Buying prescription glasses online (to save money)

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AidanS

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#240690 20-Sep-2018 13:32

Hi,

For years, I've just gone to Specsavers and paid for their glasses and services but thought I'd ty my luck online and maybe overseas to see if I can save some money. Then I can have a couple pairs lying around and won't feel so bad if they get damaged or lost, vs. paying hundreds $ per pair at SpecSavers.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, or any recommendations of places to look at?

At first glance (the first results page on Google), most of the places don't seem much cheaper than Specsavers so I'm wondering if there are any lesser-known places that are good too.

Cheers,

DjShadow

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#2093851 20-Sep-2018 14:29

I've used Clearly.co.nz several times, never had any problems (I think they are made in Canada)

wratterus

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#2093852 20-Sep-2018 14:30

Have a look at Zenni Optical.

tieke

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#2093862 20-Sep-2018 14:52

I've used Clearly several times too - they've got good New Zealand support and usually have some sale on, meaning the glasses come out to around $100 a pair for my prescription, frame and lens thickness preferences. I remember updating my prescription at specsavers and finding out my choice of glasses would be $300+ from them. I've bought several cheap pairs from other overseas places including zenni optical - if you want really cheap glasses and are fine with plastic frames you can get a pair for less than $40: I mostly do this if I want prescription sunglasses. One thing you might not think of is swimming goggles - I've got a couple of pairs of prescription ones that cost around $10 each.

You will of course need your current prescription - specsavers will give you a copy of this if you ask, as you have of course paid them to find it, but I think they don't tell you your IPD (distance between your pupils) in order to make it more difficult for you to order elsewhere.

trig42

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#2093873 20-Sep-2018 15:04

I've used Clearly a couple of times, and 39dollarglasses.com a couple of times. Both have been excellent.

One of them, the nose pad fell off. I called them (must have been Clearly, because it was a NZ 0800 number), and they re-made the glasses and sent them out with a courier bag for the old ones.

Awesome service.

jonathan18

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#2093878 20-Sep-2018 15:12

Heaps of earlier threads on this exact topic, so it would pay to search for these.

The savings of using an online (typically o/s bases) retailer are particularly significant for anything more fancy than a standard-range single-vision pair, eg the additional price for polarised or progressive lenses isn’t nearly as steep as from main street NZ retailers.

I get all my glasses these days from Clearly. I understand they have a money-back guarantee if they don’t fit right etc. I got my script from Specsavers and paid another optician $10 to measure my PD.

An annoying thing about Clearly’s site is they got rid of the ability to upload a photo to get an idea of what specific frames may look like on your face.

I’ve bought from Zenni in the past, but they weren’t comfortable - in hindsight I know the value now of measuring a pair that fits me well and using that as a basis for limiting the styles I consider.

Taubin

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#2093883 20-Sep-2018 15:18

I have a few pairs of Zenni's, they are pretty cheap and seem to be good. I've been wearing my current pair for over a year now, and haven't had any issues with them.

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TheoM

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#2093884 20-Sep-2018 15:18

I can vouch for Clearly.co.nz. My rimless glasses cost me $50+120 for the transitions coating. Wouldn't hesitate to do it again

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Delphinus

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#2093890 20-Sep-2018 15:32

https://mrfoureyes.co.nz/ is my goto for glasses these days. I recently had new lenses put in my frames. Great service and NZ based.

timmmay

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#2093891 20-Sep-2018 15:32

Look at the earlier threads. My eyes are reasonably sensitive to small variations, I've tried three or four online glasses places and my eyes haven't liked any of them. When my optician put them through the testing machine they often come back well out of whack - lenses at the wrong orientation, optical centers way off.

jonathan18

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#2094244 21-Sep-2018 08:34

timmmay:
Look at the earlier threads. My eyes are reasonably sensitive to small variations, I've tried three or four online glasses places and my eyes haven't liked any of them. When my optician put them through the testing machine they often come back well out of whack - lenses at the wrong orientation, optical centers way off.

This would make a great investigation for an organisation such as Consumer, comparing the o/s online retailers’ products vs the high street/mall NZ retailers’ in terms of how well they reflect the script, fit etc.

Given the prices charged by standard NZ opticians (and I know my mother will pay well north of $1k, whereas I pay about $150-200 and that includes a non-standard lens and progressives), it’s no surprise that so many NZers have sought out these places, but it is always a bit of a gamble in doing so.