best place to buy (eye)glasses?

[rockin_rep]

Thought i would ask all of you resourceful people for suggestions about eye-glasses.

We all wear contacts but also like / need glasses for nighttime, etc.

We love our eye doc but his prices have become ridiculous.

Anyone familiar with a good, cost effective place to purchase glasses (that cost less than our mortgage payment?

Thanks in advance!

 

[crazelion]

Do have AAA then go Lencrafters I think get 30% percent discount. That's whear I got mind at. Put I have a AAA membership card so I can get the discount.

 

[Candace]

Also got mine last year at Lenscrafters and was able to use AAA for 30% discount. Very pleased with service and glasses - and especially price!

 

[ladysoleil]

Seconded on LensCrafters-

If you don't have AAA, check your sunday paper and their website for coupons, also. They seem to offer coupons pretty often. I've been able to get a buy one, get half off the second pair deal a few times over the years, which covers my glasses and prescription sunglasses. I think you can also give them your email to be sent sale flyers and coupons.

 

[Lewisc]

Lenscrafters, even with 30% off is expensive. COSTCO is excellent. Target runs a good promotion the end of the year. Check your Sunday newspaper for adds from Pennys and Sears optical.

If you want a rock bottom price

http://www.39dollarglasses.com/index.html
http://www.19dollareyeglasses.com/

 

[Cyndiu]

DH lost his last summer on vacation (they went overboard. how he did that I'll never know) He had very good luck at Walmart.

 

[my3kids]

Costco Costco Costco! Did I mention Costco? They are great for glasses and contacts. I wear Accuvue II contacts and they are $13.?? there, $18.?? at Wal-Mart and who knows how much at the doctor. Same thing with glasses....really good frames and really good prices. I like WM's guarantee on children's glasses. Not sure what Costco's policy is on rowdy kid's and bent or broken frames. WM will replace for a year, unlimited times.

 

[swilshire]

We've had our best luck with Lenscrafters. They have good coupons in the Sunday papers usually. They also have agreements with some insurance companies to give discounts. I don't have vision coverage with Blue Cross, but I can show my Blue Cross card and get a hefty discount at Lenscrafters.

I've also used Walmart for the kids' glasses and been happy with them.

I tried Dr Bizer's the last time because they were the only place that had frames that I really liked. So far, I've been pretty disappointed in them. The prices were OK, but the eye exam I got from their person was inadequate. I wound up having it redone and the glasses remade, but I still have some concerns about the glasses.

Sheila

 

[mhingher]

My whole family buys glasses at Costco. I have Spectera vision coverage, and they are even one of my providers so I can my exam there as well. They have a great selection, and very inexpensive!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have good luck with Walmart and Dr. Eyex or something like that lol. Both places take my insurance and usually have deals on glasses. I got my son new ones last year and they were 2 for $99.00

 

[goofy4tink]

My whole family buys glasses at Costco. I have Spectera vision coverage, and they are even one of my providers so I can my exam there as well. They have a great selection, and very inexpensive!

We have Spectera also. That's probably because dh works for them!!! But, we had been getting our glasses at a little shop in town. But, when the glasses got to the $500 range, we said 'Enough!'. We have gotten glasses at Wal-Mart. Dh always had problems with his 'expensive' glasses but thought that was just the way it was. Well, he has loved his glasses from Wal-Mart!! I think that after Spectera paid their share, dh ended up paying about $32 and he had the equiv. of his $500 glasses. I go today to pick out frames. Hoping they work out as well as dh's.

 

[rockin_rep]

Thank you all for your replies!

We have good insurance, EXCEPT for eye care! Nothing, nada, zilch, which really stinks and gets way too pricey.

Does Lenscrafters, Costco etc. have a good selection of frames? I have my eye on some Guess brand frames -- just love the shape -- think they're available?

Thanks again for all the replies!

 

[tar heel]

I'm getting my next glasses at BJs unless I can't find what I want. If that is the case, I'll go to LensCrafters, which has a bigger selection than most eye doctors.

BTW, you are getting your contacts somewhere other than the eye doctor, aren't you? Our eye doctor charges $25 a box for my ds's contacts; BJs charges $13 something for the exact same thing and even throws in a bottle of solution.

 

[allisonwonderland]

I vote for lenscrafters(Dh and I both go there)..great customer service!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ZPT1022]

Call around to your local places and see if there are any discounts for any affiliations you have. We will be going to Target next week for our new glasses & contacts since DH also has Spectera and they don't cover any eye dr's in our area Why we have it, I'm not sure. I'm kind of nervous since I've been with my eye dr for about 15 years now but he is *so* expensive. Target is giving us something like a 40% discount just because DH works for Home Depot. And then they'll give us an itemized receipt so we can see what we can get back from Spectera. Good luck to you!

 

[jadejazzkayla]

get your written prescription from your local doctor. buy your "guess" frames on ebay. go to www.framesdirect.com and select your lenses. mail your frames to them and they will have them back to you within a week. (or maybe they even have the frames you are looking for). they have great customer service via email.

the "moda" frames i got on ebay for $60, my local place wanted $175 for the same exact ones. i chose the extra thin plastic lenses and paid $80. the local shop at the mall wanted close to $200.

 

[rockin_rep]

Thank you all for your replies!!!!

jadejazzkayla, i knew there had to be some other way to do this! Thank you for your post! I am going to try it!

I do have my RX from my doc but i don't see the frames i want on ebay. However, they ARE on framesdirect.com. Do you think i should just order them there or wait to see if they come up on ebay?

Sounds like you're happy with your glasses, any concerns at all?

Thank you again!!!

 

[jadejazzkayla]

yes. go with the frames right from the website...are they a good price?

 

[budbeerlady]

get your written prescription from your local doctor. buy your "guess" frames on ebay. go to www.framesdirect.com and select your lenses. mail your frames to them and they will have them back to you within a week. (or maybe they even have the frames you are looking for). they have great customer service via email.

the "moda" frames i got on ebay for $60, my local place wanted $175 for the same exact ones. i chose the extra thin plastic lenses and paid $80. the local shop at the mall wanted close to $200.

Are they still a good place to order?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Costco stopped taking Spectera and the last day to get in-network benefits with Costco was July 31 2008.

Costco still has excellent prices on frames and glasses though. I just picked up my glasses from Costco this weekend and they are great! Im wondering if I could buy my frames at Costco and then take them to an in-network provider to put the lenses in?

I got Coach frames and ultra thin lenses from Costco. My Spectera reimbursement will cover all but $40!

Costco has lots of designer frames. I saw Baby Phat, Polo, Coach, Prada, etc.

I purchased Dh and the boys glasses at another provider and their frame prices were really high. Costco sells theirs at wholesale prices not retail.

Also, be mindful that insurance does not cover loss of lenses. Last year I took the boys to JcPenney Optical for the $49.95 kid glasses special. Well the youngest frame broke and he lost one of the lenses. We had to pay $50 for a replacement lens. They broke again and I gave up! He had a Nickelodeon frame. My oldest Dh also broke his glasses and we paid $25 for the new replacement under the insurance because he still had his lenses.