look good. You don't have to have thin lenses, you could easily pick up a pair of frames with standard lenses for £30 online.

achan

I'm with D&A. Yeah, they're pricey, but give good service. I also get contact lenses by post from them, which means that if I ever need glasses they'll be half price for me...

spring85195

Right, I ordered the glasses at boots.
It is 50 pounds cheaper and it come with a new designer frame.
and it come with a year insurance (whatever that means)

I found boots service is 10 times better then D&A, if not more.
-At D&A, the only feeling i get from them is get me buy a frame and get me out as soon as they can
-While at boots, that staff help me to select the right frame for over an hour (yes, i am picky), he didn't hurry me or push me to a sale as D&A did.

Needless to say, I will never go to D&A again.

Fides

I bought glasses from them about 2 years ago paid a fortune but must admit they where pretty good. This time I thought I would have a look at some of the online companies to see what they had to offer - but I have spent about 3 days ploughing through some of the sites (some of which go on and on and on) and have found that some of them are just as bad. Once you add on the price of the lens if you want a thinner lens - some cost £40 extra, then the anti reflective another £15 and it goes on - you start with a pair of glasses at £25 and end up with a bill at the end of about £80 - not so cheap then. Look out for that one. Make sure you have a good look around at the sites and check each price.

r.mac_2

i have a pair of glasses from D&A. I got 50% off the price as I ahd a contact lense check up with them. I paid £100, which included the frames and the lenses with special coating - although i do only have quite weak strength lenses (not sure if that makes a difference).

18 months later I still have them and they are in great shape - not a scrape in sight and will do me for a long time yet.

I found their service was good - very easy and quick to get an appointment.

Missy79

I always get my glasses at specsavers as their 2 for 1 deal is pretty good. I would buy online if they did the adjustments to fit but they don't and the arms would be way too long for me. Like someone mentioned you only really need the ultra thin lens options if you have a high prescription. If you don't and are on a budget i wouldn't worry about it. Personally i've never bothered with any of the coatings etc. (with the exception of sunglasses) and haven't had a problem with bog standard lenses (and i wear all day every day and never put away in the case - just get dumped on bedside table )

red_fraggle_2

I bought my glasses from glassesdirect.co.uk, but also used Quidco; my lovely rimless specs were priced at £45 (plus p&p), but Quidco had a 10% discount offer going on, plus 10% cashback, so they only cost £42.50 in total (including the p&p) and I got £5.99 in cashback. :j And they're really nice glasses too - I must admit I was worried that they'd be flimsy or cheap looking, but so far so good.

It does look like those with a high prescription should probably go for the dearer lenses, but for those of us who can it really is worth looking at these online retailers.

Bum, just had a look at Quidco and it looks like Glasses Direct isn't on there at the moment, sorry. But it's still well worth using them, or maybe have a look at the other retailers on Quidco to see what's available (v important lesson learned by me the hard way; always check Quidco before you get anything online - I've just switched bank accounts and would have got £50 for it if I'd gone through them )

Han_naH

I have to agree with the earlier poster. The lenses by Nikon are so comfortable to view through, and I don't get on with any other brand.

Not cheap, but my local D&A always knocks off 25%, so you should ask.

Also, I bought 2 x identical specs from Specsavers, one of which were sunglasses (standard lenses but with a little tint).

I asked why the none-sunglasses has so much glare (had all the usual coatings), but the sunglasses were excellent to look through? She finally admmitted the sunglasses were made specially but the glasses were off a big block of perspex. By Pentax.

spring85195

Personally, I don't feel much different..
Just to update on my story.

Boots managed to mis manufacture my lens, its different from my prescription.

I have to say that there are good staff and bad staff in the same branch (a high street boots), half of them is very nice, friendly and another half is the opposite.


I went to another boots at Oxford street because of I am very unhappy with the attitude from my nearest brnach. I must admit that the staffs at oxford street is 10 times if not 100 times friendlier and more helpful.