I need glasses. I knew it was coming. Where is the best, most economical place to get them. All the options are an hour away, so I am leaning towards Lens Crafters, so I don't have to make a second (well third really) trip. I briefly looked at Costco, after my exam, but didn't really see anything I like but then again with my eye dilated, I couldn't really see anyway. Is the price between Walmart or Costco & Lens Crafters significant?
I haven't needed glasses since I was 8. So this is all new to me.
If service and quality is more important than cost to you, definitely go with LensCrafters. I was a Lab Manager and Optician for LensCrafters for over 10 years and still have many friends and, funny story, my now BIL, was once my employee when he was in college, and is now a Store General Manager himself!
LensCrafters takes their training and skill of their employees very seriously. We used to have to, and I hear it is still the same, be ABO (American Board of Opticianry) Certified to make and dispense eyeglasses -we had to renew our ABO Certificates every three years with CEC credits - and even the Frame Stylists have had extensive training before going out onto the floor to help you pick out glasses and lenses. They ALWAYS have the backup of the Lab Techs and Opticians when the customer has special vision needs or has questions about lens types/best lens for their needs.
From my experience, no other "eyewear specialist" at Walmart, Costco, Sams, etc has ever been able to answer even one level up from the basic questions I had about lenses or frames. Since money was a concern for me in past years between leaving LensCrafters and recent years, I have tried JC Penny, Walmart, and Target. Because I know the business, I am able to muddle through on my own and get a decent deal and make sure the axis is correct on my lenses or that the Rx is within the correct tolerance, but I will be honest, I wouldn't trust my vision to the expertise and knowledge of store associates who are cross-trained to start checking salad dressing and toilet paper on Lane 6 when it is slow at the "Optical Center" in big box stores.
And nobody that I have ever worked with that came from anywhere else, or left LensCrafters to work elsewhere, has ever had good things to say about their former companies. I actually left there twice (for reasons other than because I was unhappy, including college plans, having a baby, moving, etc) and came back because of the integrity of the company. It's a great place to work and a quality place to purchase eyeglasses. The ONLY caveat is that it is more expensive. However, a little secret is...wait until the end of the month - that is one of their busiest times of the year and they ALWAYS have great sales to pull in business before year-end flex benefits expire!
ETA: Final price will always be up to you...as with any sales pitch, there are very nice, stylish frames on the low end of the $$ spectrum, and regular single-vision plastic lenses without A/R (anti-reflective) is perfectly fine, especially for a first time eyeglass wearer. Lined bifocals are more, and "Progressive" no-line lenses cost the most. They will try to sell you the "thinnest, lightest" Polycarbonate lenses, but they really are not necessary for any Rx less than +/- 3.0 because frames in style these days are small. And unless you have VERY sensitive eyes, glare will not be an issue, especially these days with new computer screen technology if you work on computers - computer screens used to be glass, so there was more glare then. It's a non-issue now.
If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them! Good luck!!
