Looking for eyeglasses in Tampa and I'm a little shocked. (Brandon: insurance, live)

[Sunscape]

The prices you are stating here do not surprise me at all. That's what we have paid for glasses for several times now. Costco and Sam's seem to be a little less, I agree. But you have to wait about 2 weeks for them.
On progressive lenses, they were prescribed to my DH. He got them and could not get used to them.
So they are sitting in a drawer....

[Sunscape]

Clark howard has given some sites where you can get the glasses for very inexpensive prices. I have never tried them , but he swears by them. He also says Costco is one of the places to get them for less.

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

Check this out from the Clark Howard show: Discount Eyewear on clarkhoward.com (http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/shownotes/category/11/430/ - broken link). If you decide to go this route, read the comments, they're (mostly) helpful.

I bought bifocal no-line sunglasses from Zenni Optical (as recommended by Clark Howard) about a year ago. Aside from the frame being a bit smaller than I thought it would be, I'm very happy with them. Total cost - $48 for everything. An incredible bargain.

[rogercobb]

Originally Posted by mickeyfinn

Hi,

The opthamologist tells me I need glasses, progressive lenses is what he recommended.

So I took his eyeglass RX and went to a one-hour place. I selelcted frames that cost $100 and was told the lenses would start at $280 and could go as highs as $360 depending on lens coatings for scratch resistance and so on.

Is $400 (give or take) a usual price for glasses?

Might anyone here know of a place I can get progressive lenses less expensively?

Thank you.

NO! Don't pay $400. You can get a decent pair at Costco or even Wal Mart. If you're willing to wait why not check out the website for Zenni and order online. Sounds like someone's trying to sell you a bill of goods.

[mr. finney]

It's amazing to me how people complain about a product that has the ability to actually provide a better quality of life. It's your vision you're talking about here. Do you really want to compromise it just to get the cheapest thing you can find? I'm not saying you have to spend a fortune, but seriously, how much would you spend on a decent pair of shoes, ones that don't rub blisters on your feet? And how long and often do you wear them? 16 hours every day, like you do your glasses? Not the best analogy, but people seem to take good, comfortable eyesight for granted. If you expect to see your best, find a qualified Optician who can actually take proper measurements and has the expertise to troubleshoot any problems you might have. Maybe then your glasses with progressive lenses wouldn't just sit in a drawer. Of course, if you bought them online, I would hope you wouldn't expect that kind of service from an Optician. You get what you pay for. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

[tjax1000]

Originally Posted by mr. finney

It's amazing to me how people complain about a product that has the ability to actually provide a better quality of life. It's your vision you're talking about here. Do you really want to compromise it just to get the cheapest thing you can find?

In my case, by going the cheap route, I was actually able to get a superior pair of glasses. Titanium, super lightweight frames (Nike) and the best lenses on the market- anti-glare, beveled edges, but most importantly with my coke-bottle prescription: super thin & lightweight!

I also like wearing comfortable, inexpensive shoes. Doesn't mean I buy a pair of 10 kicks from K-Mart.... instead I buy the shoes that were $150 2 years ago in the mall for pennies on the dollar at the outlet mall.

People work hard for a buck and it is only prudent to find the appropriate intersection of (1) quality, (2) price, and (3) time invested in shopping around. Everyone falls at different places on this graph- I personally like maximize #1, minimize #2, and don't worry so much about #3 because I enjoy a good hunt

[Allwyna]

I have no idea about the price for a pair of glasses here. Being French, I buy them there... and I pay ~ 700 EUROS!!! But we are talking about vision, thus probably life (imagine driving seeing nothing ). My frames are cheap though. My shoes and clothes too , bought in some outlets.

Be aware that bifocal is NOT multifocal (progressive). I get the best I can. Be also aware than progressive glasses can't be made in 1 hour. Essilor takes about 4-5 days. They need your exact measurements.

On top of that, I wear contact lenses (very expensive too), progressive, best quality I can find... but if they can be sold online (cheaper), I will buy them there. Much more comfortable than glasses but I need to take them off at night and some days too to avoid drying my eyes.

[Sunscape]

Welcome to Tampa Allwyna!! Hope you enjoy it here!!

[Sunscape]

Originally Posted by tjax1000

In my case, by going the cheap route, I was actually able to get a superior pair of glasses. Titanium, super lightweight frames (Nike) and the best lenses on the market- anti-glare, beveled edges, but most importantly with my coke-bottle prescription: super thin & lightweight!

I also like wearing comfortable, inexpensive shoes. Doesn't mean I buy a pair of 10 kicks from K-Mart.... instead I buy the shoes that were $150 2 years ago in the mall for pennies on the dollar at the outlet mall.

People work hard for a buck and it is only prudent to find the appropriate intersection of (1) quality, (2) price, and (3) time invested in shopping around. Everyone falls at different places on this graph- I personally like maximize #1, minimize #2, and don't worry so much about #3 because I enjoy a good hunt

I have to agree with you!
People work hard for their $, so they have to be prudent.

[algia]

700 Euros? WOW.........That's like $934.50 bucks here!

still, $300 for 1 eye is ridiculous.....

Originally Posted by Allwyna

I have no idea about the price for a pair of glasses here. Being French, I buy them there... and I pay ~ 700 EUROS!!! But we are talking about vision, thus probably life (imagine driving seeing nothing ). My frames are cheap though. My shoes and clothes too , bought in some outlets.