Buying Specs on line.....good idea or bad?

[ianrauk]

I constantly forget I can use a smartphone as a mirror.

Or better - I'll use my webcam and monitor for biggest view!

There are many free Apps that you can use

 

[wiggydiggy]

There are many free Apps that you can use

Nice, just tried one. Will try another couple to get the right result.

 

[Jody]

I pay for the Optician (Optometrist strictly speaking is the person who tests). The Dispensers' skills aren't huge, and online is very much their equal IME.

Seriously, this is a proper rip-off in many ways, from the frame/lens guys through to the High Street.

Your sight test is subsidised by the store and those £10,000 iris scanners don't buy themselves. Who pays for that?

A qualified dispenser spent 3 years at uni to earn a degree in dispensing. Their skills are a lot greater than you give them credit for.

There are many downsides to online but the buyer will only ever see the benefit (cost saving)

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Your sight test is subsidised by the store and those £10,000 iris scanners don't buy themselves. Who pays for that?

A qualified dispenser spent 3 years at uni to earn a degree in dispensing. Their skills are a lot greater than you give them credit for.

There are many downsides to online but the buyer will only ever see the benefit (cost saving)

The model is close to breaking IMHO. The profits being taken are excessive, as I sense you likely know. Customer fear and inertia is being exploited. On thread we've been reading about £5-600 glasses. Of course that's going to be undercut - because there's plenty of headroom, isn't there?

GOC Dispensing Optician qualification criteria here, for others' reference: https://optical.org/en/education-and-cpd/education/uk-routes-to-registration/

And the kit is leased, of course, as in most professional services scenarios. I would have no issue whatsoever paying a market rate for an eye test, btw - but as you say, it's x-subsidised by sales.

 

[Jody]

The model is close to breaking IMHO. The profits being taken are excessive, as I sense you likely know. Customer fear and inertia is being exploited. On thread we've been reading about £5-600 glasses. Of course that's going to be undercut - because there's plenty of headroom, isn't there?

GOC Dispensing Optician qualification criteria here, for others' reference: https://optical.org/en/education-and-cpd/education/uk-routes-to-registration/

And the kit is leased, of course, as in most professional services scenarios. I would have no issue whatsoever paying a market rate for an eye test, btw - but as you say, it's x-subsidised by sales.

I disagree but don't want to end up in a circular argument.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I disagree but don't want to end up in a circular argument.

 

[mistyoptic]

And the kit is leased, of course, as in most professional services scenarios. I would have no issue whatsoever paying a market rate for an eye test, btw - but as you say, it's x-subsidised by sales.

It would be nice if the NHS agreed with you.

When I was practicing the kit was bought. A good OCT instrument can be £50k. All instrumentation is funded by the business.

 

[cyberknight]

mrs ck just had to go back to specsavers with her new pair as she said she felt like she was floating and gave her a headache.Turns out the reading part of her varifocals was to large as they had changed suppliers for the lenses so they are going to have to get them altered obviously free of charge as they were not fit for purpose .
Thats the only issue i can see with online ordering if you have issues.
I just buy £2 pairs from bm bargains as i just need reading glasses ,

 

[Jody]

mrs ck just had to go back to specsavers with her new pair as she said she felt like she was floating and gave her a headache.Turns out the reading part of her varifocals was to large as they had changed suppliers for the lenses so they are going to have to get them altered obviously free of charge as they were not fit for purpose .
Thats the only issue i can see with online ordering if you have issues.
I just buy £2 pairs from bm bargains as i just need reading glasses ,

That's also where some of the profits go.

Specsavers will replace your lenses FOC for up to 6 months after the point of sale if there is an issue. Their aftercare goes well beyond what I would expect.

 

[FishFright]

I know. I was making you aware of something. I asked nicely. 😊

Suffering from ethics is a tough burden in todays world.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

That's also where some of the profits go.

Specsavers will replace your lenses FOC for up to 6 months after the point of sale if there is an issue. Their aftercare goes well beyond what I would expect.

3 month no-quibble guarantee too.

Mrs SD couldn't get on with a new pair of glasses - 4 fitting sessions and she had had enough.

They just took them back for full refund or exchange.

She took the exchange offer and also got a free upgrade.

Brilliant service.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

My current varifocals are from Glasses Direct and I'm not that impressed. They feel very cheap and I'm not convinced the prescription is right because everything just feels a tad "off".

 

[Mike_P]

Had to take a new set of VDU glasses back to Specsavers as the distance was too short on them and new lenses supplied FOC as per above postings. Have got a set of varifocal cycling glasses from Optilabs - explained I wanted them to see clearly the bike computer on the road bike and they got them spot on although they did say if I had any problems to get back to them. Had no problems getting my PD from Specsavers - 67 which I should be able to remember easilly having caught a 67 bus for years in my younger days but then there was a 68 as well so that could cause confusion.

 

[fossyant]

Just ordered a couple of pairs of glasses from Glasses Direct - £19.95. Just plain ones, no special lenses. Handy to leave a pair at work ! I've previously had glasses from them, and a pair of Oakley specs changed to reactor light.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I've had 4 frames arrive today to try from GD, will probably buy 2 pairs - 1 with transitions for outside and 1 anti-reflect for my office work.

Evri (Hermes) left them in my bin despite me being in though so I'll think I'll try to do Collect+ or similar when I actually order them!