Where To Buy Your Glasses
So know you know all about glasses and your prescription. But where are you going to buy you glasses from? There are 3 main categories of:
- High Street Optician Chain
- Independent Local Optician
- Online Glasses Supplier
In this section we’ll discuss what each entail, their pros and cons and then summarise with our recommendations.
High Street Optician Chain
You’ll probabably recognise the names of most of the main chains of Opticians. Specsavers is probably the one that springs to mind more than any other. The chains have man, many stores in high streets all over the country (and world). They pay out for large advertising campaigns in newspapers, radio and television to ensure that you know the brand name and go to them without considering the other options. Their prescence on the high street also makes their stores very noticeable, and they usually have flash displays. The problem with all of this flash advertising, expensive shop rates, high staff costs etc is that you as the customer pay for it with high prices.
We’re summarized the main pros and cons of high street chain opticians:
Pros
- Easy to find a store
- Nationwide coverage so can find a store that will know your details if you move location.
- Unlikely to go out of business due to the large chains (if they did have financial problems they would likely be bought out by another optician chain who would want their customers).
Cons
- Very High Costs due to expensive advertising, shops, staff etc.
- Impersonal experience due to the mechanical high volume of customers.
- Usually do not have money back guarantees unless there is a problem with your glasses.
- Not willing to go the extra mile. The staff don’t have any interest in going beyond the usual duty as they have no ownership in the company and receive their salary regardless of performance of the company.
Independent Optician
An indepednant optician is one not linked to any chain and owns his own individual store. You typically find them near the high street but not on the expensive main streets. If they advertise at all, it will be in your local paper. As it’s their own business and their livelihood relies on it’s success they usually try to help you when they can. Being so small they can’t buy in bulk though bso they will pay high costs which in turn will be passed onto you, the customer.
Pros
- Personal service. You’ll nearly always see the same optician when you go back each time.
- Willing to go the extra mile and help you more as their livelihood depends on the success ofn their business so they must keep their customers happy.
Cons
- High costs as they need to pay for their store front and can’t buy in bulk due to their small size.
- Usually do not have money back guarantees unless there is a problem with your glasses.
- Not linked to any other optician so you’ll have to go to a totally different optician if you move areas.
- At higher risk of going out of business as they won’t have a large valuable customer base or rich shareholders.
Online Glasses Supplier
An online glasses suppier is a internet based company that sell to you directly, avoid the middle men of the local optician (chain or independent) and don’t have the high costs of high street shops. They can also buy in bulk and pass these savings onto the customer.
Quality of service varies greatly between each online supplier so you need to choose one offering a money back guarantee and who are willing to offer to you as much free advice as you need.
Pros
- Cheap prices. That’s MUCH CHEAPER PRICES than high street stores as they don’t have to pay for shop fonts.
- Don’t need to leave home to order.
- Many companies offer money back guarantee
- Many companies offer unlimited free advice
- Many companies offer a ‘try at home’ service where you can try some blank frames on at home for free to ensure they fit.
- Many companies still have qualified opticians checking every aspect of your order to ensure excellent quality.
Cons
- Quality of service varies from supplier to supplier so ensure to choose a reputable one.
- No face to face contact to build personal relationships.
Next onto: Price Comparison
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