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Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

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Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#31

Post by Griever »

yoshizar wrote: post #29
simonsarris wrote: post #11

Huh that's funny. I just ordered 5 pairs from them to try on, they came yesterday. ( http://imgur.com/a/ZRTKi if you're interested in offering an opinion) I'm really impressed with the build of them. They feel a lot better than my zenni optical pair (which were only 30 dollars, not 95). Hopefully the lens quality is better too (mostly anti-glare I'm concerned about), but I'll have to wait and see. Also, if you missed…

I say B. You look great. I never actually bought a pair of WP glasses; I did the home try-on and didn't find a pair that really worked for me.

Same situation for me. Not to be "that guy" but I really do think their glasses are a bit too hipster for some. Nonetheless, I bought a pair hoping that they would grow on me but unfortunately they never did.

With that said though, the customer experience was fantastic. Very helpful and charming staff. I'd love to take a look at WP again if they ever added a few new styles of specs.

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#32

Post by 286c8cb04bda »

naner wrote: post #30

This is a little weird for me. I've got a couple optometrists in the family who own their own practice. A lot of this article rings completely false. Kind of makes me wonder, when reading about other "disruptors" what information is exaggerated or missing. Still, not a bad idea, especially for people without insurance.

> A lot of this article rings completely false.

Such as?

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#33

Post by chaostheory »

binarysolo wrote: post #7

Reads a bit too much like ad copy for my tastes. Or rather I read it with the intent to understand more about the content in the parentheses, not Warby Parker. :) That being said they are situated in a vertical that has efficiency players (Zenni Optical, Coastal Contacts) but haven't mastered the design/marketing/CS game yet. Going Zappos-style is their entrenchment mechanism, as well as the in-house designers.

I agree. One thing that isn't mentioned is that all of Warbly Parker's frames are plastic, as opposed to the titanium (and other) alloys that you find in the brick and mortar stores. Moreover I just don't see enough variety of styles at Warbly Parker.

The article just feels like submarine PR that's disconnected from reality. There are better online glasses stores.

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#34

Post by streptomycin »

pbreit wrote: post #9
streptomycin wrote: post #5

I've been using Zenni Optical, which I guess is disrupting the broken system of Warby Parker by undercutting their prices by yet another factor of 5, just like Warby Parker did to brick and mortar stores.

How is the product quality? Those are pretty low prices. I'm not sure it's a great comparison as WP is delivering on several other levels beyond price. The Zenni buying experience is decidedly inferior.

I've been wearing mine for ~3 years. No complaints.

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#35

Post by pavel_lishin »

SatvikBeri wrote: post #24

There are plenty of brick & mortar stores at the $95 price point in my area. Warby Parker won my business because they had many more styles, better-looking glasses (IMO), and a really strong guarantee (most other stores had a no refunds policy). I had never heard of Zenni Optical until reading this HN thread, which goes to show you how successful WP's marketing is.

They did mention that glasses in physical shops come in two varieties: cheap and boring, or stylish and expensive.

And I, too, am surprised at the lack of marketing done by Zenni; I swear by them now, since I always order the most minimalistic glasses possible - just a nickel's worth of metal to attach lenses to my face.

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#36

Post by pavel_lishin »

pbreit wrote: post #9
streptomycin wrote: post #5

I've been using Zenni Optical, which I guess is disrupting the broken system of Warby Parker by undercutting their prices by yet another factor of 5, just like Warby Parker did to brick and mortar stores.

How is the product quality? Those are pretty low prices. I'm not sure it's a great comparison as WP is delivering on several other levels beyond price. The Zenni buying experience is decidedly inferior.

The glasses are great, last a long time, and at their prices I can afford to buy a backup pair for when I inevitably step on mine.

The UI could use some work, true, but the savings on the frames is well worth the minimal inconvenience.

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#37

Post by pavel_lishin »

dangrossman wrote: post #18
keithpeter wrote: post #16

Who does the eye tests in the US? In UK eye tests are often done through local opticians. Disclaimer: not using specs at present but probably will be soon, I'm having to hold the books with small print further and further away...

You can go directly to an optometrist's own office, and they'll usually have a selection of frames they can sell you, or you can just get the prescription and take it to another store. Chain stores like Lenscrafters have office space for an optometrist in the back of each building which they lease to one or more doctors; they don't work directly for the store, but they work at the store and the store books appointmen…

Note that some optometrist shops really hate giving away the prescription, since they want you to buy the lenses and frames from them. I'm not sure about the legality of this, but I've had some tell me over the phone that they wouldn't release my prescription to me. (I didn't bother fighting them, I just moved on to the next one.)

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#38

Post by ambertch »

How come not many people are talking about this article in the context of entrepreneurship? Pretty astute advice for people doing startups.

"1) it fits the classic definition of a disruptive company and 2) is an innovative company playing in a large market with unsophisticated competitors."

Of course, everybody who does a startup has to go through the cloning phase. It's just part of learning how to build a business...

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#39

Post by keithpeter »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #37
dangrossman wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can go directly to an optometrist's own office, and they'll usually have a selection of frames they can sell you, or you can just get the prescription and take it to another store. Chain stores like Lenscrafters have office space for an optometrist in the back of each building which they lease to one or more doctors; they don't work directly for the store, but they work at the store and the store books appointmen…

Note that some optometrist shops really hate giving away the prescription, since they want you to buy the lenses and frames from them. I'm not sure about the legality of this, but I've had some tell me over the phone that they wouldn't release my prescription to me. (I didn't bother fighting them, I just moved on to the next one.)

That seems a bit childish as of course people move on to another optician.

I'm about to find out what happens in UK!

Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

#40

Post by naner »

286c8cb04bda wrote: post #32
naner wrote: post #30

This is a little weird for me. I've got a couple optometrists in the family who own their own practice. A lot of this article rings completely false. Kind of makes me wonder, when reading about other "disruptors" what information is exaggerated or missing. Still, not a bad idea, especially for people without insurance.

> A lot of this article rings completely false. Such as?

At an optical store, designer frames with nice lenses will run you over $500 a pair.

This is false. Designer frames (Gucci, Nike, Kate Spade, Prodesign) retail around $120-$240. (I think? I'm going from memory here...) Lens pricing varies based on your prescription and options (transitions, AR, scratch coat, etc). Single vision wearers can easily get designer glasses w/ integrated anti-reflective for under $300 retail. At my optician that includes a 2 year warranty. Also my insurance knocks that down quite a bit. Since Warby only does single vision lenses, $300 would have been a more appropriate ballpark than $500. Lens price can jump up quite a bit if your prescription requires certain materials (e.g. high-index lenses) and it jumps up a lot when you get into progressives, etc.

Also, I can't remember ever purchasing glasses and not having them adjusted to my face when they arrive. I guess you can take your Warby glasses into your regular optometrist and have them adjusted but that feels a little like taking your Burger King cup to get free refills at McDonalds.

you're going to be choosing from the same frames as any person who lives in your area.

This is so much of a non issue that it is kind of weird to even mention it.

This is a market where sales channels are fragmented and undifferentiated. The product being sold is either the equivalent of the "CVS store brand" or has the prices inflated two-fold.

I assume he's talking about optical chains here? (Lens Crafters, etc.) Anyone want to guess what Warby's materials markup is? Cost x 2 seems like a reasonable guess.

Brick-and-mortar stores are expensive to maintain, inevitably adding a lot to the price of every product, but bring little value to the customer, except the ability to try on glasses.

I guess he's referring to optical centers that only sell glasses? I don't recommend going to those places, either.

Anyways... Warby looks good for people with simple prescriptions who don't have insurance. Really, it is just cheaper designer knock-off frames and low to medium grade lenses with really good customer service. A good business model, yes. Earth-shattering value and disruption? No. Most people will continue to buy at their doc's office.

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