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Glasses are f'ing expensive - Updated* REFUND!* ATOTFTW

James Bond

James Bond

Diamond Member
Put off getting an eye exam for a few years even though I could feel my eyes getting worse.

Finally went in the other day and got the exam done. I think it cost around $150. Insurance covered about $80.

Went in a few days later and picked out some glasses. Holy hell. The ones I ended up with cost over $500. ($270 for frame, $135 for lens, and $99 for anti-reflect).

Called my insurance to see how much they can cover... Turns out they only cover $150 a year for vision total. So I'll be paying over $400 for the actual glasses. They said that this is the ONLY plan that offers any vision at all, and there are no other vision plans.

F U Regence

Update:
Just called the place I got them from to try and cancel lenses. She says she already ordered lenses and it's too late.

Seems like I should have some way out of this considering that it has taken over 2.5 weeks just to get to this part, but I may be screwed.

FWIW: Perscription is "small":
R Sphere -.25
L Sphere 0
R Cylinder -1.25
L Cylinder -1.25
R Axis 095
L Axis 085

Update2:
SCRRRRRRR!! --- Just got a call back from the owner. She has cancelled the lens order and is refunding me the $230!!!!!! So pumped!

Right when she got on the phone she goes, "Stuff like this is really problematic for me because I had already made the order. I called the lens company and they said they have already got the lenses ready, but they are still able to cancel. Now, on the bill of sale that I gave you, it mentions very clearly that there are NO refunds, only store credit... <pause> ... Now this one time I will give you a refund, but please try and plan better in the future".

WIN! Costco here I come!

Edit:
Thanks ATOT for all your help. You guys literally just saved me hundreds.
 
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You know you don't actually have to pay the $270 for the frame FROM the place that does your eye exam.

In fact you can take your script right to zenni and get something somewhat close to what you picked out and end up under $100 without insurance.

Also AR is worthless IMHO. I've never had it help, it only gives you a VERY scratchable surface to the lens. You cannot do anything but wet-wash these and even then a little bit of dust can scratch the bejesus out of tme. I've done A/R 3 times, never having the lens last more than 3 months. Once scratched it actually glares MORE.

You are paying FULL retail cost for those frames and lenses BTW. You can go to walmart even or somewhere that does the 2 hour lenses thing and end up under $200 while using the insurance.

After all you don't really ***need*** $270 worth of lenses right? And the $135 lenses is that a pair or each? Single Vision - nothing too spectacular (such as no bifocals or a center add or any jazz like tinting? (yes I know of the AR)) Those lenses actually cost the company about $25 to make a pair.

It's like paying more for windows 7 pro because they sell it at Tiffany's.
 
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Also, if you know you're going to buy contacts/eyeglasses the next year, plan to fund your Health Spending Account to cover the cost using pretax dollars.
 
have used zennioptical, coastal contacts, and one other i can't remember the name of(lol), good experiences with all three.
 
Agreed, after the insurance and all that good stuff my last pair of glasses cost me close to 450. but of course I for all the 6 layers of god knows what and a expensive Polo frame...
 
I can personally vouch for goggles4u and coastal contacts. Got my prescription from goggles4u, paid $13 shipped. All the coatings and the glasses are of fine quality. I've been meaning to order another one to have around just in case something happens to my current pair.
My wife had a much stronger prescription requiring bifocals (well, progressive lenses). Did that through coastal contacts, paid about $150 for the whole shebang. Progressive, transition (light to dark), all the coatings.
Would have cost at least $250-$300 if I did that at Costco, and who knows how much at a regular glasses place.

Do yourself a favor and get them online, and save a boatload
 
Interesting. Thanks for the replies.

The frames were on backorder, and it has now been over 2 weeks since I was in there and I still have no glasses.

I think I may cancel them today (if that is possible??) now that I know what I want, and just order frames online and get lenses from somewhere cheap.

Should this work?
 
James Bond said:
Interesting. Thanks for the replies.

The frames were on backorder, and it has now been over 2 weeks since I was in there and I still have no glasses.

I think I may cancel them today (if that is possible??) now that I know what I want, and just order frames online and get lenses from somewhere cheap.

Should this work?
Click to expand...

it's worth a shot
 
bobdole369 said:
You know you don't actually have to pay the $270 for the frame FROM the place that does your eye exam.
Click to expand...

Wait - the place where I got my eye exam gives free frames?

Also AR is worthless IMHO. I've never had it help, it only gives you a VERY scratchable surface to the lens. You cannot do anything but wet-wash these and even then a little bit of dust can scratch the bejesus out of tme. I've done A/R 3 times, never having the lens last more than 3 months. Once scratched it actually glares MORE.
Click to expand...

I was kinda unsure about A/R. There was a 2 year warranty on the lenses, FWIW.


After all you don't really ***need*** $270 worth of lenses right? And the $135 lenses is that a pair or each? Single Vision - nothing too spectacular (such as no bifocals or a center add or any jazz like tinting? (yes I know of the AR)) Those lenses actually cost the company about $25 to make a pair.

It's like paying more for windows 7 pro because they sell it at Tiffany's.
Click to expand...

It is for the pair.

Like I mentioned in the post above, I would really like to cancel my order now that I have this new info (why didn't I think to post a couple weeks ago?). I know that the shop that I'm getting the glasses from has not received them from the manufacturer yet... Would they take any losses for me cancelling now?
 
I tend to go for the expensive lenses+frames cause i wear mines all the time and like the luxuriousyness of them.

Got silhouette titan rimless ones w/screwless hinges : http://www.silhouette.com/#/eyewear/eyewear_productdisplay/colorama/7621/6057

Got the transitions lenses with Crizal's Alize anti-glare/anti-reflective coating. I wished the place i got my glasses had Crizal's sapphire grade coating though. http://www.crizalusa.com/CrizalLenses/Crizal-Family-Portfolio/Pages/default.aspx

I didn't get the high index lenses cause i could care less how thick my lenses are (and they are a little thick). Total cost me ~$370 ish (paid cash for 10&#37; off as well) with insurance.

Make sure you know the price of the frames and don't buy them retail. Silhouette frames retail for near 400, but you can find them for ~150-250 on ebay.
 
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BTW make sure you understand risks of going with zenni optical before you buy from them. They're cheap, but their warranty and return policies aren't that great.
 
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