The cost of eye-glass frames...

[wallycat]

Is it just me and what I"m looking at, or has the cost of frames gone up dramatically??
YIKES on this last pair of frames I'm looking at!!

Rant over :o

[Chefzhat]

My last frames were $185. Goodness!

Oh well, they say "made in USA" on the side - I justify it that way.

[wallycat]

aaaccccckkkkkk
Mine are made in Italy and the frame alone is $285 :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad:

[Gilgamesh37]

Considering that my lenses run in the $400 range these days, I consider my $150 frames a bargain.....:rolleyes:

[funnybone]

Originally posted by wallycat
aaaccccckkkkkk
Mine are made in Italy and the frame alone is $285 :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad:

I believe you. I keep telling my 10 year old that he doesn't need frames that expensive (considering we have to buy him new frames each year because he destroys them). :rolleyes: :mad:

[mbrogier]

My frames were Ann Klein and cost $150. I didn't get all the fancy stuff on my lenses. Just shatterproof plastic with UV coating. I don't wear them that much to need non-glare, etc.

I love my frames so much that I'll just put new lenses in them when I need to. They were the exact shape and color I needed.

[gertdog]

I made a deal with myself several years ago- since the glasses are more or less on my face every waking hour of the day, I want to really like the way they look on me. So when I need new frames (generally every )3-4 years or so, I just try on stuff until I find my perfect pair. THEN I look at the price. Definitely not my usual shopping MO! If I wore contacts most of the time, I'd be less willing to splurge on frames. But since the frames are pretty much a permanent part of my face, I splurge. :p

But I agree- they can be *really* expensive!! I did feel some sticker shock last time once the price of the frames plus lenses w/ invisible bifocals plus anti-glare coating etc. was all added up!

[Cookin4Love]

Anyone shop at Costco for frames? I've always found them to have some pretty decent frames at good prices. However, I've been wearing the same ones for five years now, so I can't say that I've shopped lately.

[tbb113]

I shop at Costco for my frames. But, I wear contacts and I only wear my glasses a few hours a WEEK at most (I have extended wear contacts), so I can't vouch for how well they stand up to everyday wear and tear.

[Gecko]

Originally posted by tbb113
I shop at Costco for my frames. But, I wear contacts and I only wear my glasses a few hours a WEEK at most (I have extended wear contacts), so I can't vouch for how well they stand up to everyday wear and tear.

Me too. I guess if I had to wear the frames longer I might be a bit more picky. Last replacement frames I think came from Lenscrafters and only because I found one of those discount coupons in the Sunday newspaper.

[wallycat]

I sort of did that as well...try on something that looked semi-decent on me and then I checked the price.
STICKER SHOCK!
Our vision insurance will cover up to $120 for frames, but still....I remember freaking out when I paid $100 for a frame.

I have to also get the ultra-high-index because my Rx is so high....

I like the idea of thinking these are on my face every day and I should like them.
I just cannot believe that I have to like something this expensive.
I did shop around after looking at the price and they are all fairly expensive.

I'm going to Lenscrafters tomorrow to see if I can find something more reasonable.

Thanks for feeling my pain :)

[fci5767]

Try doing an internet search for the eyeglass places in your area. I needed glasses last Christmas and didn't know where to go. I ended up finding an online coupon on the website of one of the pricier places in town.

I ended up saving 40% off the cost of my frames. Still, with lenses the price was way more than I wanted to spend. But since I wear my glasses 16 hours a day I figured it would be worth it.


Beth

[badunnin]

Lenscrafters also gives 30% off with a AAA membership.

[Gecko]

I think Bethany and I had the same idea. Here is a link to the discounts at Lenscrafters right now Lenscrafters (http://www.lenscrafters.com/Coupons/Cu_CouponInfo.cfm)

Another idea is to find a pair that you like and then check them out online. Here (http://www.eyeglasses.com/search-results.page?frametype=&gender=&frameshape=Oval&frameshape=Rectangular&frameshape=Aviator&frameshape=Round&frameshape=Cat+Eye&frameshape=Wrap&frameshape=Goggle&age=&size=&pricerange=&framestyle=f&framestyle=h&framestyle=n&eye_min=25&eye_max=999&bridge_min=10&bridge_max=999&temple_min=120&temple_max=999&brands=&material=&color_families=&x=84&y=12) is one site that has pages of glasses. I don't know about reimbursement from your health insurance if you purchase online - but it never hurts to ask, especially if it saves you both money.

[donleyk]

Do you have a DOC? He is all the time advertising 50% off the frames. Who knows how much they're marked up but it may be worth a shot.

[cangoss]

I think DOC is a racket. They give 50% off the frames but then the lenses are totally marked up and they try to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't need.

However, I really like their sister company, SEE. The price on the frames is the full price for the frames plus the lenses. And they don't try to sell you anything else. They don't have any "designer" brands - everything is their house brand. I've had really good experiences with them and I've been getting my glasses there for about five years.

[Gracie]

I've been wearing glasses full time since 4th grade. That's forever!! :D My prescription is also way up there so the lenses are always very expensive.

I also wear contacts but wear glasses on the weekends and when I'm not feeling well.

I've always felt "entitled" :D to spend whatever I need for glasses since I need them to function - just like Stephanie mentions above. Between my prescription, the no-line bifocals and the anti-glare, my lenses are at least $450 without the price of the frames.

I also don't mind spending money for real sunglasses. All those years I could never wear ordinary sunglasses like normal people because I had glasses. So I splurge on those, too, although splurge is a bit misleading because I don't buy Oakley, Bolle or any of those super expensive brands. I'm talking about $40 for Nine West or something.

Loren

[erin elizabeth]

Just because I haven't seen these options mentioned yet...

I just got new glasses from Sears and had my exam done at Target. Both places have frequent sales. I got 50% off frames and lenses--Target was running 50% off frames and their lenses were a bit cheaper than those at Sears. They don't have the largest hippest collections, but all major trends are represented. I don't have vision coverage so I need something reasonable. It seems like I always end up paying about $150/pair plus the exam.

The only bear is the 7-10 day wait time that always stretches into about 14 or so working days.

[wallycat]

Thanks everyone!

In order to get a decent price on lenses (I too have to get the high-index 1.67 because my Rx is so high and the coating..and this time, since Transitions lenses are available in the 1.67 high index, I wanted to try them...less need for Rx sunglasses and the yucky switching back and forth) I have to go through our vision insurance.
THe frames were the only thing I wanted to get somewhere else as they pay towards those regardless.

It seems lenscrafters won't give you a deal unless you buy BOTH frames and lenses. I'm still going to see what they have. I may find a frame at full price that is still more reasonable than the ones I currently found.

THANKS everyone!

[Beth]

Good luck. We have gotten glasses for DH and DS at Sam's. They both got Transition lenses the last time and love them. Neither were very good about changing to sunglsses or even pulling out clips when they got the frames with the matching magnetic clips. Actually, they still have the magnetic clips for very bright or around water days.

[Wendy w]

I spent $175 as my copayment on mine back in December for Fendi frames. :o It wasn't the name, or the fact that they were made in Italy, they just happened to be the ones that I liked the best, and I had "use it or lose it" on my healthcare reimbursement plan. My plan pays up to $150, on frames every other year, and I hadn't bought any in 3 years.

I don't feel bad because I wear cheapo sunglasses from the swapmeet, and shop at Ross, Marshall's, TJMaxx, and have a pretty good vision plan.

[mbrogier]

I think Lenscrafters does have good deals every once in a while. I know my husband got a pair of RX Ray Bans for $150 one year. He loves the frames so much he just gets new lenses when his RX changes. He had the same pair of regular glasses for 4 years so he got new ones in November. He wears his all the time, so cost wasn't that big of a factor. I wanted him to have comfortable glasses that were easy to do computer work in. We just tried some on him and kept a pile of the ones we liked and narrowed them down. With lenses, they did cost over $300.

Of course, NOW we have vision insurance. I guess he can get contacts since the insurance will pay for them. He can wear contacts; he just doesn't because his eyes dry out sitting at a computer all day. I do know contacts are better for activities, etc. Especially swimming in the ocean---don't ask. :o (the reason he was wearing them was because of the sharks)

[rosie_one]

I don't really get why frames are so expensive. They are just pieces of plastic or metal, really. Why should your frames cost as much as a new KA mixer or a good quality watch that will last you 10+ years? Weird. Is there a lot of engineering in them that I'm just not appreciating?

The one thing that suprised me though, was that it was only $30 to have my existing glasses turned into non prescription sunglasses after my lasik. Cutting the glass itself to fit the frames must just not be that expensive.

[tbb113]

Originally posted by rosie_one
I don't really get why frames are so expensive. They are just pieces of plastic or metal, really.

Same thing with good costume jewelery. It has gotten very expensive. Guess designers want to be paid well. :rolleyes: :cool: But when you think about them as something that will be on your face every day, makes a statement about who you are, etc, they really aren't that costly.

[wallycat]

I went to Lenscrafters today and found a very cute pair of Adrienne VItadini frames.
I then searched for them online.
At lenscrafters, they were 140, online they were 92.95.
I called my eye-doc's office and told my optician my problem.
She's going to search their vendors to see if they can come up with something comprable in size/color/shape and PRICE!

YAY.

We'll see what happens with them.

THanks again for feeling my pain :)