Buying Specs on line.....good idea or bad?

[Bonefish Blues]

For tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of people the model's already working well - demonstrably so.

 

[vickster]

It's like buying a pair of trousers online that should fit and don't fit. Send them back, get a refund. Go to optician and request a second test (which may or may not be at a fee). Have a consultancy appointment with the optician at a fee

The traditional optician business model is stuck in the 1950s. They were the only place you could buy glasses but they were opticians and pretty useless retailers. They tried to make all their income selling glasses (hence the sky high prices) when they should be selling their optician services and letting customers deal with the suppliers (which presumably the opticians were doing previously).

Not sure many high st opticians/optometrists would make a living off eye tests alone, especially not at current rates (private or nhs funded).
You’d end up with far fewer, long waiting lists and difficulty accessing (a bit like nhs dentists)

@Jody would know for sure as he’s in the business I believe

 

[Jody]

Not sure many high st opticians/optometrists would make a living off eye tests alone, especially not at current rates (private or nhs funded).
You’d end up with far fewer, long waiting lists and difficulty accessing (a bit like nhs dentists)

@Jody would know for sure as he’s in the business I believe

It's my partner of many decades who is in the trade.

They would go out of business quickly if it was testing only. The cost of an eye test doesn't even cover the persons wage who's doing it, never mind the business overheads.

 

[nickyboy]

Not sure many high st opticians/optometrists would make a living off eye tests alone, especially not at current rates (private or nhs funded).
You’d end up with far fewer, long waiting lists and difficulty accessing (a bit like nhs dentists)

@Jody would know for sure as he’s in the business I believe

Change the price of eye tests. Opticians job is to test eyes, check for problems etc, not sell specs. Let them charge the fair price for the service (with appropriate funding for those unable to pay) and let the suppliers of specs supply the general public.

Its about working out who is good at what in supplying prescription glasses to the general public. You need someone to provide the prescription, someone to make it and someone to sell/deliver it. The three things are so distinct you need specialists for each stage. At the moment opticians use the selling bit to subsidise the prescription bit but that means they have to do both and opticians are not retailers

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Change the price of eye tests. Opticians job is to test eyes, check for problems etc, not sell specs. Let them charge the fair price for the service (with appropriate funding for those unable to pay) and let the suppliers of specs supply the general public.

Its about working out who is good at what in supplying prescription glasses to the general public. You need someone to provide the prescription, someone to make it and someone to sell/deliver it. The three things are so distinct you need specialists for each stage. At the moment opticians use the selling bit to subsidise the prescription bit but that means they have to do both and opticians are not retailers

Or, dump the whole kit and caboodle into one streamlined and easily accessible service like... Specsavers. 🙂

I love the ease of the one-stop shop. I get the eye tests I need, there are oodles of frames to choose from that I can physically try on and the Spec's turn up pdq. Plus they then can be properly fitted*. And all backed up by a bomb-proof no-quibble guarantee.

We are all different but Specsavers works really well for me.

*Out of interest, how is this handled by the online suppliers?

 

[mistyoptic]

Change the price of eye tests. Opticians job is to test eyes, check for problems etc, not sell specs. Let them charge the fair price for the service (with appropriate funding for those unable to pay) and let the suppliers of specs supply the general public.

Its about working out who is good at what in supplying prescription glasses to the general public. You need someone to provide the prescription, someone to make it and someone to sell/deliver it. The three things are so distinct you need specialists for each stage. At the moment opticians use the selling bit to subsidise the prescription bit but that means they have to do both and opticians are not retailers

🤣🤣

in 2006 the Bosanquet report, published by Imperial College, said the NHS should be paying £37 for performing an NHS eye examination. It specifically referred to the fact that there was cross subsidy occurring which is deprecated in NHS contracts.

From April this year, the NHS increased the fee paid to £22.14.

Cross Subsidised? Oh yes. Big business recognises that using the eye exam as a loss leader will bring folk through the door where they become a sales target. Government smiles and says “if you can do it for that, we don’t need to pay you more…”

I’m retired now so it affects me not. As you will have detected, it still p*sses me off

Funny thing is, if a similar report suggests MPs need a pay rise, they’re all over it. I’ll say no more, or we’ll end up on the dark side

 

[Jody]

Change the price of eye tests. Opticians job is to test eyes, check for problems etc, not sell specs. Let them charge the fair price for the service (with appropriate funding for those unable to pay) and let the suppliers of specs supply the general public.

Its about working out who is good at what in supplying prescription glasses to the general public. You need someone to provide the prescription, someone to make it and someone to sell/deliver it. The three things are so distinct you need specialists for each stage. At the moment opticians use the selling bit to subsidise the prescription bit but that means they have to do both and opticians are not retailers

As the College Optomtetrist website points out the sight test and dispense are closely linked and spectacles should be dispensed where you have your eyes examined. The reason being is to resolve issues easily should they arise.

The exact phrase advised to be used is

'You have a right to have your prescription dispensed wherever you choose. However, as prescribing and dispensing of spectacles are closely linked it is best to have your spectacles dispensed where you have your eyes examined. It is often more difficult to resolve any problems you may have with your spectacles when prescribing and supply are separated.'

 

[vickster]

opticians are not retailers

Why not? They were selling/dispensing spectacles long before the Internet. I don't recall any other high st retailers selling prescription specs/contact lenses? Who is more qualified to do so on the High St?

If you don't want to pay an optician for your specs and prefer to buy online, that's up to you, but you can't then expect an optician to fix any issues FOC assuming the prescription is correct.
I wouldn't go to my LBS and expect them to fix issues with a new bike that I'd bought online from Wiggle for example FOC

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Another perspective here. Note that there has been significant further industry consolidation in the intervening 4 years since the article was written. I have made many of these points in the thread.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/20...new firm will not,Luxottica 25% of the frames.

 

[Jody]

Another perspective here. Note that there has been significant further industry consolidation in the intervening 4 years since the article was written. I have made many of these points in the thread.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/may/10/the-invisible-power-of-big-glasses-eyewear-industry-essilor-luxottica#:~:text=The new firm will not,Luxottica 25% of the frames.

That's how business works. It's nothing new

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Interested to hear less partial observers' thoughts, and whether they were in any way aware that's what is happening in the eyecare 'market'

 

[Jody]

Interested to hear less partial observers' thoughts, and whether they were in any way aware that's what is happening in the eyecare 'market'

The illusion of choice is not a conspiracy or a new idea.

Glasses Direct for example is owned by my optique group, who are in turn owned by...........

Luxottica

 

[wiggydiggy]

I've used high street opticians for years, I'll probably do so again. But this go around I've a lot on ATM and ordering online is a convenience. But if I have issues I certainly won't be going into an opticians expecting help!

The only thing I've ever slightly disliked about high Street opticians is the polite pushiness post eye exam to sit with someone and buy glasses. Generally I've gone for a test when I have a spare hour and I'll go back later to buy. But that's a minor quibble.

 

[fossyant]

Update, glasses arrived yesterday and they are perfect. So, one pair for home, one pair to live in my panniers for work. Happy for £19.95

 

[Fastpedaller]

Sounds like a good outcome. I have very high index lenses, so most opticians want £400+ for varifocals. We were in Asda 4 years ago getting contact lenses for my Daughter and noticed their in-store sign "All lenses included free with frames". I ended up with a pair of specs (frames not outstanding, but have lasted 4 years of daily use so far - make your judgement?) for £39. They are varifocal. high index (my distance prescription is c 7.5) and are optically the best lenses I've ever had - I could have also had reactolite at no extra cost. The lenses are Shamir Freeform, and the Specsavers optician when I had a recent test, confirmed they are top quality lense. I have no connection with Asda other than being a satisfied customer.