Been using framesdirect for a few years now. Very happy. How is this different?
Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
51–60 of 76 posts
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#52I'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.
I think Zenni and other discount etailers have been around much longer than WB has. I was browsing their sites in '06 or so, and the prices were low as mentioned. I guess WB took the game to a new level with much more intense marketing and branding, aided by the use of snazzy design and curated (ugh) glasses styles. Nowadays lots of people know about WB but not about Zenni and the other mass-market retailers, which s…
Long ago, I ordered from Zenni or one of their competitors, and they shipped the package directly from Pakistan, wrapped in paper and string with foreign writing all over it. That was interesting to find on my doorstep.
Nowadays I think they do bulk shipping to a US outpost, then ship on from there using USPS to save costs.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
in France we have Jimmy Fairly which is a 100% Copy/paste of Warby Parker. Even the Branding & naming is similar. http://www.jimmyfairly.com/fr/
Holy shit ... pricing is even 95 euros. Any background on this - are they part of a group that specializes in copying success in other markets (e.g., Rocket Internet), or is it an independent startup?
Seems not: http://www.rudebaguette.com/2012/02/16/jimmy/
They asked via an email, got no response, so they build it.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#54Earlier 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.)
It's like auto repair. A big chunk of the profit in a repair shop is the markup on parts. If you bring in your own parts, they don't make as much money doing exactly the same work.
The optometrist's exam prices are probably lower than they would otherwise be because he makes some amount of profit on the sale of frames and lenses. If the model becomes: get a script and buy the frames online, then the prices for exams are going to eventually go up.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#55I wonder if this is one of those rare instances where the US plays catch up with an established money making idea (another being text messaging)? Glasses Direct have been doing the same thing in the UK since 2004 and having similarly major blow out success. Usually it's the other way around.. the UK copies the US model ;-)
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 is illegal in the US; the FTC entitles you to a copy of your prescription [1]. This doesn't include your pupillary distance, but shops will tell you whether or not they'll give PD as well. Some places I called offered to measure mine for free as a walk-in, it's pretty quick. [1] http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt143.shtm
PD seems like something that you could measure at home with a pretty high degree of confidence.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#57Reads 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.
Absolutely. The notion that Amazon "subscribe and save" reference disrupted toilet paper in particular caught my attention. Subscribe and save is interesting, but paying 40% more for toilet paper doesn't sound very disruptive to me. It's cool for offices and people with more money than time, but not disruptive.
Yikes, yeah, maybe I was being too bold there for the sake of humor. But Subscribe & Save is actually very cost competitive, as long as you have Amazon Prime. I just took a few minutes to look up Charmin Ultra Strong Bath Tissue on Amazon vs. the Wegmans in Princeton, NJ and Amazon is $0.84/roll vs. Wegman's $0.83/roll. It's not really disruptive by itself, but more an example of a disruptive business model (Amazon) increasing selection, which was the point I think I meant to make.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#58Huh 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 dont work for WP.
I bought a pair of WP glasses and my wife purchased a pair of sunglasses. Great glasses, price and service. Very satisfied. They even have a one year return policy if they get scratched. They fit well and are stylish. The lenses have scratch protection and UV protection. For $95 I might even buy a new pair though I dont need them. They are high quality frames and lenses like designer level. Given we were about to pay 300-500 for new glasses we feel like we won the lottery.
I highly recommend WP it is a steal.
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#59How 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.…
Thanks!!
Re: Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)
#60Huh 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…
D without a doubt.
Second this, D's compliment the shape of your face very well. Try and stay away from B, the square sides accentuate your nose a bit too much (even though you do have a lovely nose!)
C and E are very nice choices as well!