Spectacles ' second pair free' rip off?

[Tafia]

StuntmanMike said:

I can't really see where your coming from, you say your suspicious of the offer then in your OP say they could have sold them to someone else at 129.
I get the buy on get one free glasses, it clearly depends on what type of lenses, clearly states this, you then state you don't want t he free ones, so why moan about it.
The frames cost a few quid, is this the they make a profit on the goods they sell shocker.

Seems in your attempt at sarcasm you misunderstand. I guess there is always one!!

The point I was making was that the sales lady was told my wife didn't want the second pair so why did she not keep the frames to sell to someone else? How can the second pair really be "free" if the lens really retail at £351? (to help you understand, that is the total cost less the cost of the frames.)

Sales said the lens people were "giving away" the second pair of lens as a special offer. At £351 retail? I don't think so.

BTW I am not moaning, simply asking what seems to be a reasonable question.

Edited by Tafia on Tuesday 16th December 18:35

[Tafia]

soad said:

Must be designer ones.

Optical Express prices are painful too.

hi,

I am nt aware they were so-called designer frames. They were just picked from the £129 display with no fancy names printed on them.

[Pothole]

Tafia said:

StuntmanMike said:

I can't really see where your coming from, you say your suspicious of the offer then in your OP say they could have sold them to someone else at 129.
I get the buy on get one free glasses, it clearly depends on what type of lenses, clearly states this, you then state you don't want t he free ones, so why moan about it.
The frames cost a few quid, is this the they make a profit on the goods they sell shocker.

Seems in your attempt at sarcasm you misunderstand. Iguess there is always one!!

The point I was making was that the sales lady was told my wife didn't want the second pair so why did she not keep the frames to sell to someone else? How can the second pair really be "free" if the lens really retail at £351? (to help you understand, that is the total cost less the cost of the frames.)

Sales said the lens people were "giving away" the second pair of lens as a special offer. At £351 retail? I don't think so.

BTW I am not moaning, simply asking what seems to be a reasonable question.

You're being obscure in the question you're actually asking.

Are you actually trying to ask why the retail price is £351 if they are then happy to 'give away' another pair free?

If so, it's a valid question and you're not forced to shop there...

If not, what IS the question?

[SSC!]

Some high street shops charge a fortune for lenses. Last time I was in I was quoted £175 for lenses as I get mine filed down. Really really wanted purple Radley ones but total price was near £400. I found direct sight and got same frames and lenses for £135! I have also bought 2 pairs of sunnies as they were bogof! Think I was £60 for them. Probably work exact the same as glasses direct.

[StuntmanMike]

Tafia said:

StuntmanMike said:

I can't really see where your coming from, you say your suspicious of the offer then in your OP say they could have sold them to someone else at 129.
I get the buy on get one free glasses, it clearly depends on what type of lenses, clearly states this, you then state you don't want t he free ones, so why moan about it.
The frames cost a few quid, is this the they make a profit on the goods they sell shocker.

Seems in your attempt at sarcasm you misunderstand. I guess there is always one!!

The point I was making was that the sales lady was told my wife didn't want the second pair so why did she not keep the frames to sell to someone else? How can the second pair really be "free" if the lens really retail at £351? (to help you understand, that is the total cost less the cost of the frames.)

Sales said the lens people were "giving away" the second pair of lens as a special offer. At £351 retail? I don't think so.

BTW I am not moaning, simply asking what seems to be a reasonable question.

Edited by Tafia on Tuesday 16th December 18:35

That wasn't sarcasm, your OP was ste.

[Mandat]

Pothole said:

ou're being obscure in the question you're actually asking.

Are you actually trying to ask why the retail price is £351 if they are then happy to 'give away' another pair free?

If so, it's a valid question and you're not forced to shop there...

If not, what IS the question?

Also OP, where is the rip off?

[surveyor]

Have used glases direct and been impressed. They asked to borrow a pair if my glasses to get one measurement not included on the prescription, which due to my st eyes was important

[cheddar]

How shops/opticians still get away with charging so much for a pair of specs is beyond me, it's the biggest current consumer rip off.

Unless you simply must have a trendy badge on your specs then grab your prescription, go here http://www.zennioptical.com/ and pay £5 - £10 a pair.

[jjones]

LordGrover said:

I used to get my specs from SpecSavers but have since found buying them online way better. Much wider choice and a superior service. I bought Ray-Ban Clubmasters with Crizal Forte UV & Transition Brown treatments for less than SS 'designer' ranges without the special finishes.

but you bought them using an average PD, let's hope you are average or your optical centres will not be in line with your pupils

[allergictocheese]

cheddar said:

How shops/opticians still get away with charging so much for a pair of specs is beyond me, it's the biggest current consumer rip off.

Unless you simply must have a trendy badge on your specs then grab your prescription, go here http://www.zennioptical.com/ and pay £5 - £10 a pair.

The rip off works both ways; high street opticians have £50-100k of kit to test your eyes. They spend years training. Yet whilst a solicitor charges £150 per hour they get £60 or so.

In reality, glasses should cost £50 and a sight test should be £70, but the system is skewed by the NHS

[pork911]

allergictocheese said:

The rip off works both ways; high street opticians have £50-100k of kit to test your eyes. They spend years training. Yet whilst a solicitor charges £150 per hour they get £60 or so.

huh?

[pork911]

OP i'm not sure what's to be suspcious about - if you like the product at the price buy, if not, don't

some people like to tell others or themselves they are getting a deal (bogof, X% off)

i'd steer clear of large sofa stores if you are struggling with this business model

[cheddar]

pork911 said:

OP i'm not sure what's to be suspcious about - if you like the product at the price buy, if not, don't

some people like to tell others or themselves they are getting a deal (bogof, X% off)

i'd steer clear of large sofa stores if you are struggling with this business model

The perception of value created by disingenuous marketing that's insidious in the industry.

[lukefreeman]

Eww glasses.

Just get your eyes lasered. Bet £2k you can spend.

[Magic919]

lukefreeman said:

Bet £2k you can spend.

That good, eh?

[Tafia]

Pothole said:

ou're being obscure in the question you're actually asking.

Are you actually trying to ask why the retail price is £351 if they are then happy to 'give away' another pair free?

If so, it's a valid question and you're not forced to shop there...

If not, what IS the question?

I asked: "Any thoughts, folks" Others understood.

[Tafia]

SSC! said:

Some high street shops charge a fortune for lenses. Last time I was in I was quoted £175 for lenses as I get mine filed down. Really really wanted purple Radley ones but total price was near £400. I found direct sight and got same frames and lenses for £135! I have also bought 2 pairs of sunnies as they were bogof! Think I was £60 for them. Probably work exact the same as glasses direct.

Looking at sites such as VisionExpress, Boots and Specsavers, they all seem to be around £175 or so for the: "best" varifocal lens.

I think the sales lady may be charging for the lens in what she claims are the 'free' pair.

[surveyor]

Tafia said:

SSC! said:

Some high street shops charge a fortune for lenses. Last time I was in I was quoted £175 for lenses as I get mine filed down. Really really wanted purple Radley ones but total price was near £400. I found direct sight and got same frames and lenses for £135! I have also bought 2 pairs of sunnies as they were bogof! Think I was £60 for them. Probably work exact the same as glasses direct.

Looking at sites such as VisionExpress, Boots and Specsavers, they all seem to be around £175 or so for the: "best" varifocal lens.

I think the sales lady may be charging for the lens in what she claims are the 'free' pair.

In my experience there are always upgrades to the lenses that are never ever included in the free 2nd pair.

[Tafia]

StuntmanMike said:

That wasn't sarcasm, your OP was ste.

As I said, it's almost a rule that any post will attract a crank. Congratulations.

[Tafia]

Mandat said:

Also OP, where is the rip off?

Asking £351 for a couple of pieces of ground plastic whilst apparently pretending the second set of lens is "free". If they said the second frames were free but the lens had to be paid for, then fair enough.