lenscrafters - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

DuffMan · 03-10-2007, 12:23 PM

any opinions on this place.
I've been putting off getting glasses, and they have a 50% frames sale on now, so I am thinking of buying there.

octothorp · 03-10-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuffMan

any opinions on this place.
I've been putting off getting glasses, and they have a 50% frames sale on now, so I am thinking of buying there.

I've always been wary about Lenscrafters, but I ended up going there about a month ago because they were the only place in the city I could find that did prescription sport goggles. And while their selection wasn't great, I was impressed with the service and the quality of the end result. Based on my experience, I'd say if you can find a pair of frames there that you like, it would probably be worth it. The difficulty would be finding a good pair, because from what I saw, their selection of regular glasses wasn't as nice as other eyewear stores.

CaramonLS · 03-10-2007, 12:32 PM

Absolutely nothing wrong with Lenscrafters. I've always gone there for my glasses. Good service and always done fast.

But I do agree - frame selection can seem a bit limiting, but then again, where isn't it.

DuffMan · 03-10-2007, 12:36 PM

I just looked on their site and they have way more frames to choose from than I needed to look at. I was just going to get those metal frames that have been popular for as long as I can remember, and IMO there are more than enough.
It's my first ones so maybe I'm just not that picky.
I didn;t realize all of these frames were designed by European fashion houses.

Reggie Dunlop · 03-10-2007, 12:47 PM

Seriously, consider buy your frames on eBay. For $15-$40, you can get a quality pair (designer name or whatnot). All you need to know is your frame size and that's easy enough: Look on the inside arm of your current pair.

The first number is the lens width, the second the nose bridge size, and the third the arm length.

If you've got a pretty good idea of what style you want, there'll be something there.

I bought three pairs (one pair sunglasses) and had a local optician fill the prescription. Saved a bundle (like 75%) on what's essentially a bit of plastic and metal.

FireFly · 03-10-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I just looked on their site and they have way more frames to choose from than I needed to look at. I was just going to get those metal frames that have been popular for as long as I can remember, and IMO there are more than enough.
It's my first ones so maybe I'm just not that picky.
I didn;t realize all of these frames were designed by European fashion houses.

I can't believe you just said that. I'm not a super big fashonista, but glasses are something you wear ON YOUR FACE almost EVERY DAY! You should care what they look like! It's not like a t-shirt you can change if you don't like it!

All that said after trying on hundreds of pairs of glasses, I ended up getting my last pair at lenscrafters. They're fine.

Reggie Dunlop · 03-10-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

I'm not a super big fashonista, but glasses are something you wear ON YOUR FACE almost EVERY DAY! You should care what they look like! It's not like a t-shirt you can change if you don't like it!

If you read up a bit on what shape frame looks best on your shape of face, have a good idea of what style you want, and a good idea of color and material, why not shop based on price?

I wanted black plastic and silver metal (not a lot of variations from manufacturer to manufacturer there). I could understand your point if you were to go with color or tortoiseshell frames for instance, but in my case, I'm more than happy with my selections.

Even if I was not happy with the frames I selected, I could list them back on eBay and sell 'em myself at minimal cost. Pretty inexpensive way to go about it.

Eyeglass frames (even from discount places like Lenscrafters) have huge markups. It's a racket.

FireFly · 03-10-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

If you read up a bit on what shape frame looks best on your shape of face, have a good idea of what style you want, and a good idea of color and material, why not shop based on price?

I wanted black plastic and silver metal (not a lot of variations from manufacturer to manufacturer there). I could understand your point if you were to go with color or tortoiseshell frames for instance, but in my case, I'm more than happy with my selections.

Even if I was not happy with the frames I selected, I could list them back on eBay and sell 'em myself at minimal cost. Pretty inexpensive way to go about it.

Eyeglass frames (even from discount places like Lenscrafters) have huge markups. It's a racket.

I didn't say to shop based on what it looks like alone, I just advised to care about what they'll look like on your face. Absolutely, buy online if that's what you want to do to save money, but for a first time buyer, as duffman says he is, he should at least try a few on to see what they look like first. Once you've figured out if what you like will actually look good on you, THEN go buy online.

OilersBaby · 03-10-2007, 01:50 PM

i dont know about there, but here, lenscrafters is really good..high quality stuff. however, its $$. i ended up getting my glasses (before i had laser eye surgery) at costco! It was wayyyy cheaper and still good quality

At less than a third of the price at lenscrafters, it was definately worth it.

ah123 · 03-10-2007, 01:55 PM

LensCrafters is very expensive compared to a number of (smaller) places...the last pair I bought was from Costco, they don't have as many frames to choose from, but I found something that worked for a lot less money than the price LensCrafters quoted...

photon · 03-10-2007, 01:57 PM

I went to Lenscrafters and had pretty good service, though the prices were a bit high. But when my frames broke they woudln't help me as it was 8 days after the warranty

And they couldn't get in the parts to fix them either.

Went to Costco on the recommendation of a few friends, and had great service and really good quality glasses, and a LOT cheaper for the same lenses.

Reggie Dunlop · 03-10-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

I didn't say to shop based on what it looks like alone, I just advised to care about what they'll look like on your face. Absolutely, buy online if that's what you want to do to save money, but for a first time buyer, as duffman says he is, he should at least try a few on to see what they look like first. Once you've figured out if what you like will actually look good on you, THEN go buy online.

There's a few sites where you can upload a photo of yourself and "try on" various frames. Once you've narrowed down the style, you can get the same frames (or something very similar) elsewhere.

Many of the eBay retailers are optician shops themselves by the way, and offer warrantees. They use it to clear out stock (with blow out prices). As always, avoid Far East eBay sellers for obvious reasons (counterfeiters being one).

No reason at all to pay $300 (or even $150) when you can pay a fraction of that. Even though my company has eyecare as part of the employee plan, the amount allotted for eyeglasses hasn't gone up at all in fifteen years. This way, I can have a spare set for less than the price of one pair the other way.

DuffMan · 03-10-2007, 07:16 PM

Well, went to lenscrafters and bought 4 pairs of glasses. 2 for me and 2 for the wife. 1 pair of prescription sunglasses & 1 pair prescription glasses each. We both need progressive, so we're a bit limited in where we get them from, I guess, I'm a bit new at this stuff. Fashion/looks wise I was OK with the wife being there, and all the helpful staff, with what I chose.
So 4 pairs cost $1400. Yowza. That was after a bunch of discounts, like 30% for AMA membership, and a coupon for 50% off lenses. It was around $2100, without discounts.

Man, I better get out of the habit of losing these as easy as I lose my regular sunglasses.

The wife was quite impressed with everything, the help there, price, selection, return policy(30 days) etc. etc. and she has been wearing glasses for over 20 years.

Shazam · 03-10-2007, 08:33 PM

If you're looking on the interweb, might as well go here:

http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

I've heard a lot of good things about this place.

The best (non-progressive) lenses in town are provided by Hale Optical and their Nikon series. The thinnest lenses, the best coatings. They're hella expensive though. My last pair of glasses cost $800.