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Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

latimes.com

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Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#141

Post by dwighttk »

dawhizkid wrote: post #46
jawns wrote: post #15

Reminder, if you're in the US, the FTC says your eye doctor must give you your prescription after your exam. If a doctor refuses to do so, they can face legal action and penalties. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2016/05/buying-prescriptio... That said, I don't think the FTC stipulates what information must appear on the prescription. Many docs leave off your PD (pupillary distance), which is a necessary measuremen…

biggest scam is that glasses/contact prescriptions only last a year in the US

my glasses prescription doesn't have an expiration date on it. Zenni and Coastal don't care if I order new glasses using my old prescription. I haven't tried with contacts... I think my last prescription had an expiration date.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#142

Post by wuliwong »

kilo_bravo_3 wrote: post #47

Glasses are not expensive. Convenient glasses, or glasses with recognizable brand names, available in one hour at your local mall are expensive. My glasses were $29 plus shipping. The magical mystery superpower that I developed after being bitten by a radioactive wombat which enabled me to break through the chains of Luxxotica and do (according to people on the internet) the impossible and escape their "monopoly" was…

Haha, that's what I was wondering. How is this a monopoly if I'm able to buy glasses for $25?

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#143

Post by patorjk »

jawns wrote: post #15

Reminder, if you're in the US, the FTC says your eye doctor must give you your prescription after your exam. If a doctor refuses to do so, they can face legal action and penalties. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2016/05/buying-prescriptio... That said, I don't think the FTC stipulates what information must appear on the prescription. Many docs leave off your PD (pupillary distance), which is a necessary measuremen…

This kind of blows my mind. A few years ago when I went to the eye doc, they refused to give me my prescription, I had to buy glasses from their store in their office. Last year when I went, they gave me my prescription at the end, without me asking. It felt really nice and at the time I figured they were doing it to create a better relationship with their customers. Now I wonder if someone knew about this rule and reported them. Kind of curious how long it's been in effect.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#144

Post by DenisM »

amvalo wrote: post #3

I've been meaning to bypass this racket for a while. Can anyone recommend a good chinese/indian seller for eyeglasses?

Zenni Optical is fantastic. I buy several pairs in different frames / tints / etc just to see what it looks like. I also orders glasses in slightly different strength for near/far operation.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#146

Post by wuliwong »

Someone1234 wrote: post #22

No doubt discussion will turn to online optics (as it always does). The problem with online optics is the same as clothing: trying things on is important, and adjustments can only be done in person. Last time we purchased Zenni Optical glasses we had issues, but none of which are Zenni's fault but rather inherent problems with buying glasses online. The first issue was that the frames simply didn't look right/fit rig…

Sure for some people this is important but many people purchase loads of clothing online as well as glasses. For me, not being able to try it on vs. not having to goto a shopping center is a tradeoff I usually accept with a smile. Luckily the market can still provide solutions for both options. I believe Warby Parker is continuing to build more brick and mortar stores.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#147

Post by jstarfish »

dawhizkid wrote: post #17

Jins (Japanese company) in SF makes glasses on site in 30 minutes for https://www.yelp.com/biz/jins-san-francisco-3 Also, this story seems a few years behind given the rise of Warby Parker to address this very problem. If the person who felt compelled to spend $800 because they actually did not think they had any other option then they are living under a rock and/or being scammed by their optometrist.

> If the person who felt compelled to spend $800 because they actually did not think they had any other option then they are living under a rock

...or they have really bad astigmatism.

Those lenses are not cheap and are usually excluded from 2-for-1 deals and other sales. Short of Lasik (which itself cannot always correct it) there really is no other option.

> being scammed by their optometrist

They also do that when it comes to frames, and it's really obvious.

The cheap/covered-by-insurance rack is usually a single rack in the back of the store, nondescript, and only mentioned if asked about.

After an eye exam the clerk will run your insurance, see what the coverage limit is, and guide you straight to a designer rack at an appropriate price point (unless you express interest in something more upsellable).

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#148

Post by kazinator »

wuliwong wrote: post #142
kilo_bravo_3 wrote: post #47

Glasses are not expensive. Convenient glasses, or glasses with recognizable brand names, available in one hour at your local mall are expensive. My glasses were $29 plus shipping. The magical mystery superpower that I developed after being bitten by a radioactive wombat which enabled me to break through the chains of Luxxotica and do (according to people on the internet) the impossible and escape their "monopoly" was…

Haha, that's what I was wondering. How is this a monopoly if I'm able to buy glasses for $25?

Also, how is this a monocle, if I'm able to buy a full pair?

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#149

Post by moate »

Aunche wrote: post #85
dawhizkid wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

biggest scam is that glasses/contact prescriptions only last a year in the US

Needing a prescription for glasses is a bit absurd to begin with. The worst case of wearing the wrong prescription is that you'll get a headache. I suppose it could be a bit dangerous if some drivers were slightly disoriented, but I can't imagine glasses being more dangerous than something like Tylenol.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is probably a pretty good example. They both seem pretty safe in reasonable situations (a slight difference in prescription value, a couple hundred extra MG dose) but can be hugely problematic at greater levels (lethal/permanent liver damage or completely unable to see anything with a terrible prescription)

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#150

Post by hindsightbias »

lowercased wrote: post #69
michaelbuckbee wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm seeing more and more of these "smart headphones" that happen to maybe increase selective noises and cancel some others out but are not "hearing aids" due to the medical device designation.

i've been using bose qc20 for a few years for the noise cancelling. I'm curious about the 'hearphones' - to know if the effect is similar to the qc20 'pass through' mode - which still muffles some background noise but opens up to allow voice frequencies through. can't get any clarification if the effect is similar or something radically new, and don't want to spend that much $ to find out. :)

I learned you can't assume anything when you buy an expensive set of noise-canceling headphones and then spend an international flight with two people behind you prattling. It just made their conversation clearer.

Also nearly jumped out of my seat in a terminal when a gate announcement was made. Guy across from me pulled out his IEM and said "you know airports increased the volumes on their announcements because people wearing headphones were missing their flights?"

IEMs - best invention ever. Can't wait for adblock glasses.

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