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One of my co-workers always had a new pair of well fitted glasses on every week, and I found out she was buying them online for like $20-$40 a pair. At first I was apprehensive about the fit and quality of the glasses, but after buying a few test pairs they really are just like the store brands.
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 right/fall right even after using their photo preview to "try them on."
The second issue is that you're on your own for adjustments. What you'd typically do is at delivery have someone use a heat-gun and tugging to adjust how they sit. I had a heat gun, but was unable to adjust them to satisfaction.
Ultimately glasses and prescription sunglasses for $120 is very cheap, but there's issues with the whole concept, so we wound up just going to Costco instead. The Zenni ones sit in a draw as "backups," that is in spite of them doing everything they said they would do (i.e. prescription was spot on, frames were as-advertised, etc).
Zenni is very good. There is a slight difference in quality between them and the Armani Exchange glasses I got from an optician, but it's not significant. I got a basic pair of black framed rectangular nerd specs for $8 last week, and I'd happily wear them out. Measure the frame of a pair of glasses that looks good on your face and then try to find glasses with those measurements on Zenni.
There are also so many options in checkout now (as of a week ago) that if you don't know what you're doing you can easily overspend or buy an add-on that alters the look of your glasses when they are seen as lenses and frames together.
Aside from that though, they are amazingly convenient.
I just bought my first pair of glasses from the eye doctor – previously been using EyeBuyDirect. There's no difference in quality but they cost literally 10x ($250 vs. $25). I guess it's nice to be able to try them on in person and have a nice woman tell me I look good in them, but that's the only appreciable difference in the entire process.
In my experience, the legs on the cheap glasses online are rarely as long as they should be. That means the bend in the leg sits just forward of my ear. The practical difference in negligible, though. They feel just fine, and they don't fall off or anything. So yeah, I buy all my glasses online, and have been for years.
Zenni is very good. There is a slight difference in quality between them and the Armani Exchange glasses I got from an optician, but it's not significant. I got a basic pair of black framed rectangular nerd specs for $8 last week, and I'd happily wear them out. Measure the frame of a pair of glasses that looks good on your face and then try to find glasses with those measurements on Zenni.
How long does it take to ship a pair?
As someone who generally avoids high fashion it drives me crazy to see all of those expensive and useless logos on everything along with $400 price tags. I'm glad to see all of these online outfits so ready to undercut them.
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…
When I used to do target or lens crafter... I had to ask.
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…
I've seen that left off a couple times, and I just ask one of the people up front to just measure it for me and tell me what it is. I usually buy my main glasses from them anyway, and just say I'll get sunglasses or computer glasses online (which is when I use Zenni), so that helps, but even without mentioning that, I haven't gotten any pushback when I've asked for it.
I get super cheap yet fashionable and long lasting glasses at the WalMart optician's office. WalMart does a better job than the private practice guy I saw for years. I get lenses with all the extras and it's still cheap. They also give me the prescription rather than fuss about it.
If anyone is still paying $200 and up for glasses it's because they choose to do so. The market works.
Same goes for generic drugs. Most things a month supply is $4 at WalMart. Some people prefer to go to a small pharmacy, use insurance, and end up with a $20 copay for the same drug. That is their choice to do so but they should not complain.
Likewise with the MRI cost crisis. You can get an MRI and the reading for $250-$500 depending on what state you are in. People paying $10,000 are choosing to pay that. Excepting cases where they are unconscious of course.
And why is optical/optomechanical lab equipment so expensive?