While it's convenient and affordable to buy glasses online, you might be concerned about quality and fit. After all, prescription eyewear must be tailored to your specific vision needs. Below, we explore the pros and cons of buying glasses online to help you make an informed decision, along with top tips for a successful online shopping experience.
Online eyeglass retailers such as Zenni Optical, Eyebuydirect and Warby Parker have an advantage over traditional optical stores. They can tap into a customer base around the world without operating physical stores. The reduced overhead expenses and increased revenue potential translate into several benefits for customers.
Prices for eyeglasses are highly competitive online. A survey from Consumer Reports found that customers paid a median price of $87 (after insurance) for a pair of glasses purchased through Zenni Optical. By comparison, the median price was $346 at an independent retailer, $262 at a doctor's office, and between $150 and $200 through large retailers such as Costco, Walmart and Target.
Physical stores are limited in the number of frames they can display. Online platforms offer a much broader selection, enabling you to find diverse styles, colors and materials that might not be available in retail locations.
It's time-consuming to drive to different stores. With online shopping, you can compare prices and selection on various websites without leaving your assisted living apartment. Once you've found a pair of frames you like, it takes just a few clicks to order your eyeglasses and have them delivered.
Despite these advantages, you might still prefer an in-person shopping experience. There are plenty of optical stores just a short drive from Bethesda Gardens Phoenix, including Visionworks, Lenscrafters, Eyeglass World and JC Penney Optical.
When you visit a brick-and-mortar store, you can try on frames and look at them from different angles in the mirror. A friend or family member can accompany you and help you pick a flattering style.
More importantly, you receive personalized assistance from trained professionals. Opticians can recommend frames that fit your face so they sit comfortably. They can also review your prescription and suggest suitable materials, lenses and coatings, which can be especially helpful if you have complex needs or require progressive lenses or bifocals.
Because you'll pick up your glasses in person, you can ensure they fit and that you're completely satisfied before taking them home.
Interested in giving an online eyeglass retailer a try? First, you'll need a current prescription. You can request this at your next vision checkup, which is an important part of maintaining eye health. You also need to know your pupillary distance (PD), which is the distance between your pupils. Your optometrist can measure your PD during your eye exam, but you can also do this yourself at home or through the retailer's online app.
You can then browse different frames online to pick a style and color you like. One of the most challenging parts of shopping on a website is not knowing what a pair will look like on you, but companies have found creative ways around this.
Many e-commerce eyewear retailers offer virtual try-on technology. After you upload a headshot to their website or mobile app, it superimposes the frames you're considering over your image. This gives you a sense of how the glasses will look on your face. Other retailers offer home try-on trials, sending you a handful of frames to compare. You simply return them by mail after a set number of days.
When you're ready to order, input your prescription, PD and vision insurance information into the site.
Before you pull out your credit card to make a website purchase, be sure to perform due diligence.
Read reviews to make sure the website is credible and reliable. A quick Google search will show whether people are generally satisfied with the company's products and customer service. If there are a lot of complaints, you probably want to consider a different retailer.
Reputable websites will publish their return policy. Check to see how long you have to return the eyeglasses if you're not satisfied and whether you have to pay the cost of shipping to do so. That way, you won't be surprised later.
Check to see how easily the retailer's customer service team can be reached. Can you call them if you need help, or do you have to wait for an email response? Quick customer service is important in case you have problems placing your order or with your purchase.
Before you share personal information online, make sure the website is secure. There should be an "https" at the beginning of the URL rather than "http." The "s" signifies the site is secure. There should also be a padlock icon that indicates data is encrypted as it passes from your computer to the retailer's system. Another good sign is a trust seal, which is a badge from security companies and payment processors that indicate the site meets certain standards.
