It’s a familiar experience for people who need eyeglasses to see the world clearly. You’re handed a new prescription, scour the rack at your local optical shop for frames that fit your face and your sense of style, and wince when you see the total that you’ll be paying for your new eyeglasses.
What if there was a better way?
Imagine being able to choose from an almost endless selection of frames. Picture shopping around for the best deal on those frames and the lenses to fill them without leaving your house. Think about how amazing it would be to save a significant amount of money on your next pair of eyeglasses. If those ideas are appealing, it’s time to take a closer look at shopping for eyeglasses online.
The Benefits of Buying Prescription Glasses Online
According to Forbes, some 8 million pairs of prescription eyeglasses were purchased online in 2017. Why are people turning to online retailers when they’re in need of new eyewear? There are several benefits to buying your glasses online.
Savings
When you buy your glasses in a physical store, the price you pay is far more than the wholesale cost. The New York Times reports that most optical stores sell frames with markups ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent. As for lenses, the markup there can be a whopping 300 percent to 700 percent. Clearly, there’s plenty of room for online retailers to offer a better deal while still making a tidy profit. In fact, many consumers who opt to go online for their eyeglasses save hundreds of dollars.
Convenience
One of the oft-touted perks of any form of online shopping is convenience. Shopping for prescription glasses online makes comparison shopping easy. Whether you’re shopping on your computer in the comfort of your own home or browsing on your smartphone on your lunch break, you can quickly find the answers to your questions and shop around on various websites with just a few clicks.
Selection
Physical stores may offer a few hundred frames for men, women, and children, but their selection is tiny in comparison to the possibilities available from online retailers. When shopping online, you’ll be able to choose from a nearly infinite array of styles, colors, materials, and sizes. Whether you have your heart set on a designer brand or simply want to snag your ideal fit, you’re sure to be able to find it online. As an added bonus, you’ll likely find it at a lower price.
Where to Buy Prescription Glasses Online
When you’re ready to save money by shopping online for your next pair of prescription eyeglasses, where should you turn? With more and more people growing comfortable with online shopping, it’s no surprise that you’ll find many online eyewear retailers eager for your business.
Warby Parker
What wonders await you at Warby Parker?
This trusted online retailer offers prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, standard sunglasses, and contacts for both men and women. You’ll find frames in an amazing range of colors, shapes, and sizes using materials that include acetate and various metals.
How much is a complete pair of glasses? While it depends on the options you select, prescription glasses with lenses start at just $95, with both shipping and return shipping within the U.S. being free.
What about insurance? Warby Parker does accept some insurance plans and will provide an itemized receipt for you to submit to your insurer if they don’t participate in your insurer’s network.
Are you uncertain about which frames will suit you best? Warby Parker’s Home Try-on program allows you to select five frames and have them shipped to you for a five-day trial period, which is all free of charge. Simply select the pair you like best and order your new glasses online before using the prepaid shipping labels to return the frames. If you’re still unsure, you can reach out to Warby Parker’s personal stylists for assistance.
What if you aren’t happy with your new glasses? Warby Parker offers a 30-day hassle-free return or exchange policy. If you’re unsatisfied, you can arrange an exchange or return the glasses for a full refund to your original form of payment.
Zenni Optical
Zenni Optical has built its reputation by providing affordable, high-quality eyewear for the entire family. This company offers glasses, prescription sunglasses, and non-prescription sunglasses for men, women, and children of all ages with a complete pair of glasses starting at just $6.95. While Zenni doesn’t accept insurance, you can request an invoice to submit to your insurer.
Zenni offers frames in a wide range of styles, hues, and materials, so it’s easy to find a pair or three that you’ll love. To make selecting the perfect pair even easier, you can upload your photo and use Zenni’s Frame Fit feature to virtually try on any frames that catch your eye.
Signing up for exclusive offers from Zenni will snag you 10 percent off your next order. What if your glasses aren’t what you wanted? Zenni offers a 30-day return period. If the problem is a manufacturing error, they’ll remake them for no charge. If you’ve changed your mind, you can return the glasses. Shipping costs are not refundable, but you can opt for either a 50 percent refund to your original form of payment or a one-time-use 100 percent store credit.
EyeBuyDirect
EyeBuyDirect delivers both quality and affordability, so when you’re shopping for prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, or standard sunglasses for men, women, or kids, it’s definitely worth a visit. Although EyeBuyDirect doesn’t participate with any insurance networks, they will provide an invoice, so you can request reimbursement from your insurer.
With a selection of more than 1200 affordable frames, EyeBuyDirect makes finding stylish eyewear simple. Are you eager to experiment with different looks? Use their virtual EyeTry feature to see what works for you.
EyeBuyDirect offers new customers who sign up to receive offers a welcome discount and free shipping on their order. For established customers, the Focus Loyalty program promises some hefty benefits. What if your glasses aren’t quite what you had in mind? EyeBuyDirect offers a risk-free 14-day fitting period and a 12-month product guarantee replacement policy.