How to Buy and Save on Eyeglasses

In its December issue, Consumer Reports offers some advice on buying eyeglasses. They start by listing three general findings from the research they did:

• A chain doesn't always equal cheap. Customers at LensCrafters and Pearle Vision paid more than those who shopped at an independent shop or doctor's office.
• For great selection, go indie. 83% of readers who got their glasses at an independent local optical boutique were highly satisfied with the variety of frames available.
• Some retailers were subpar. There eyewear chains -- Visionworks, America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, and JC Penney Optical -- stood out for below-average ratings in most purchase factors.

I actually went to JC Penney Optical a couple pairs of glasses ago and was quite satisfied with them.

Their piece then lists how to choose glasses as follows:

• Know who excels at what. The best place to shop depends in part on your needs and preferences.
• Spring for only what you need. Glasses come in a dizzying array of lens types and coatings, some of which you could end up shelling out for even if you don’t need them.
• Don’t be slave to brand names. The companies that make designer specs, such as Luxotica, Safilo, and Marcolin, also make high-quality nondesigner frames, some of which are similar to the designer versions (minus the fancy logo on the side). Those frames can have the same style for a fraction of the designer price.
• Look for coupons. One-third of readers who visited an optical chain used coupons to get a deal on their new glasses, and at chains as many as 62 percent of respondents had used one.

They then end their article by rating eyeglass chains. The top five on an overall reader score basis were:

• Costco Optical
• Independent local eyeglass shop
• Private doctor's office
• Kaiser Permanente
• Empire Vision Centers

And if you're shopping on price only, these four were the only ones to get the highest or second-highest rating on price:

• Costco Optical (highest rating)
• BJ's Optical (highest rating)
• Davis Vision (second-highest rating)
• Sam's Club (second-highest rating)

In short, independent shops and doctor's offices are the best on selection but bad on price. The places above are good on price but don't have as much selection.

I think my decision is made. I need new glasses and will look at Costco first. I was leaning in that direction anyway (my wife got her latest pair there) but these findings put me over the top.

How about you? Where do you shop for eyeglasses and why?

Comments

[Curt]

I have been to most of these in the past, most recently Costco - I also found them to be cheapest for contact lenses.

A few years ago, I splurged and got Lasik, so have no need for either at the moment. Totally worth it...now I can tell what time it is when I wake up in the middle of the night without putting on glasses to read the clock!

[Michael Goode]

I got my last two pairs online from 39 Dollar Glasses. I just replaced the lenses, and paid maybe $85 each time for lenses that would've cost me over $200 at most places.

[Emily]

I know several people who've been pleased with online glasses retailer Zenni Optical, but have yet to try it myself

[Adam Z.]

I have a blog about buying RX eyewear online. My readers seem to like GlassesUSA and EyeBuyDirect. They hate goggles4u. 39DollarGlasses is mixed.

Buying online is an option to save money, although maybe not for everyone.

[DanS]

My wife and I have had good experiences with several of the online retailers for perscription eyeglasses and perscription sunglasses. I used the Glassy Eyes blog for reviews and info about the online retailers.

My other piece of advice is that frame width is your most important fit number: measure a pair you like for guidance in selecting a new pair.

[Tiff]

I always buy online from Zenni Optical for prescription glass and sunglasses. You can get your lenses and frames for $10. The quality is great too- I took a pair to my doctor and he couldn't tell the difference.

[Holly]

The last pair of glasses for me were from JCPenney Optical. They are nice, have a shiny, silver-colored metal frame, are scratch-resistant, and I think I paid just under $200 for them. They are about 4 years old and still look great. I just had my eyes examined w/no change in Rx, so I will keep them as long as I can. Nice ROI, I think.

My only gripes w.JCP was that the coupon for $99 glasses was only good for about 10-15 styles, none of which I cared for...so I went for the more expensive style w.out a coupon. They don't have a huge selection but the cust. svc. was top-notch.

[wrc1000]

Another Zenni customer - using them for 3-4 years now - great price - great product - memory titanium frames (WITH lenses) starting around $30-40

[Julie]

I'm waiting until after the first of the year to use FSA money for a new pair. I just read about Warby Parker - for $95 you get frames, lenses and free shipping PLUS they donate a complete pair of glasses to someone in need. I think they're a fairly new company - has anyone had any experience with them?

http://www.warbyparker.com/

[kjaxx]

Another Zenni user here. I don't wear my glasses everyday (contact user) but wanted some back up/evening glasses for not a lot of money. I've been very satisfied with my purchase.

[Old Limey]

I'm another loyal Zenni Optical customer.
Between us we have bought quite a few pairs from them, the last pair, that I use when driving, were progressives, titanium memory, half rim frames, and were $53.90 including shipping. Progressives cost quite a bit more than regular sunglasses or plain glasses but are the only way to go for outdoor use. The reason, of course, that they are so reasonably priced is that the San Rafael, CA company has them made in China, the orders are all shipped back to them daily, and they then ship them individually to you.
They have recently upgraded their web site, made it easier to use, and allow you to see how they look on someone like you, or on a photograph that you upload. Unless your uploaded photograph is a real good one you are probably better off using one of their photos that looks the most like you.
Their prices beat Costco and any that are made in the USA.

[texashaze]

For those who get vision benefits with work, has anyone evaluated the cost benefit of this? For my family it seems the cost of the insurance almost matches the out of pocket costs when getting new glasses. I've always bought mine through a doctor office. Without doing the research it seems the low cost stores like Zenni and Costco may offer such a good deal that you could pass on the vision insurance/benefit altogether.

[jim]

I've only needed glasses recently. I bought my first and only pair at an local independent optometrist. I probably spent too much and I didn't shop around. Next time I need frames I'll probably shop around locally. I don't know if I'd want to buy online as glasses are really something I'd like to try on and see before I buy.

[Derek Clark - Christian Common Cents]

Another vote for Zenni Optical here. Quality was great and the glasses were ~$13 after shipping. Can't beat it.

[Mike]

I LOVE 39DollarGlasses.com!

They have great service and I got my glasses in 5 business days. I have tried some of the other sites mentioned, but I was not as satisfied with their service.

I'll stick with 39DG!

[Lisa]

Personally, I would like to have my hard earned money stay HERE in the United States. So why in the world would I want to use a company that gets their products from China? WAY to many companies are getting a cheap product from overseas and pawning it off as a good American product.

I have used 39 dollar glasses before and their product is all done here in the US! I am MORE than happy to help keep jobs HERE rather than using a company that outsources! AND their glasses are great.

There is STILL companies here in the USA that believe in producing quality product and 39 dollar glasses is one. I'll stick with them for all of my glasses needs.

[Old Limey]

Lisa:
This is an extract from an excellent financial newsletter that I receive every week.
To subscribe to John Mauldin's free E-Letter please click here: http://www.frontlinethoughts.com/subscribe.asp

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At the peak in the late '70s the US had almost 20 million manufacturing jobs with a population of a little over 220 million. In June of 1998 we still had 17.7 million manufacturing jobs. But by October, 2010 we were down to 11.6 million manufacturing jobs in a country of 320 million people.

Six million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last 12 years, and 2 million in the last two years alone. We now have fewer manufacturing jobs than we had in 1941. And the following charts show that as manufacturing jobs have fallen, government jobs have risen. Which of course means that taxes (or debt) have risen.
=====

I admire your intent to "Buy American". Unfortunately the majority of the products available these days are made in China or elsewhere. Corporate greed created this situation, but what do you expect when you live in the last bastion of Pure Capitalism left in the world. It's not about workers these days, it's all about the next quarter's profits and the price of a company's stock. We are in deep trouble and time will tell whether or not we are able to dig ourselves out of the huge mess that we have created. With the dysfunctional form of government that we currently have it's going to be a long uphill battle.

[Old Limey]

In my first post I mistakenly said that my $53.90 glasses from Zenni Optical had "Progressive" lenses.
I should have said that they were a much more expensive type of lens called "Photochromic" or "Transition". These are the lenses that darken automatically in bright sunlight and transition back to clear lenses when indoors. I doubt very much if 39 dollar glasses.com sell these for $39, incl. postage.