I’ll add another pro-Zenni comment. Not just because the glasses themselves are inexpensive (they are though, when I broke my favorite frames it cost $36 to get two replacements), but because it’s a godsend to get glasses you need if your prescription has “expired”. I’m sure there’s good reason for regulating routine vision checkups, but refusing to sell glasses to anyone who can’t get to the appointment isn’t serving anyone.
Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
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Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Why can't a new company simply undercut the competition? They can and they do [1]. They just don't have the same marketing budget, so you don't hear as much about them. [1] https://www.zennioptical.com/
Not to mention the pupillary distance is not commonly included on optical prescriptions which creates a significant hurdle, even though it can be measured yourself or usually given when asked.
I've asked for my pupillary distance in the past and got a talking to about how evil online ordering is and how it'll ruin my eyes before they would give it to me.
All BS, and when I asked if they'd fill a prescription for lenses for my VR unit instead of ordering them online, they stared at me like I had grown a third arm.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#73Sunglass frames are in every petrol station. Would it be possible to 3d-print a resin with known index of refraction, then go to town on the buffing wheel for an hour?
Would love to hear more about DIY corrective lenses.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#74I've been paying $350-400 for my high strength prescription glasses for most of my life. Last time around I heard you could order from England and get them for a fraction. Found selectspecs.com and got my -10's for ~100 shipped to my door. Not affiliated at all, just glad I don't have to pay the gouge in the US anymore.
That's a great deal. Were they 1.74 index?
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#75Ah, eyewear! I see Luxottica is mentioned. Kind of similar story behind optical glass (lenses, namely) and Schott (Zeiss) behind all of it.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#76Glasses are expensive because there is no competition. One company - Luxottica - owns pretty much everything. You go to LensCrafters and prices seem super expensive, so you go to Pearle Vision and that's expensive too, so you go to Target Optical and prices are still high and then you think maybe glasses are expensive, since you went to multiple stores and they all have similar prices. What you don't realize is that…
Yeah, it's interesting. People get outraged about tech monopolies... but something we spend hundreds of dollars each year on, that's just fine.
People get outraged about things that they know about. (Most) tech monopolies don't attempt to hide behind many different brands.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#77Boycott Luxottica. Anyway, reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpKWHSsBpnE ; glasses with user adjustable lenses. Removes the need to customise the product to the individual, and the need to see an optometrist - it reduces the cost of the product and makes 'prescription' glasses a viable option even in nations without adequate medical services.
Interestingly, a pair of glasses here in Vietnam -- including eye exam, fancy lenses (high refractive index, anti-glare etc.), and frame -- usually runs in the 20-40$ range. As with most things here, you can find cheaper if you need (e.g. secondhand). I'm not certain, but it sure feels like the inflated cost in North America makes it seem like eyeglasses are less affordable here than they actually are, at least in th…
You can get eyeglasses for $40 in US, from online stores like Zenni.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#78I used to pay $800-1,000 a pair, then I heard that the exact same glasses from the exact same factory just without that fancy logo costs you about $100 a pair. Bought a few of them, never looked back. People need to accept that you get ripped off all the time, it just a normal part of everyday life. when you think a $5 walmart tshirt is cheap, well, the factory gets probably 50c.
Perhaps life would be better if we stopped treating 10x markup as "normal part of everyday life"?
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#79Glasses are expensive because there is no competition. One company - Luxottica - owns pretty much everything. You go to LensCrafters and prices seem super expensive, so you go to Pearle Vision and that's expensive too, so you go to Target Optical and prices are still high and then you think maybe glasses are expensive, since you went to multiple stores and they all have similar prices. What you don't realize is that…
I worked on the retail IT side of things at Luxottica. I don't even think that you've scratched the surface of just how prevalent Luxottica is: you've touched the retail side of things, but, you also haven't touched the manufacturing side of things (Lux has patents on the hinges used in glasses), the wholesaling side of things (Lux supplies generic and branded frames to your local optician on less-than-preferred term…
Wow, that's a powerful and damning assessment.
Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
You know, my family member bought a pair of cheap glasses for 2 $ in India. Granted it was probably not very powerful or may last long. But I am shocked at the definition of what is cheap. I am now skeptical if the glasses he bought actually work well enough for him.
$2 is extremely cheap. Sure, it's enough to pay for the materials (frames cost pennies, and cheap lenses maybe $1?). But someone still has to cut the the lenses to size, and fit them to the frame. This requires both equipment and skill. I don't think I've ever paid less than $15-$20 for prescription single-vision glasses. I've paid more even in the 'wholesale' optical market in Beijing. $2 is easily achievable for re…
So, probably someone is actually selling them at very low margins and/or it is subsidised by some entity.