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Glasses at high street opticians are too expensive

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I'm fed up with the attempts of some high street opticians to overcharge me.  They want to charge me 99 for the same pair of glasses that I can buy online for 25.

Recently I wanted another pair of glasses as I was down to one pair having accidentally broken my spare pare.  I decided that I would have look in Specsavers first of all and I asked for a quote on a pair that I liked.

I then went home, did a Google search for 'prescription glasses and about five minutes later I was browsing through a nice selection of glasses on www.nuglasses.co.uk.  I found a similar pair and could even try them on (virtually) to see what I would look like wearing them.

They seemed to be very good value for money so I took the plunge and ordered them.  Three days later they arrived and I was one very happy rabbit - they were great and I had saved myself 74!

I found cheap glasses online, high street opticians are a rip off! But why do the large high street chains have to charge such silly prices?  Is it their plush shops or are we expected to pay for the large advertising campaigns I keep seeing on the telly and in the press. Personally, and I suspect a lot of people feel the same; I would rather not pay for a large advertising campaigns or a plush shop.  I would prefer instead to pay considerably less money for my glasses.

When are the large retail organisations going to realise that and do something about it?

By: Verdam


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First Prev 1/8 Next Last

ShortsightedAndGrumpy

ShortsightedAndGrumpy

Some of the problem is because glasses have become a fashion accessory, which is bad news if you simply need strong glasses. Designer types can go into the hundreds of pounds - just for a few bits of plastic. Complex lenses are extra.
14/07 ShortsightedAndGrumpy
0
Shortsighted

Shortsighted

My previous comments about Directsight...they did get it right in the end....good customer service.. would use them again.. and excellent quality lenses and price
30/09/22 Shortsighted
-2
Shortsighted

Shortsighted

DirectSight online opticians.
Wanted Reglaze own frames Vari transitions sent lenses wrong. returned.
Sent clear lenses wrong returned. Sent transitions OK.
Quality control ?
30/09/22 Shortsighted
-1
Shortsighted

Shortsighted

Varifocals 1.67 index
Specsavers only reglaze their own so eg frames and varis £380.
VisionExpress reglaze your own Vari lenses only £449-
Local private optician reglaze theirs varis ony £574 or cheaper lenses £447-.
All above very expensive indeed
30/09/22 Shortsighted
-1
Nick

Nick

Alders Opticians asked for £165 to re-glaze my driving glasses with my latest prescription. They also said I could have a completely new most basic pair for £80....when I asked! Probably extra for anti-glare. Online I can have my frames re-glazed with the latest prescription and anti-glare for about £55 + postage costs.
09/02/21 Nick
1
silly

silly

High street opticians take a colossal profit on two counts i.e frames and lens,
can be as high as 200 % over the cost price, the "Big Boys" can afford to buy frames
very cheaply in bulk from far east like less than 1 pound a pair and then sell the same frames as "half price" for £25 as a promotion, the same applies to the lens.

You will save tons on Money by ordering online.
06/12/19 silly
3
Bunty

Bunty

I had a home visit from an optician, NHS, I'm 74 and disabled. Was advised to have 3 pairs of glasses, one for distance, one for reading and a pair for in between. Cost of glasses, with NHS discount £700! When I told them it was too much, I couldn't afford to pay that much, they put the price down to £599.

The glasses looked cheap, on a par with the reading glasses I bought on line for £9. Took the details from the opticians glasses and Googled, £37 inc lenses made to prescription for exactly the same!
17/09/18 Bunty
1
hazzer12

hazzer12

Boots opticians though have a great range with plenty of designers are so expensive. £200+ that the retailers of the brand stores aren't even selling at such a price. I saved £140 going online after I found a pair I liked, and they don't even do the second pair for free, it's just half price!
09/08/14 hazzer12
0
Peter

Peter

Optitions buy frames for 50p similar with contact lenses. Not a bad profit. Don't be fooled by sales talk. Trust me I know have friend in the business.
22/01/14 Peter
1
Time We Closed The Scam Opticians Down

Time We Closed The Scam Opticians Down

Indeed the high street opticians/optmetrists in this country run a scam. They make far too much money for what is bit a very limited profession. When they measure your eyes, it's the NHS who is paying the bill (out of your taxes). They ought to state exactly how much they are charging the NHS for their service. It's your right to know.

When they give you your eye test results, you must not be pushed by any kind of sales person into buying glasses. There must be a cooling off period.

When they give you the results, they must be fully comprehensive with no factors left out, no illegible scrawl on the form.

Important matters like Pupillary Distance must be accuerately measured and stated on the results form.

They must give you your results for reading, computer and distance [and driving].

They MUST give you your data (your exact prescription) for
Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL) Axis? and Near Addition (ADD)

Many high street opticians skimp on this service. Don't let them do this.

My last set of glasses cost me online £24. They are more than perfect.
20/12/13 Time We Closed The Scam Opticians Down
4
Stop the Scam

Stop the Scam

I went to an optician in this country and again to another in another country a few weeks later. The prescriptions I was given by each was wildly different, by as much as +2 for each eye.

Why do they advertise "free eye tests" when in fact it is the NHS which is paying for them? I pay for the NHS in my taxes, therefore the eye tests are NOT FREE for me
25/11/13 Stop the Scam
1
grosvenormusic

grosvenormusic

I was quoted £160 for frames only and £150 for average quality vari focal lenses at a high street optomist recently.....A week before I had purchased a new 18 gear good quality hybrid bicycle for about the same price of £300.....I am not going to be convinced by anyone that spectacles are complex and expensive objects to make and dispense. Its just another example of a profession that has ripped off the public for years.
25/10/13 grosvenormusic
0
ron

ron

stop the scam,
+/- 1.00 wont make a difference? - what on earth are you basing that on? -1.00 difference in a prescription is enormous. ie -1.00 will have approx 6/18 vsion (could be better - but not much - could be worse). -1.00 prescription would certainly exclude you from driving. +1.00 difference would mean a serious difference in the ability to read close up. You are talking drivel. You say you have studied for four years, what in? I'm sure I know nothing on your particular subject and would never attempt to pretend to be an authority on it, Half as much as an optometrist then please tell me how much they earn - I know the answer - do you?
19/11/12 ron
1
Stop the Scam

Stop the Scam

Optometrists are overpaid, grossly overpaid. In time their profession will suffer, as automatic means of measuring eyes are developed and one eventually is independently able to order one's glasses online. I undertook 4 years college education, including postgraduate, and I don't earn half as much as they do.

In our high street there are 4 opticians. Who needs that many?

Does it really matter how accurately they measure your optical prescription? Not really. plus/minus 1 on the scale won't make any real difference. I bet if you went to two separate optometrists each would measure your eyes at completely different values.
27/10/12 Stop the Scam
-2
Freddie

Freddie

Back from my holidays with two lovely new pairs of glasses. One pair retails in the UK for £500, the other for £200. I bought two as I am a bit forgetful from time to time and I need to keep a pair in my briefcase for work.
The total price for this was €370 and they were ready after two days. Not only this but the optician, not a shop assistant, helped me choose the frames which suited me best. He rejected some more expensive ones as they did not suit me so it is clear that service is considered more than turnover and profit. How refreshing!
19/07/12 Freddie
-5

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