Getting old is a fact of life, as some of us get older we will need glasses.  I need to wear glasses due to an astigmatism in my left eye, so for years I wore glasses - always looking for the latest styles, shapes and colors.  They were always very, very expensive - but you have to protect your eyes, right?

Over the years as I went to eye doctor appointments and my eyes started getting better (the doctor made a bad move by even suggesting that my astigmatism was very moderate) I decided I’d no longer wear them.  So it has been that way for years now.

I went to my eye doctor again a few months ago to get my eyes checked.  Could you believe it - he said my eyes were pretty bad and that I really should be wearing glasses and he even hinted that it should be more than just once in awhile.

Sigh.

So he wrote my prescription and took me over to see all the frames that they had in stock.  Of course, none have a price on them but usually a price code.  He said to pick the ones I liked the best.  So I did.  Grabbed the ones that looked best on my, had the nicest shapes and colors.  He also directed me to some of the discount frames.  Well, I could see why they were discount frames.  They were UGLY!  Who would want to wear those?

So I took about 10 different frames and sat down with the optometrist.

He looked at each frame, and the price code.  Looked it up on his computer and plunked them down.  I kid you not, each frame that he dropped was at minimum $500.00 !!!!  Being a big guy, he said that I would need a bigger frame and those usually carried a premium.  Fine, I can understand that - but $500.00 for a frame!

…and yes, it was only the frame.  The lenses were atleast $200.00 depending on what I’d want to put on them… you know, anti-scratch coating, anti-glare coating, UV protection… By the time all was said and done I would have spent about $800.00 on glasses.  To add insult to injury, he asked if I wanted to purchase a second pair at 10% discount.  WHAM!  Jeez at that rate, I’d have to take out a small loan for glasses.

Now I know what you’re thinking “what a cheap bugger” - well, yes.  I know I need glasses, but NOT for $800.00.

Besides I know what kind of mark-up is on the frames.  Years ago I looked at importing frames and selling them on the internet like the folks over at http://www.ZenniOptical.com do - and the mark ups are HUGE on frames, especially if you look at designer branded frames like Gucci, Dolce Gabanna, Tommy Hilfiger and the like.

I looked at the frames that http://www.ZenniOptical.com carries, and you know what - they are stylish and most of all - THEY ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE.  I saw some great frames that would look good on me, the right shapes and colors for under $50.00 — yes that is right less than FIFTY BUCKS.  They may not be designer branded frames, but the look and style is what I am looking for — not whether it’s a Tommy Hilfiger frame or DG.

They are actually better known for their $8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglasses and the $8.00 frames are not bad looking either.  Here is a sample of one of their $8 frames:

Zenni Optical

Not too shabby looking.

If you are looking at spending BIG BUCKS for a frame - their frame top out at around $45.95 - atleast that is the most expensive one I could find:

Zenni Optical

It is not a bad looking frame either.

So we have concluded that their frames are very inexpensive.  But how about ordering?  Simple.

Zenni OpticalStep 1 - pick out the frame you like as I’ve done.  Those are pretty smart looking frames right?

Step 2 - when you click on the frame, it takes you to a detail page about the frames.

Zenni Optical

 

From the order page select which options you like - change the color of the glasses, select anti-reflection coating, decide on lens tinting, if you want clip-on polarized sunshade you can select that (so your glasses serve two purposes instead of one). 

Once you have made your selections, enter you prescription inormation and you are done.  Even if you decide to go for broke and add all the various options they still work out to be less that what you would pay elsewhere.  My sample glasses worked out to under $100.00 — at that price, I can afford to buy 1 pair of glasses for each day of the week and still have money left over for a nice dinner for my wife and myself!

Now you are probably thinking that they have very little selection.  Wrong - check out the types of frames they stock:

  • $8.00 Eyeglasses 
  • $9.95 Eyeglasses
  • $12.95 Eyeglasses 
  • $15.95 Eyeglasses 
  • $19 Metal 
  • $19 Plastic or Acetate 
  • +Sunshade Models 
  • Acetate or Mixed Material 
  • Aluminum Alloy 
  • Bifocal/Progressive Frames 
  • Children’s Frames 
  • Full Rim Frames 
  • Goggles 
  • Half Rim Frames 
  • Leading Edge Designs 
  • Memory Titanium 
  • Men’s Classic 
  • New Arrivals 
  • Pure Titanium 
  • Rimless Frames…. 
  • Stainless Steel 
  • Variable Dimension Frames 
  • Women’s Fashion 

Quite a selection.

Now the thing that kills me is that they offer customer service.  I mean, they offer a 1-800 number in fact on their website they say “for a quick and definite response please use the phone” — most companies try to shy you away from using the 1-800 number because if costs them money.  But Zenni Optical actually encourages you to call instead of e-mail!  How crazy is that?!

Here is the guarantee that they provide - you can read this on their website also:

We take great pride in delivering a quality product at incredibly low prices. Every prescription order is meticulously checked by certified technicians for prescription accuracy and optical clarity before shipment. Since all orders are unique all sales must be final so please be extra careful in filling out your order.
Even so since we value your satisfaction above all if you are unsatisfied with your prescription eyeglasses for any reason just return the eyeglass with the order copy and case within four weeks and we will refund 50% of the cost of the glasses. We do not reimburse for shipping and handling.  

Want to know more about Zenni?

Using the latest modern materials, manufacturing and marketing systems we bring our product direct from our factories to you. No Middlemen,no retail overhead,and practically no advertising budget,(we leave it to you, our satisfied customers to spread the word,), we do not pay for or sell expensive, or even inexpensive, brand names, but only our own manufactured brand ZENNI.

Eyeglasses are definitely a personal fashion and style item, and to that end we strive to provide a fashionable and stylish product. More importantly, we feel prescription eyeglasses are a health item necessity for most wearers, and to that end we take considerable pride in being able to bring to all a very high quality product of great durability, safety and comfort at truly reasonable and affordable prices.  

At under $100.00 for a full set of glasses with lenses and all the extras I can think of (did I mention that all their frames and lenses come with Anti Scratch Coating, Full UV Protection, Lens edge polishing and beveling, Quality Hard Eyeglass case, Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth, Full Guarantee).

With the prices they offer, you can not go wrong.  Now, I don’t have an excuse not to buy my glasses — and because they are so inexpensive, I probably will buy one pair for each day of the week!

Mohamed

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