<p>Someone I know had a tip. The tip is to go to an upscale department store. She buys glassses that have reduced in a major way (usually sunglasses). She usually buys 2 in the same shape, but different colored frames (in case one should break), saves her receipt and marches her new purchase to an optician with her Rx. They usually make a face because they are not selling a pair of designer frames to her, and she has her Rx filled for one or both frames. I guess the downside is that they won’t replace for a minimal fee if the frames break, but she also did not pay much for the frames anyway. Any thoughts about doing this?</p>
<p>Just wondering where others go for their eyeglass purchases.</p>
<p>I bought mine from the optometrist many years ago - these were ultralightweight frames that I picked out of a catalog. Our vision insurance plan covered a good chunk of the frames.</p>
<p>I’ve just replaced the lenses after that. We’re doing that with my daughter too. I recommend getting comfortable frames of good quality that will last for decades.</p>
<p>So opticians will fill prescriptions for lenses to fit frames that you don’t buy from them?</p>
<p>My mom and I were just having a conversation about this the other day - she needs prescription sunglasses, and I have a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses that she really likes. I found another pair exactly like mine online at a deep discount, but we didn’t think that the optician would be too happy about putting lenses in a frame that they didn’t sell her.</p>
<p>Ive never known an optician to install lenses in frames that were not purchased from them.
They want to guarantee the glasses but won’t if they didn’t sell them.
I have gotten glasses from Costco- but I am hard to fit & next time I am going to buy them from my optometrist.</p>
<p>I love Costco & have been buying all our glasses from him whenever we can. H likes to get it from the optometrist, which is also fine with us. Costco provides great service & will repair anything and replace as appropriate. I particularly love the titanium frames.</p>
<p>Has anyone used zennioptical dotcom… website? This topic came up on another forum and some mentioned this website. I checked it out, and it looked phenomenal in terms of selection and price but I haven’t used them yet. The big drawback of course would be ordering glasses without trying them on and not having them professionally “fitted”. I got my first pair of progressives recently from Lens Crafters. I paid $475 which seemed crazy expensive to me and I have not been able to really get used to them so only use them at the computer. I should have taken them back.</p>
<p>Progressive take some time to get used to. I was really bad at this but it does get better!!! Lens Crafters is pretty good about taking them back… but since you have them keep trying! If I don’t wear mine for a while I have to retrain. Stay strong!!</p>
<p>No insurance here. With a family of contact lens wearers we are a “frequent flyer” at the optometrist. Up until recently I was getting everything there and he was giving me a discount.<br>
I just got a pair of progressives at Costco (optometrist did the perscription though).
I would always use my own doc for the exams, etc. as I have vision issues and have had since I was a kid.<br>
If you are getting glasses from your doc you might try asking for a discount.</p>
<p>For sunglasses and sometimes for every day wear we purchase frames regardless of lens at Ross Dress for Less and then have the prescription lens with script from optometrist put in at Sam’s Club. Have also picked up frames (varying brands and types) from REIs 2x annual $.83 sale. Picked up Rec Specs and other sports frames from there and other online retailers. Daughter’s most recent purchase was a nice designer frame from Ross for $12.99 + tinted lens from Sam’s.</p>
<p>With 5 kiddos (1 doesn’t need glasses) plus me we have always been on the lookout for a more inexpensive way to purchase anything. We do not have vision coverage. Middle daughter also gets her contacts from Sam’s usually with a rebate they are offering + the manufacturers one as well. She usually buys a years supply at once to get the rebate(s).</p>
<p>Sam’s like Costco also has a pharmacy that can be used without having to be a member. We price compare their cash price to the kiddos copays with their varying insurances and MANY times it is cheaper to pay Sam’s cash cost rather than to use their copay with their insurance. </p>
<p>juba2jive, if you can return the frames with a receipt, I’d buy them and try several optometrist’s/opticians to fill your Rx. I’ll bet that someone will sell what they can to you, but if not, you can always return the frames. The person that I was referring to in my OP was able to find someone to fill her Rx with the frames that she brings in.</p>
<p>We order contacts online, ordering a 6 mos. supply at a time. We save a lot ordering this way, rather than buying them through a local optometrist.</p>
<p>I am considering buying frames at a store and then having the lenses put in by an optician or optometrist. I always ask the optometrist or opthamologist for a Rx. I actually stopped seeing on opthamologist because he tries to strong sell buying glasses in his office. They are so expensive! I told him that I go elsewhere, but he was just too pushy for me and tried to strong arm me into buying from him. I found it unprofessional. I should be able to go where I want to go for eyeglasses.</p>
<p>katwkittens, thanks for posting. I am glad this has worked for you. I really think that I am going to something similar. I can’t afford what they are charging for glasses, and I have found too many frames do not even make it through a year. Then I need to cough up some more money to pay for partially for the new pair. Also, katwkittens, it is nice to know that you are still reading cc!</p>
<p>I have always gotten all my glasses from LensCrafters. A year ago a I got my first pair of Progressives. I bought the cheap frames fr. the clearance rack because the lens were so expensive. I had a hard time adjusting to them. Things often looked out of focus. I did not take them back (during the 30 day LensCrafters guarantee period) because I had been told it would take awhile to adjust.</p>
<p>Nine months after my purchase, the frames broke. Since Lenscrafters has a free replacement policy for one yr., I took them back. The deal is that they pop out your lens and put them in an indentical frame and send you on your way. Turned out they didn’t have my frame anymore. </p>
<p>So I picked out a new much nicer frame (for which they gave me free lens since it wasn’t my fault they didn’t have my old frames in stock) and paid about one third of the cost of the new frame (because it was their fault I was having t buy them). We have optical insurance so that helped. </p>
<p>The good news is that I can see SO much better with the progressive lens in the new frames. I think the rectagular shape might be more suitable to the progressive lens than the oval shape I previously had. With the oval ones I often felt like I was looking through one of those crazy mirrors that distorts things. I don’t have that problem anymore and love the progressives. </p>
<p>I read somewhere that with progressives, it helps if you point your nose at what you want to look at rather than cutting your eyes in that direction. That way it keep your eye from looking across several bands of the progression at once (fr. an angle).</p>
<p>My father has ordered from Zenni. He received 2 pairs of half glasses and really likes them. If you can find a frame online that you like, or you are not really picky, I say give it a shot. You really don’t have much to lose!</p>
<p>We have not had good success with Lenscrafters–ours break just after the one-year is up, but they have been helpful in a pinch (when the kids NEED glasses but can’t wait the approximately 2 weeks before the Costco ones come in. With Costco, if anything goes wrong with the glasses or even if you’re not happy with the prescription, they will fix or replace for no charge for 1 year!</p>
<p>Hubby still prefers to get his glasses & contacts from his optometrist but the rest of us are loyal Costco customers and have been very happy & saved a lot over the other prices. Most recently, I’ve decided I really like titanium frames with spring hinges. My last pair lasted 4 years & I’m hoping the new pair will as well!</p>
<p>Have not noticed glasses at Ross other than a few pairs of sunglasses and nothing with titanium frames. Will try looking more closely. My brother has bought frames from Penny’s & Sears but wasn’t happy with either of them. For a while Kaiser was having a discount on frames, but I never pursued it because I have always found the Costco prices to be pretty reasonable. Our optometrist gives hubby a “discount,” but says there is no way he can get near the Costco prices, which amaze him. He will write us prescriptions and understands he can’t match their prices or even approach them. We really like him but explained that with the kids getting new glasses (& now D getting contacts) so often, we really need to be cost-conscious.</p>
<p>S has friends who had tried Zenni & been very happy. I have read mixed reviews–some very happy while others are less so. It may depend on how much correction is needed for your eyes–I believe those who are unhappy generally needed a LOT of correction.</p>
We get contacts free and glasses at a very deep discount!</p>
We really like him but explained that with the kids getting new glasses (& now D getting contacts) so often, we really need to be cost-conscious.</p>