Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
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Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
1–10 of 59 posts
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#2Coincidental that I read this exactly 5 min after I broke glasses of my wristwatch, which was gifted to me by someone close.
Wondering how to fix my watch now.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#3When it comes to pricing the product watches and glasses are similar in many ways.
Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#4When it comes to pricing the product watches and glasses are similar in many ways. Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
> Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
This is why I always advise glasses-wearing friends and families to buy glasses whenever they come visit Japan; prices are MUCH lower than in the US without the Luxottica tax.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#5When it comes to pricing the product watches and glasses are similar in many ways. Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
> Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products. This is why I always advise glasses-wearing friends and families to buy glasses whenever they come visit Japan; prices are MUCH lower than in the US without the Luxottica tax.
I've never worn glasses... But it does seem that in Europe you can get them in the range of €2-€5000. And they all basically have to work, otherwise the seller could get in trouble. Can you tell me why is the range so wide? And are you saying the top end is of equivalent quality, but cheaper in Japan?
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#6When it comes to pricing the product watches and glasses are similar in many ways. Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
> Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products. This is why I always advise glasses-wearing friends and families to buy glasses whenever they come visit Japan; prices are MUCH lower than in the US without the Luxottica tax.
I buy glasses online from Zenni optical, who make them in China. (there are other companies that do this, but Zenni is the one Iv'e used) They start at $6 for frames and prescription lenses, and they have multiple styles under $20 that match the shape and look I prefer in my glasses.
It's really nice to have glasses cheap enough that I've got spare sets at home, at work and in the car; and not "my old set with the badly scratched up lenses" spares but "slightly different style frames" spares. It's hard to explain to someone that doesn't wear glasses just how much peace of mind you get from that.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products. This is why I always advise glasses-wearing friends and families to buy glasses whenever they come visit Japan; prices are MUCH lower than in the US without the Luxottica tax.
I've never worn glasses... But it does seem that in Europe you can get them in the range of €2-€5000. And they all basically have to work, otherwise the seller could get in trouble. Can you tell me why is the range so wide? And are you saying the top end is of equivalent quality, but cheaper in Japan?
In my experience in wearing glasses my whole life it comes down to "you get what you pay for". Not in the functional department since they all use the same lenses, but in the fashion department.
I've worn 30euro glasses. They work and bring no joy.
I've had 300 euro glasses. They work just the same and you think "Damn I'm hot" every time you take a selfie.
This effect is even more pronounced with sunglasses. I get them with prescription so similar price mechanics apply.
My biggest gripe with cheap glasses so far has been the cheap feeling plastic and weight of them. I don't know what it is since I'm no expert, but a lot of cheap glasses just feel cheap when you hold them. They're still functional and won't break randomly, but they feel flimsy and cheap and that's not something I want in a product that I use for literally 18 hours every day.
A good pair of glasses, when you think about it, ends up costing like 30 cents per day of use. Lifetime of 2 to 3 years, daily use ... yeah I'll pay good money for a product that feels good even if I'm "getting scammed"
edit: Wow people here really hate the idea that an item that goes on your face and forms a major part of your most identifying features could be about more than just the cheapest solution to a mechanical problem
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#8Coincidental that I read this exactly 5 min after I broke glasses of my wristwatch, which was gifted to me by someone close. Wondering how to fix my watch now.
If you're in London, Alsal Watches on the Strand are the go to place.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#9When it comes to pricing the product watches and glasses are similar in many ways. Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products.
This depends on the tier you decide to go with. IMO cheap glasses and cheap watches have similar pricing tactics...high end is a delicate dance between get what you pay for and status. Also keep in mind that you are paying for the opportunity / lucky chance of repair when the item is busted.
Re: Mark Twain’s Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Companies can definitely reduce the price but the price is a status quo in those products. This is why I always advise glasses-wearing friends and families to buy glasses whenever they come visit Japan; prices are MUCH lower than in the US without the Luxottica tax.
I've never worn glasses... But it does seem that in Europe you can get them in the range of €2-€5000. And they all basically have to work, otherwise the seller could get in trouble. Can you tell me why is the range so wide? And are you saying the top end is of equivalent quality, but cheaper in Japan?
> Can you tell me why is the range so wide? And are you saying the top end is of equivalent quality, but cheaper in Japan?
I'm not a specialist, but the cheaper frames here tend to be plastic.
The more expensive frames are almost invariably metal, and then the special flexible plastic and titanium frames go for around 10,000+ JPY.
Normal lenses are cheap ("free" with frames), but if you go for fancy ones (bifocals, transitions, blue light filters, ultralights, etc.), the price goes up.
I've almost invariably bought the 4000-5000 JPY frames and they always look nice and function well.
In the US, however, Luxottica tends to control the frame production/pricing, so frame prices are really out of control. That's why other options like generic frames straight from China are much cheaper.