The Glade 4.0 :: View topic

Release Date: 11/01/2010

Costco Tops List of Eyeglass Retailers

Independent local eyeglass shops and private doctors’ offices also fared well

YONKERS, NY — Shopping for eyeglasses isn’t easy, especially when frames can cost well over $200 a pair, even without the fancy add-ons and logos. But a Consumer Reports survey found that a great pair of eyeglasses doesn’t have to break the bank.

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 30,000 bespectacled readers about their most recent purchase of a pair of eyeglasses and found that Costco topped the Ratings of eyeglass retailers, which included large chains, independent local optical shops, and private doctors offices.

“A new pair of glasses can cost you a pretty penny, especially when you add on higher-quality lenses, designer logos, or fancy coatings,” said Jamie Hirsh, associate editor for Consumer Reports Health. “We surveyed our readers to find out not only how much they paid at the eyeglass retailer, but also their overall experience including things like frame selection, customer service and employee expertise.”

Costco Optical earned the highest score for overall satisfaction among chains, and also beat out most of its competitors for price—a pair of glasses cost a median of $157 compared with a median of $211 at independent optical shops and $212 at eye doctors’ offices.

Costco was also the only retailer that stood out for lack of problems, such as loose lenses, distorted or blurred vision, or damaged frames in the first few weeks after purchase.

With the exception of price, doctor’s offices and independent optical boutiques typically scored high marks across the board, particularly when it came to employee know-how, service, and the quality of the finished glasses. Independent boutiques are also the place to go for great frame selection. Eighty-three percent of readers who purchased their glasses at an indie shop were highly satisfied with the variety of frames available, compared with 69 percent at the big retailers.

Some chains were subpar

The one overarching reason respondents gave for choosing to get their glasses at a chain store was price. However, Consumer Reports found that LensCrafters (the most frequented chain in the survey) charged a median price of $244 per pair of glasses, even with coupons, which some 60 percent of LensCrafters customers said they used. LensCrafters customers enjoyed faster turnaround and above-average follow-up service, though.

Customers at Pearle Vision, which is owned by the same company as LensCrafters, also paid more than those who shopped at an independent shop or doctor’s office, at an average of $228 per pair.

Three eyewear chains—Visionworks, America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, and JCPenney Optical—stood out for below-average Ratings in most purchase factors including inferior-quality frames and subpar service during and after the purchase. Respondents still reported pretty high satisfaction overall, but as the Ratings show, there are better choices.

Author:	Rodahn [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Glasses
Are -ing expensive as F-! I had an eye exam today and ordered these babies: Spoiler: Nothing terribly fancy -- pretty minimalist IMO. If anything, they save on material for being frame-less. Or so I thought, but nooooooooo. With my vision insurance discount card: Glasses themselves + mandatory 1-year protection plan = $300 for one -ing pair. Had I gone with transition technology + glare reduction like my previous set, it would have bumped it up by another $190. -ing ridiculous . . .

Author:	Micheal [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:
You got off cheap.

Author:	Rodahn [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:
Sadly, yes :/ It's highway robbery I tell you.

Author:	NephyrS [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:14 pm ]
Post subject:
Wow, my glasses + frames were only 235... Or $90 for the glasses if I bring in frames. They even accept some "dollar store" brand frames for reading glasses... Assuming they're the kind that you can pop the lenses out and put them back in.

Author:	Corolinth [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:
Those aren't really "minimalist" frames. The way they're designed is so they look "fashionable." So that's actually a more expensive set of frames, despite the fact that it's just a few holes drilled in the lenses. I typically end up with a $500 pair of glasses, because I generally get high refractive index transition lenses. I replace my glasses every three years, which means I spend three cents per hour in order to see. It's one of the best investments I make.

The Glade 4.0 https://gladerebooted.net/

Glasses https://gladerebooted.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5423	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Colphax [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:
Glasses frames can have a lot of markup depending on brand name...welcome to the world of fashion. However, rimless styles require more time and care to assemble by the lab. This can be compensated for by either increasing the price on the frames themselves, or a flat "rimless" surcharge which effectively does the same thing.

Author:	darksiege [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:14 pm ]
Post subject:
you got lucky man, last pair of glasses I had to get... the frames alone were $400. True... they were Eddie Bauer lenses, but still.

Author:	Midgen [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:
I get plain ole basic wireframes at costco fairly cheap. Designer frames come with a premium price tag.

Author:	Rodahn [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:
Never really considered rimless glasses to be "designer," but then again, I'm not fashion-savvy. They are also Ray Ban brand, so I'm probably paying for the name, as well. I -ing hate fashion.

Author:	NephyrS [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:
I chose my glasses frames by one primary metric: "Excuse me, ma'am? Which of these are the cheapest?" And then I chose one of those cheapest pairs that looked decent and professional.

Author:	Taamar [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:51 pm ]
Post subject:
I have Silhouettes, the original rimless brand. $600. They're the only ones light enough not to leave craters on my nose.

Author:	Micheal [ Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Taamar wrote: I have Silhouettes, the original rimless brand. $600. They're the only ones light enough not to leave craters on my nose. That is what I wear as well, and I'm very fond of them.

Author:	Jasmy [ Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:33 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Glasses
I spent $200 on prescription glasses that I cant see anything when wearing! I'll stick with the $10 OTC reading glasses from now on!

Author:	Taskiss [ Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Glasses
I paid over $1000 just to put lenses in my 2 pair of glasses. I'm nearsighted with an astigmatism. The only 'special' features I got was non-reflective progressive lenses. The prescription I was using was over 5 years old and I expect it'll be at least another 5 years with this one, so 55¢ a day isn't bad when you think about the benefits.

Author:	Corolinth [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:40 am ]
Post subject:
Interestingly enough, Pearle Vision offers around the neighborhood of a 30% discount for AAA membership. I got a $150 discount on my last pair of glasses because I joined an emergency car towing service.

Author:	Numbuk [ Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Glasses
Minimalist glasses look like this: Yeah, for really comfortable and lightweight glasses you're going to be dropping a pretty penny. But, if you treat them well they will last a very long time. I would recommend an anti-reflection coating, so people can always see your eyes and not the lights above.

Page 1 of 1	All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group https://www.phpbb.com/

Author:	Squirrel Girl [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:55 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Glasses
I pay about what Taskiss does. I am nearsighted with astigmatism and multifocal. The lenses are tough to make. :/

Author:	Hopwin [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:33 am ]
Post subject:
I am nearsighted with astigmatism. I dropped $90 (after insurance) on: They also applied some sort of coating/treatment to make the lenses thinner because my eyes are godawful.

Author:	Kirra [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Glasses
my insurance sucked, I paid $350 for these, and they aren't designer, others were even more expensive so I got these.

Author:	Micheal [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:
If you have a Costco (or any big box store you like and trust with a glasses section) near you, consider checking out their frames and prices before you spend that much again.

Author:	Midgen [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:49 pm ]
Post subject:
Consumer Reports rated Costco the "Best" place to buy eyeglasses. http://pressroom.consumerreports.org/pr ... ilers.html Consumer Reports wrote: Release Date: 11/01/2010 Costco Tops List of Eyeglass Retailers Independent local eyeglass shops and private doctors’ offices also fared well *YONKERS, NY* — Shopping for eyeglasses isn’t easy, especially when frames can cost well over $200 a pair, even without the fancy add-ons and logos. But a Consumer Reports survey found that a great pair of eyeglasses doesn’t have to break the bank. Consumer Reports surveyed more than 30,000 bespectacled readers about their most recent purchase of a pair of eyeglasses and found that Costco topped the Ratings of eyeglass retailers, which included large chains, independent local optical shops, and private doctors offices. “A new pair of glasses can cost you a pretty penny, especially when you add on higher-quality lenses, designer logos, or fancy coatings,” said Jamie Hirsh, associate editor for Consumer Reports Health. “We surveyed our readers to find out not only how much they paid at the eyeglass retailer, but also their overall experience including things like frame selection, customer service and employee expertise.” Costco Optical earned the highest score for overall satisfaction among chains, and also beat out most of its competitors for price—a pair of glasses cost a median of $157 compared with a median of $211 at independent optical shops and $212 at eye doctors’ offices. Costco was also the only retailer that stood out for lack of problems, such as loose lenses, distorted or blurred vision, or damaged frames in the first few weeks after purchase. With the exception of price, doctor’s offices and independent optical boutiques typically scored high marks across the board, particularly when it came to employee know-how, service, and the quality of the finished glasses. Independent boutiques are also the place to go for great frame selection. Eighty-three percent of readers who purchased their glasses at an indie shop were highly satisfied with the variety of frames available, compared with 69 percent at the big retailers. Some chains were subpar The one overarching reason respondents gave for choosing to get their glasses at a chain store was price. However, Consumer Reports found that LensCrafters (the most frequented chain in the survey) charged a median price of $244 per pair of glasses, even with coupons, which some 60 percent of LensCrafters customers said they used. LensCrafters customers enjoyed faster turnaround and above-average follow-up service, though. Customers at Pearle Vision, which is owned by the same company as LensCrafters, also paid more than those who shopped at an independent shop or doctor’s office, at an average of $228 per pair. Three eyewear chains—Visionworks, America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, and JCPenney Optical—stood out for below-average Ratings in most purchase factors including inferior-quality frames and subpar service during and after the purchase. Respondents still reported pretty high satisfaction overall, but as the Ratings show, there are better choices.