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How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

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Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#301

Post by wycy »

smileysteve wrote: post #160
city41 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I consider my vision important enough to get a human opinion on it. Even if a machine can do it correctly 99% of the time, having someone experienced there to confirm the choices is worth it.

Even if the human has been encouraged to lie, cheat, and steal from you?

Optometry, particularly w/ re: prescriptions, seems like the one field of healthcare where patients can be reasonably informed. You can generally tell instantly if a prescription is right for you, and I wouldn't think there's any incentive for an optometrist to lie about your Rx.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#302

Post by eeeeeeeeeeeee »

ams6110 wrote: post #97
eeeeeeeeeeeee wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't even seem like anyone has interest in building $200,000 houses anymore, but they will sell you a poorly made condo for $400,000 and $600/mo HOA fees. I am a single person trying to find a house that is not four or five bedrooms (I only need one or two) and doesn't cost 1/2 mil minimum and it's difficult. This used to be called "the starter house" but it doesn't seem to exist anymore with new construction.

So many reasons for this, but it boils down to the marginal cost on building a 4-5 BR vs. a 2 BR house is small compared to the profit upside. If you want a 2 BR, you need to look in old neighborhoods or buy a condo.

I understand the economic reality, but it’s somewhat depressing how it seems like we think only in these terms now — what will maximize financial returns. The investment part supersedes the original purpose, which is to have a place to live.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#303

Post by kilo_bravo_3 »

mindslight wrote: post #54
jasode wrote: post #8

I was able to slash my eyeglasses expenditures in both the exams and the frames: eye exams: I used to pay the optometrist $153 ($117 refraction + $36 dilation). I later found out that Costco often has an optometrist on site in a tiny office and will charge just $59 (and add +$20 for dilation). That's less than half the cost of most other optometrists. frames: switched to Zenni online to avoid the LensCrafters/Pearle/…

Zenni requires you to do a bit of your own research, like every other new-economy self-service approach. But it's worth it. Switching to Zenni has allowed me to move to cheap CR-39 lenses rather than expensive high index material. CR-39 is soft, and if I'm paying a lot for frames then the lenses getting scratched is a Big Deal. Then pile on further costs for coatings etc. But if the frames and lenses are both inexpen…

I wear frame #1116325 from Zenni for prescription sunglasses.

My hat size is 7 3/4ths (EU: 62) and my pupillary distance is 72. In other words, I have a pumpkin head. My mother says my head is so big because of my big brains and my wife says it's due to my thick skull.

#1116325 seems to fit just fine and the frame is $29.95. They can handle PDs up to 79, according to the website.

I get fancy-pants prescription lenses though so the total price is around $90.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#304

Post by vibrio »

wbracken wrote: post #105
vibrio wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are 10-15% margins crazy large in this or comparable sectors? I'm genuinely asking as I'm to busy/lazy to look it.

Of course not.

According to my basic understanding of basic economics (FWIW), doesn't this put a hole in the monopoly hypothesis here? [I'm not even close to being an economist, but I've taken a basic class or two.]

I looked at their 2017 financials, and they have revenue/ expenses broken out for many many brands and regions. There are huge variations in margins due to what it seems like to be growth expenses. Some of what i'd think to be more mature lines at first glance to have crazy good margins.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#305

Post by AstralStorm »

kamaal wrote: post #279
chillacy wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like this way of looking at it. The $15k Rolex is expensive because you’re paying them to tell other people how cool you are through branding. So when you wear the watch other people already recognize the brand and you get to flex on them.

I guess that works very similar to any purchase you could make in life. You don't get infinite utility for infinite money, point being its not possible you can derive more utility by spending more money forever. So after a while the utility is things like social status and wealth signaling. Apply this to things like buying a car, or a home and it makes a whole lot of sense. If you need that expensive carpet just to s…

Depends on whom you invite in. Albeit really smart people would rent special furnishing for special occasions. Such services do exist.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#306

Post by AstralStorm »

jbob2000 wrote: post #295
MrLeap wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I decided to take a break from society last year. I'm fortunate enough where I am that it's eminently reasonable to do. I found some Mennonites that build small 14 * 28 foot cabins with two sleeping lofts. It costs about 8k, and that includes delivery to your land. They come with the exterior/roof finished, but the interior is up to you. Your personal asceticism modulates the cost. My shower is actuated by a ball val…

This isn't an efficient use of resources, especially when you scale it to millions of people. Returning to wood burning for cooking and heating is absolutely a step backwards for your health and the environment. You're more "on the grid" than you think. Those solar panels were built in China (probably), how did you get them? Where will you go to get replacement parts? Where do you go to get gasoline for your generato…

You'd be interested in how cheap silicate bricks are then. Spoiler: very cheap. Plaster-cardboard, very cheap too, or HIPS board. Actual plaster, base paint, base fiberglass or rock wool for heat. (Or sacrifice space for insulation.) As is concrete and even the know how and material design tools are not that expensive. Wiring is cheap, hydraulics are more expensive sure to amount of metal involved, unless you out in for plastics.

(AutoCAD with modules for stress analysis and building design libs would cost you $20k or so, but it can probably be rented as cloud license.)

Rigging can be rented, even work clothes and power tools. Even then the tools are not super expensive anyway.

The expensive parts are rental of lifter, crane and mixer machines as well as good operator. Barring that, more people to set up the building and much more wood and metal rigging.

Building is cheap compared to prime land and marketing or sales markup, as well as paying off credit. (Most buildings are built with financial leverage.)

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#307

Post by AstralStorm »

qes wrote: post #199
eeeeeeeeeeeee wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't even seem like anyone has interest in building $200,000 houses anymore, but they will sell you a poorly made condo for $400,000 and $600/mo HOA fees. I am a single person trying to find a house that is not four or five bedrooms (I only need one or two) and doesn't cost 1/2 mil minimum and it's difficult. This used to be called "the starter house" but it doesn't seem to exist anymore with new construction.

I've always considered "new construction" and "starter house" mutually exclusive.

In terms of actual costs, newer construction practices are actually cheaper. However, new construction teens to have loan and expensive land attached to it. Plus it is "new" so sellers are obliged to scalp you.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#308

Post by seem_2211 »

troels wrote: post #293
seem_2211 wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was more anecdotal than fact based.

Ok - Thought perhaps I was missing something. The analogy probably isn't a good fit for luxury watches, which is a truly weird industry. Rolex, with their near-mythological status could probably shut down all advertisement and still sell their watches. But your original point might still be true, regardless.

I disagree, most luxury pricing is weird and counterintuitive. Rolex only has a "near-mythological" status because of all of their advertising. To give another example, we all know a lot about the iPhone, yet Apple put up far more billboards and other advertising for their new phones than anyone else.

Re: How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all

#309

Post by MrLeap »

jbob2000 wrote: post #295
MrLeap wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I decided to take a break from society last year. I'm fortunate enough where I am that it's eminently reasonable to do. I found some Mennonites that build small 14 * 28 foot cabins with two sleeping lofts. It costs about 8k, and that includes delivery to your land. They come with the exterior/roof finished, but the interior is up to you. Your personal asceticism modulates the cost. My shower is actuated by a ball val…

This isn't an efficient use of resources, especially when you scale it to millions of people. Returning to wood burning for cooking and heating is absolutely a step backwards for your health and the environment. You're more "on the grid" than you think. Those solar panels were built in China (probably), how did you get them? Where will you go to get replacement parts? Where do you go to get gasoline for your generato…

> This isn't an efficient use of resources, especially when you scale it to millions of people.

I'd have to think about this more to decide whether or not it's true, my life is more sustainable than it ever has been before. In pure watt hour accounting, I wager I'm energy-cheaper than most city people who deeply care about things like that.

You're mistaken about wells requiring filtration.

> If anything in your janky setup breaks and you can't fix it in a few days, you will find yourself at a motel and fully back "on the grid".

This, like much of your reply, is rather presumptuous and ungenerous. There are some good discussion points in your reply. Unfortunately you've also stated as incontrovertible fact several things that are simply incorrect. I don't see much room for an actual conversation in your choice of words.

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