The criminal cost of specs in the UK

[Vlad_Dracul]

I say criminal becasue thats not far off what it is.

I have just been to a certain well known purveyor of specs who advertise a buy one get one free type offer.

I got myself an eye test which was very comprehensive and a snip at £20. I then made the mistake of querying the cost of a new pair of specs.

Of course they had designer this,designer that all sorts of crap. What is designer anyway? It just means they are made in China like the rest, have DKNY or some rubbish stamped on them and suddenly they are twice the price.

Anyway i went for the non designer type,saw some that suited, £99 including standard vision lenses with a second pair free.

Now this is where the misinformation begins.

I decided to have an ordinary pair and a second tinted pair. Tap tap tap in the pc,bill came to £211.

I asked how this could be given the £99 sticker on the chosen pair. MMmmm, i see what you mean,,tap tap tap,further enquiries, apparently this offer only applies where both pairs are standard single vision lenses.

My lenses were standard but of the thinner variety so i dont look like Mr Magoo,this high index lens was extra,as was the tint. Result 2 pairs for £221 or one pair for £146.

Nowe then,this is absolutely criminal and a misrepresentation.

Glasses cost nothing like this to produce. High streetchains are raking in huge profits whilst the actual labs who make them see little of this cash.

In addition, HM Government led by Blair in June 2001 introduced a stealth tax on the optically challenged in that he applied full VAT on glasses and lenses!

Surely these are essential medical aids and equipment without which i certainly cannot function? But no,he hid behind the skirts of the EEC and said he had to apply it as the EEC had told him to.

Has anyone used an on line specs by internet type service? Ive just quoted on line for the same specs for £43.

There are a number of services in the UK for which you know you are going to get ripped off for sure. Heres my list;

Opticians
Funeral Directors
Estate Agents
Lawyers

[Shaun]

Surely these are essential medical aids and equipment without which i certainly cannot function?

That's all well and good but you CAN get two pairs for £75 (designer or not) if you don't go for the thinner lenses. If you want the extras they'll sting you for them. That's the same with all companies.

I'm guessing you're talking about Specsavers - they do make the fact they are only talking about standard (pentax) single vision lenses in their adverts/promo material.

In fact they call the thin and light lenses as "Beauty treatment for your eyes." - hardly a necessity.

Benefits

Beauty treatment for your eyes. Thin & Light lenses significantly improve the appearance of your glasses, especially if you have a high prescription.

· Up to 40% thinner and lighter than standard lenses
· Improve the appearance of your glasses
· More comfortable to wear
· Suitable for lightweight frames

---------- Post added at 16:30 ---------- Previous post was at 16:27 ----------

Infact looking at their site (the other half is after a new pair soon) they even offer two for one on the bifocal/varifocal lenses (you jsut pay the extra for the lenses on the first pair). Very fair IMO

Two For One including designer glasses and varifocal lenses -

Style, choice and value - the latest 2 for 1 offer at Specsavers has it all. It includes all designer brands (2 pairs for £125), as well as our extensive £75 to £99 ranges. Standard PENTAX single vision lenses are provided in both pairs at no extra charge. Other single vision, varifocal and bifocal lenses* are also available in our 2 for 1 offer – you just pay for the lenses in your first pair (excludes Extra Options).

[Vlad_Dracul]

Originally Posted by Shaun

That's all well and good but you CAN get two pairs for £75 (designer or not) if you don't go for the thinner lenses. If you want the extras they'll sting you for them. That's the same with all companies.

I'm guessing you're talking about Specsavers - they do make the fact they are only talking about standard (pentax) single vision lenses in their adverts/promo material.

In fact they call the thin and light lenses as "Beauty treatment for your eyes." - hardly a necessity.

I'm actually talking about Boots but its similar. There are about 4 big companies who have a stranglehold on the high street optics market.

High index lenses become almost necessary at higher prescriptions. I'm just above -8.00 in each eye which is kinda mid range. To fit standard cut blanks of that script asnd up in a typical frame would look incongruous to say the least and the frame may not be mechanically strong enough to hold them,thus the need for thinner material.

If specsavers say its beauty treatment then they are being economical with the truth

[MadGamer]

My frames cost £200 which are Adidas and my lenses are the ones which react to light so they get darker and only cost £20 so in all thats £220 not bad for a known brand.

[WHISTLED]

I dont think £211 is a rip off for 2 pairs of specs with thin and/or tinted lenses.

You said yourself its £99 and get another pair free with standard lenses - You then decided not to have standard lenses and then complain about the price?

[Alanmelon]

Hmmm, bit close to home, this one, as I work as an Optometrist, and it's fair to say this kind of opinion is voiced all too often. The problem is that people are not aware of how the optical market operates in the UK. I'd agree, when you look at it as two discs of plastic encased in metal wire £200 might seem like a lot. However, as you rightly suggest, £20 for a comprehensive test is a "snip", considering the twenty or so minutes professional time a test should take, not to mention the 'pre-screening' tests amounting to another 5-10 minutes, the professional measuring, fitting, advice you receive all of which has to be provided by well trained and/or professional staff. In fact, if you receive an NHS test, the practice receives even less than that £20.

So, the obvious fact is that on those figures an optical practice actually makes a loss on each test that is performed. It has been calculated that the actual cost of providing a test when factoring in all aspects is in the region of £45-50 and that's just break even. Therefore we have a scenario where the price of glasses is of such a level as is necessary to cross subsidise the cost of providing the professional service. Should a situation arise where people start to have their eye test and then buy glasses on the internet looking for the cheap option, the only response available to opticians will be to hike up the price of the tests and/or stop providing NHS tests, surely not good for the welfare of the public?

From another perspective, I empathise that it's obviously not your fault that your eyesight is of such a level that you require thinner lenses, but for a good quality essential product which you will use day in day out for possibly two years or more, do you really think £200 odd is a lot to pay? How much will you spend on shoes or clothes in that same period?

[soup dragon]

have you tried the on-line spec sellers? if you have your prescription, which your optician will give if you ask, there are some great bargains. or try your local optician, i use my local one for my contact lenses and they are as cheap as the big chains also bought a pair of 'designer' specs (Ted Baker) with thin, scratch resistant lenses for about £130. I think customer service is much better in the small opticians anyway.

Originally Posted by Alanmelon

Hmmm, bit close to home, this one, as I work as an Optometrist, and it's fair to say this kind of opinion is voiced all too often. The problem is that people are not aware of how the optical market operates in the UK. I'd agree, when you look at it as two discs of plastic encased in metal wire £200 might seem like a lot. However, as you rightly suggest, £20 for a comprehensive test is a "snip", considering the twenty or so minutes professional time a test should take, not to mention the 'pre-screening' tests amounting to another 5-10 minutes, the professional measuring, fitting, advice you receive all of which has to be provided by well trained and/or professional staff. In fact, if you receive an NHS test, the practice receives even less than that £20.

So, the obvious fact is that on those figures an optical practice actually makes a loss on each test that is performed. It has been calculated that the actual cost of providing a test when factoring in all aspects is in the region of £45-50 and that's just break even. Therefore we have a scenario where the price of glasses is of such a level as is necessary to cross subsidise the cost of providing the professional service. Should a situation arise where people start to have their eye test and then buy glasses on the internet looking for the cheap option, the only response available to opticians will be to hike up the price of the tests and/or stop providing NHS tests, surely not good for the welfare of the public?

From another perspective, I empathise that it's obviously not your fault that your eyesight is of such a level that you require thinner lenses, but for a good quality essential product which you will use day in day out for possibly two years or more, do you really think £200 odd is a lot to pay? How much will you spend on shoes or clothes in that same period?

Paying £200 for something that cost under £10 to make and produce is unacceptable no matter how you look at it, you mention the tests, time required and suck, that still does not dignify the huge charge, as im sure you are aware, your pay isnt great and its the company that rakes all the money.

Your being screwed over, its as simple as that and its all perfectly legal.

Plenty of online sites that are WAY cheaper than those big brand names, you have to look around though, same goes for any store really (electrical, anything, you name it, your being screwed beyond belief)

[ikthius]

Yeah, I agree, if you want the extras, you should pay for the extras.

Specsavers are ok, I get 2 pairs for roughly £200 including designer and one sunglasses

ik

[Alanmelon]

Originally Posted by TraxData

Paying £200 for something that cost under £10 to make and produce is unacceptable no matter how you look at it, you mention the tests, time required and suck, that still does not dignify the huge charge, as im sure you are aware, your pay isnt great and its the company that rakes all the money.

Your being screwed over, its as simple as that and its all perfectly legal.

Plenty of online sites that are WAY cheaper than those big brand names, you have to look around though, same goes for any store really (electrical, anything, you name it, your being screwed beyond belief)

Sorry mate, but you know nothing about it. As with any company, of course they are there to make a profit. Just because these online sellers offer stuff cheaply it doesn't mean they're making any less profit, they just have fewer overheads and in this case offer far less of a service. Don't be fooled into thinking they're selling stuff cheaply to do you a favour. Would you like to see another scenario like we have with NHS dentists, where no one can find a practitioner willing to offer an examination to those who can't afford it because there's little or no profit in it?

Originally Posted by Alanmelon

Sorry mate, but you know nothing about it. As with any company, of course they are there to make a profit. Just because these online sellers offer stuff cheaply it doesn't mean they're making any less profit, they just have fewer overheads and in this case offer far less of a service. Don't be fooled into thinking they're selling stuff cheaply to do you a favour. Would you like to see another scenario like we have with NHS dentists, where no one can find a practitioner willing to offer an examination to those who can't afford it because there's little or no profit in it?

Lol..no, sorry mate, i know more than you think on the matter.

There is making a profit, then there is completely screwing customers over just because they can knowing full well they can get away with it, im quite aware of the costs incurred by the companies themselfs and just how much profit they make.

They screw you over, simple as.

[WHISTLED]

They screw you over, simple as.

All companies have the biggest mark up they can get away with... Thats not robbery thats good business.

[Alanmelon]

Originally Posted by TraxData

Lol..no, sorry mate, i know more than you think on the matter.

There is making a profit, then there is completely screwing customers over just because they can knowing full well they can get away with it, im quite aware of the costs incurred by the companies themselfs and just how much profit they make.

They screw you over, simple as.

Fair enough you're entitled to your opinion. However, a company that makes little or no profit isn't going to be around for very long and in this case where a valuable medical service is also being provided (at a very affordable price), the only people who would lose out are the customers/patients, especially those who would not be able to afford £50 for an eye test.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by TraxData

Lol..no, sorry mate, i know more than you think on the matter.

There is making a profit, then there is completely screwing customers over just because they can knowing full well they can get away with it, im quite aware of the costs incurred by the companies themselfs and just how much profit they make.

They screw you over, simple as.

How do you know more?

The problem with buying stuff cheap, online (as I have found on a couple of occassions) is that even with the large, reputable suppliers, you can be screwed if there is a problem with the product. At least with a shop, you have somewhere you can go to if something is wrong.

I have to admit, it's one thing having to send a faulty telly back (one of my examples of bad service from a so called reputable supplier online), but at least when that went wrong, all that happened is that I couldn't watch telly. If a set of glasses has the wrong prescription (as can happen in a shop, so I am sure it can happen online), you can damage your eyes..

[slowcoach]

Reported this before as a warning.

A friend of mine sat on his Designer specs and snapped the arm(?) off one side, he went back to his local Specs-Ripoff to see if they could be repaired. “Certainly Sir, it will cost £100�. After explaining that he had bought the specs from them the year previously and that he thought £100 was excessive he was told that they could replace the part for £75 “seeing as you bought the specs from us�.

My friend got into conversation with the assistant who told him the model # and, eventually, the name of their supplier, the supplier was based in the Channel Isles. My friend got the number and phoned the supplier pretending to be a new Spec-Ripoff assistant who wasn't sure of the procedures in place, the supplier told him that they could supply either side or lens holder parts for £1.85 each or the complete frames for £2.35.

The next time you are choosing your “Designer Frames�‚ just remember what they actually cost, maybe then they may not appear as “Exclusive� to you.