Glasses - From Brick Store or Online?

Feral_Moon

Saffagal wrote: »

I have just bought some glasses from glassesdirect and actually cannot fault their professionalism. I entered my prescription online, measured the width of my existing frames and chose a new one accordingly (they also offer to send frames out to try before making up a prescription for you).

They contacted me the next day to confirm my prescription had been entered correctly and ask my PD. They said I could either send them an old pair of glasses or I could ring my optician and see if it was recorded as PD hadn't been recorded on my copy of my prescription and was necessary. I rang my optician, who hadn't recorded it but popped in and they measured it in under 2 min. Rang glasses direct back and gave it to them.

Glasses arrived less than a week after ordering and are brilliant. I was sceptical, but found a really good deal code, and they offer a 30 day money back guarantee so figured what do I lose?

We're these for varifocals by any chance? I've already bought single vision glasses from GD and like you, had excellent customer service. Ordered and delivered in less than a week.

I'm now waiting upon delivery of several frames as I'd like a pair of varifocals but I'm not sure what the extra measurements that are needed are. I do recall the optician measuring something on my last pair but can't see anything relating to that on my current prescription.

wannabeslim

Go to the shop, have a trying on session, take lots of pics, choose the style you are happy with and then order accordingly online especially if you have a simple prescription, Cillary Blue are my recommended site, they are very helpful on the phone too if you have questions

nedmundo

wannabeslim wrote: »

Go to the shop, have a trying on session, take lots of pics, choose the style you are happy with and then order accordingly online especially if you have a simple prescription, Cillary Blue are my recommended site, they are very helpful on the phone too if you have questions

So- how does the 'shop' pay for the overheads incurred to exist so that you cam try on frames?

CrazyNerd

or adjust your glasses,or provide your pd's?

nedmundo

CrazyNerd wrote: »

or adjust your glasses,or provide your pd's?

Or produce your prescription or detect that serious sight threatening condition that you weren't aware of?

Feral_Moon

nedmundo wrote: »

Or produce your prescription or detect that serious sight threatening condition that you weren't aware of?

Buying glasses elsewhere doesn't mean you don't go and get your eyes tested regularly. They still require an up to date prescription when buying glasses online and need to see proof of this.

Feral_Moon

I think I've now figured out PD means pupil distance? If so, that's critical for me in buying varifocals. Boots opticians got it badly wrong for me last time and resulted in me having a car accident whilst wearing glasses they'd prescribed. They were designer ones too costing £300+

wannabeslim

nedmundo wrote: »

So- how does the 'shop' pay for the overheads incurred to exist so that you cam try on frames?

That's how business is now I'm afraid, its common practice for customers to try a product physically first and buy cheaper online, brick built businesses need to adjust their own business model to move with the times if this has a negative impact, the equivalent to this online is ordering lots of sizes or variations of a product and sending them back accordingly, its just how it is now

nedmundo

wannabeslim wrote: »

That's how business is now I'm afraid, its common practice for customers to try a product physically first and buy cheaper online, brick built businesses need to adjust their own business model to move with the times if this has a negative impact, the equivalent to this online is ordering lots of sizes or variations of a product and sending them back accordingly, its just how it is now

It might well be, but if all Opticians started charging £80+ or whatever it costs for an eye exam to to provide a shop window for you to take your business elsewhere, how many would bother to get their eyes tested regularly?

bazzyb

nedmundo wrote: »

It might well be, but if all Opticians started charging £80+ or whatever it costs for an eye exam to to provide a shop window for you to take your business elsewhere, how many would bother to get their eyes tested regularly?

I don't get the logic - are you saying people should pay hundreds of pounds over the odds for frames and lenses just to ensure that other people can get cheap eye tests in the future?

I doubt the true cost of an eye test is £80 or more when the average going rate seems to be about £15 or so. Regardless of that, this is a money saving site and I have no intention of paying £400+ to Vision Express when I can get similar frames with better lenses for less than £100 with Glasses Direct. That is how the prices compared when I replaced my glasses last year.