Spectacles ' second pair free' rip off?
Discussion
Anyone else suspicious of the so called free second pair of glasses offered by both high street names and independent opticians?
My wife was recently told her new glasses would be £480 including a free second pair. She said she did not need the second pair as the existing glasses were good enough to be used as a back up. Sales lady said the price was the same if she had one or two pairs!
In the past I have noticed that with the second pair free thing, that just referred to the frames and the varifocal lens had to be paid for so they were not exactly free.
Now we are told that both the lens and the frames of the second pair are "free". Sales lady was quite insistant that the offer was genuine but I wondered why she was so keen to include the second pair when, had she not included them, she could have sold the frames to someone else for £129!
I was told some time ago that the frames actually cost a very few pounds but are sold for many times the cost.
Any thoughts, folks?
My wife was recently told her new glasses would be £480 including a free second pair. She said she did not need the second pair as the existing glasses were good enough to be used as a back up. Sales lady said the price was the same if she had one or two pairs!
In the past I have noticed that with the second pair free thing, that just referred to the frames and the varifocal lens had to be paid for so they were not exactly free.
Now we are told that both the lens and the frames of the second pair are "free". Sales lady was quite insistant that the offer was genuine but I wondered why she was so keen to include the second pair when, had she not included them, she could have sold the frames to someone else for £129!
I was told some time ago that the frames actually cost a very few pounds but are sold for many times the cost.
Any thoughts, folks?
Not Optical Express. It is an independent optician. The frames were priced at £129. The rest is for the "top of the range" varifocals with reactors and wider vision areas for near, mid range and distant clarity.
Given that I have just spent £40 for some excellent Olympus binoculars with a lot more than two lens, the rest seems rather expensive for two bits of ground plastic.
Given that I have just spent £40 for some excellent Olympus binoculars with a lot more than two lens, the rest seems rather expensive for two bits of ground plastic.
Edited by Tafia on Tuesday 16th December 11:12
£480 for glasses? Holy crap, I didn't realise they even cost that much (maybe it's me).
I get mine from Specsavers and when I do, I always go for the second pair free as it's always handy to have a spare pair regardless. Never costs me more than £130 - In fact, I get my contact lenses there, so next time, it won't cost me more than about £80 for designer ones (if I want them - I only like thin lenses which happen to be in the cheaper range so it'll cost me £35 odd)
If your wife doesn't need them, why not get some prescription sunglasses?
My best mate used to get his online at a fraction of the cost - you should be able to get the prescription from the optician and use that elsewhere.
I get mine from Specsavers and when I do, I always go for the second pair free as it's always handy to have a spare pair regardless. Never costs me more than £130 - In fact, I get my contact lenses there, so next time, it won't cost me more than about £80 for designer ones (if I want them - I only like thin lenses which happen to be in the cheaper range so it'll cost me £35 odd)
If your wife doesn't need them, why not get some prescription sunglasses?
My best mate used to get his online at a fraction of the cost - you should be able to get the prescription from the optician and use that elsewhere.
Got fed up with the high street monkeys and their silly prices so last time I used a place online called fashion eyewear, they actually have a physical shop as an independent and have expanded online. I got a frame and high index lenses for a third less than high street wanted for the frame alone.
Won't be using the high street again.
Won't be using the high street again.
The reason we have switched to this independant is his repution as being a good optician. He sent me to the eye hospital after I had eye flashes as it could be a sign or a detaching retina. All OK thank goodness. Seems that gel detaching from retina is normal as we rot! It shows as eye flashes, usually on the periphery of vision.
He also found something in my wifes eye which he said could have been there since birth and all previous opticians had missed. Eye hospital again for further checks. They were impressed that he had seen the potential problem and are now "keeping an eye" on the mark to check for possible damaging changes.
However, wife is still wondering why the salesperon was so keen on her having the "free second pair"
He also found something in my wifes eye which he said could have been there since birth and all previous opticians had missed. Eye hospital again for further checks. They were impressed that he had seen the potential problem and are now "keeping an eye" on the mark to check for possible damaging changes.
However, wife is still wondering why the salesperon was so keen on her having the "free second pair"
Edited by Tafia on Tuesday 16th December 18:20
I got a local eye test done then had new lenses to the new prescription fitted to my existing frames. Why buy new frames you don't need?
http://www.glassesframesandlenses.com
http://www.glassesframesandlenses.com
hora said:
Glassesdirect. I recently bought prescription oakley glasses with reactolight stuff for £150 from a place in Bolton (that mail ordered it to me).
NO glasses cost £480.
Question- was it Optical Express? I went in there after seeing an offer in their window. The price magic'ed itself 3fold at the final 'consultation'. I thanked them and walked out but received daily phone calls for weeks from them.
Mine were about that with varifocals and my strong, complicated prescription. 2 years ago!NO glasses cost £480.
Question- was it Optical Express? I went in there after seeing an offer in their window. The price magic'ed itself 3fold at the final 'consultation'. I thanked them and walked out but received daily phone calls for weeks from them.
I still go to Spec Savers as the Head Office and factory is here. We look after the owner of the company's boat, so get good treatment and I'm friends with the head optician.
When I've had a problem, they've always sorted it out for free. I like to try the frames on with my bike helmet, can be a tricky fit. The second pair are normally tinted but I rarely use them. Comes in at around £120 for both.
When I've had a problem, they've always sorted it out for free. I like to try the frames on with my bike helmet, can be a tricky fit. The second pair are normally tinted but I rarely use them. Comes in at around £120 for both.
GetCarter said:
They will send you four pairs FOC for you to try.
I usually end up trying on about 20 pairs so that could take me a while.As for the high cost of the OP's, if you have a strong enough prescription to warrant going for the high index lenses to get them thinner that seems to make a huge increase in the price.
I also always get the second pair as sunglasses, but don't bother with the high index lenses in them.
Tafia said:
Anyone else suspicious of the so called free second pair of glasses offered by both high street names and independent opticians?
My wife was recently told her new glasses would be £480 including a free second pair. She said she did not need the second pair as the existing glasses were good enough to be used as a back up. Sales lady said the price was the same if she had one or two pairs!
In the past I have noticed that with the second pair free thing, that just referred to the frames and the varifocal lens had to be paid for so they were not exactly free.
Now we are told that both the lens and the frames of the second pair are "free". Sales lady was quite insistant that the offer was genuine but I wondered why she was so keen to include the second pair when, had she not included them, she could have sold the frames to someone else for £129!
I was told some time ago that the frames actually cost a very few pounds but are sold for many times the cost.
Any thoughts, folks?
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.My wife was recently told her new glasses would be £480 including a free second pair. She said she did not need the second pair as the existing glasses were good enough to be used as a back up. Sales lady said the price was the same if she had one or two pairs!
In the past I have noticed that with the second pair free thing, that just referred to the frames and the varifocal lens had to be paid for so they were not exactly free.
Now we are told that both the lens and the frames of the second pair are "free". Sales lady was quite insistant that the offer was genuine but I wondered why she was so keen to include the second pair when, had she not included them, she could have sold the frames to someone else for £129!
I was told some time ago that the frames actually cost a very few pounds but are sold for many times the cost.
Any thoughts, folks?
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.
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