Still Here, Still Wearing Glasses

When I started this blog in 2013, it was in response to people looking at me in bewilderment when I told them I buy eyeglasses online. Their responses ranged from terrified to intrigued, and I just wanted to create a simple resource for answering the most common questions. I felt like I could demystify the process for people who found it intimidating. I had spent countless hours researching it (in typical Type-A fashion) and thought it might save time to collect all of the info in one place. I was also frustrated by the lack of high-quality videos and photos that focused on the product and not the presenter.

So I started a blog. And I wrote everything down. And I posted boring but highly detailed videos. And I organized and categorized the info.

And then my career changed and the blog was forgotten. It was a finite topic anyway, and I could only buy so many pairs of glasses, but I'm back again to make some updates and clean up dead links, etc.

As ever, none of the links on this site are affiliate links. I don't make any income whatsoever from this blog. It's just here to help if you're one of the many souls who, like me, has to pay good money to do something as fundamental as SEE. 

Keeping Up Appearances

It has been too long since I updated the blog. We did not buy any new glasses for a while, so I didn't have much to post. But I noticed yesterday that the blog needed some attention, so here are a few things to note.

Coastal Update
Coastal no longer seems to offer the "First Pair Free" promo. I'm sad to see it go, but I always kind of thought it might be short-lived. It was a great way to generate a strong customer base, which was good for them, but less good for those of us who wanted to try a new service/eyeglasses provider with no risk. Oh well.
The prices seem a bit higher than they used to, as well. You can still find deals and coupons online, so if you're thinking of buying from Coastal, make sure you do a search for promo codes or sign up for email discounts.
On the bright side, free shipping, free 365-day returns, and top designer brands still make Coastal a good alternative to local retailers.

Zenni Update
I have a few family members who regularly order from Zenni (a few pairs per year, including this year) and are always pleased. If you are happy with less expensive, non-brand frames and less-than-stellar return options, you may find something you like here.

Warby Parker Update
We did purchase a pair of Warby Parker Sibley glasses for my husband. He loves them so much that he has almost entirely stopped wearing his contact lenses. Although I was less than impressed with their demo frames, his glasses have held up wonderfully. I will be posting a new video review as soon as I can pry his glasses off of his face. 

Goggles4U Update 
Since posting my previous review about this retailer, I have purchased another pair of frames with transitions lenses from this site. The new ones are just as good as the first pair and have held up well to my daughter's rough treatment. We will likely buy another pair in future. 

So that's what's new.  New vids to come soon!

Coastal Just Keeps Getting Better

As if the "first pair free" promo were not great enough, Coastal has started offering a "try before you buy" promo for ALL frames. No joke. I have no affiliation with Coastal at all. I'm just in love with their prices, selection and service. I now have four pairs from them and have returned as many -- which is why I can vouch for their outstanding customer relations department. If you have been waiting to give them a try, now is the time. Have fun finding the frames of your dreams. I certainly have.

 

Cyber Monday Deals!

The glasses retailers are not to be outdone by Amazon! Here is a short list of some of the best deals. 

20% off your ENTIRE ORDER at Glasses.com
Buy one, get one half off at Zenni Optical
Save more the more you spend at Coastal.com

Many of the other retailers are offering their usual sales, but these were the most significant deals I saw for the Cyber Monday rush!

Zenni Optical's New Look and New Features

Zenni Optical has been teasing its Facebook fans and Twitter followers for a few days now, promising a bold new look. Fortunately for all of us glasses geeks out there, the site was unveiled today! While the new site is undoubtedly eyecatching, I'm not ordinarily very excited about a basic revamp. However, Zenni has also added some fabulous attributes that make the updated site extremely appealing. My fave new features are listed below. 

1. Search by size: Previously, Zenni only allowed users to search by selecting a slider from "small" to "large." The new site allows users to select exact frame measurements, making it much easier to find frames that will fit well. Once you've selected an specific size, you will have to remove it from your search before you can select a different size, but it's still much better than it used to be.  

2. Virtual try-on: Zenni has always offered this feature, but it's much easier now to simply scroll down the page and hover over any given frame to view the glasses on your photo. You no longer have to click "try on" to see the frames on your face.   

3. Navigating favorites: Favorites now show up on a bright, scrollable page with clear, well-sized images from which you can easily do all of these things: 

See the frame and price

Hover to view style number, try frames or go to the order page

Select quick view to see full frame information (size, colors, availability, etc.) while staying on your favorites page

Click on the frame itself to see the item on its own page -- with a large, detailed image. 

The best thing about the new favorites page (IMHO) is that you can remove items from your favorites by simply hovering over the frame and selecting that option. The old Zenni site made it next to impossible to pare down your favorites list, so I'm super psyched about this!

4. Larger images: Zenni has a HUGE selection that was tiresome to navigate on the old site, in large part because the images were a bit hard to see. (You're dealing with a visually-impaired audience here, Zenni.) The crisp, new, high-contrast design of the site and large images on the individual frame pages make viewing the frames much easier -- and more compelling. Being able to get a better view of the frames before ordering will help shoppers make wiser decisions about their purchases and avoid buyer's remorse (which can arise given Zenni's more-limited-than-some return policy).

5. All colors in one place: Zenni used to separate its frames entirely. If you found a nice style in black but wanted it in red, you simply had to trawl through the list. Now, if you find a frame you like, you can view all available colors in the same place. Yay! 

I'll keep adding to this list as I find things I like, but my overall impression of the new site is favorable. Although I couldn't find a way to browse all frames (user must select men/women/kids), and a couple of other changes threw my creature-of-habit human brain, it is much better overall than the old site. Well done, Zenni! 

Returning Glasses to Coastal.com (A Positive Review)

It's all well and good for a retailer to claim to offer "free, no-hassle returns," but if you're like me, you don't really believe it until you experience it. I recently had cause to return a pair of glasses to Coastal.com, and while there is room for improvement in the returns process, the experience was straightforward and completely free on my part. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I ordered a pair that were too small for my face. It was totally my fault and serves as a reminder that a few millimeters DO matter in frame size! Anyway, I decided to send them back for a refund. 

I logged onto my account, clicked on my "order history" and then clicked on "return items." I was prompted to fill out a two-item questionnaire about my return and then provided a label to print. The label was for USPS Priority Mail, so you can print the label and then put the glasses in your mailbox. Simple. (Do make sure you take note of your tracking number before you mail your glasses.)

I mailed the glasses on Aug. 21. The tracking indicated that the package was received on Aug. 23. When I had not received a refund or any return confirmation from Coastal by Aug. 27, I called the toll-free number on the website. The CS representative who helped me confirmed that my glasses had been received, after he placed me on hold briefly and checked the status of the order. I was told that it could take up to 10 days to receive the refund. He offered to help me order a new pair, but was not pushy when I declined to do so at that time. We then ended the call, and the next day I received an email stating that my return had been processed. The refund was credited on Aug. 31.

As you can see, this was a painless return. I've certainly experienced much worse when returning online purchases! I would, however, have preferred better communication from Coastal via email and through my account on the website. In fact, my Coastal account still does not reflect the return. But it's hard to complain when I received something with which I was unhappy (due to my own error) and the retailer paid for return shipping and gave me a full refund with no questions asked. I call this a win. 

*It is important to note, if you are returning a pair purchased on the First Pair Free promo, that you will need to contact customer support to order a new pair with the same promo code. I specifically inquired about this. Just pick the new pair you'd like to order and give them a call. They are very helpful.    

 

Finding the Best Deal on Designer Frames

One of the great things about "brand name" frames is that, often, you can try them on before you buy them. Whether you visit local stores to see what's out there or participate in Glasses.com's home try-on process, it's reassuring to know what you're buying before you order. Although going the designer route is almost* always more expensive than buying "house brand" frames from discount retailers such as Zenni, for some the designer specs are a better investment. Even if you pay $100-$200 for them online, it's frequently still a steal compared to traditional prices. So how do you find the designer frames you want online? 

1. Know the brand, the frame name/size, and the frame number (if applicable). Usually this information is printed on the inside of the frame, typically on the temple arm. Once you have this information, you can always just do a Google search if all else fails. 

2. Check the "big three" of the online vendors who carry discounted designer frames: Frames Direct, Glasses.com and Coastal. Although Coastal has a reputation for being the boss of big deals, I have actually found certain frames cheaper on Glasses.com once the lenses were configured and shipping was calculated. So do the due diligence and make sure you are getting the best deal if you find your frames at more than one store. 

3. Beware sketchy websites. Stick with the tried and true instead of trying to save an extra $5. If a site has no real or verifiable reputation online, stay away!

4. Be patient. Frames arrive on sites all the time. If you know you like a specific pair, add them to your favorites cart and then check in on them periodically. Prices fluctuate, and there are often sales and special offers available. Bide your time if you can, and it might save you a mint.      

*The "almost" refers, in this case, to options such as Coastal's First Pair Free promo.

MyOpticalShop.com Review (Rimless!)

For those of you who can't quite get behind the heavier (by comparison) plastic frames and adore the lightweight wonder that is a titanium rimless style, this post is for you. Myopticalshop.com may have a limited selection of styles, but they do rimless very, very well, and all for a pittance. I paid $67 for my glasses, with hi-index 1.61 lenses, A/R coating, and shipping included. For titanium, air-locked, rimless frames, that's unheard of. Luckily for you, now you've heard of it!

Tortoise & Blonde At-Home Try-On Review

I was very impressed by the frames I received from Tortoise & Blonde. All five pair felt great, none of them were stiff or creaky, and none were crooked or misshapen. Having now ordered from three of the start-up $100-ish retailers, I must say that T&B had the best dedicated women's frames. The Laurel and Lola were decidedly feminine, and the Melrose worked well as girly choice, too. The more ambiguous "unisex" frames were also great. Overall, very pleased. Just wish my order had arrived sooner!

  

Coastal.com Purchase Review

Much has already been said by bloggers (and others) about Coastal.com, and I wanted to see if my experience would go well as a "regular" buyer. I bought my glasses through the website like any other customer, and overall I have no complaints. I actually have a few raves. 

The glasses were delivered in five days. Yes, you read that correctly. FIVE.

I ordered them through the "First Pair Free" promo in which you only pay shipping, and they cost me a few cents shy of $15. For designer frames. And optically perfect lenses. 

Pardon me while I do a happy dance. Feel free to watch the video while you wait. 

Needless to say, I was pleased as punch with my Coastal experience. Obviously, the prices are much higher when purchasing frames that are not part of the free promo, but Coastal does seem to have sales and special offers on a regular basis, and the cost is still much lower than what you'd pay for designer frames elsewhere (in most cases). You can always do an online search for coupon codes, as well. 

If I have any small, nit-picky, vaguely negative thing to say about Coastal, it is that they did not send me an email confirmation when I ordered. They waited until my glasses were ready to ship to send me a shipping notification and a receipt. So I wasn't quite sure my order had gone through until I got that. Also, the place to enter your promo code is in the next-to-last step in the order process, after you have entered your address but before you enter payment info. That was kind of annoying.

If you are considering ordering from Coastal, here are a few tips:

1. Create an account and save all of the frames you like as "favorites." The free pair promo frames change, so just because the ones you like are not offered for free now does not mean they won't be in the future.

2. Use the stellar size-finding features on the lefthand menu. If you know you look good in 52-18-135 frames, Coastal lets you search for those by size. I love this feature. 

3. When it says "low stock," it means it. I lost out on a pair of frames because I figured they'd be there later. Coastal is WAY more popular than you realize, so if you know a pair is perfect for you, don't wait. 

4. If you find a pair of frames you like in a physical store but cannot afford them, make a note of the brand, style and size. If they are a major brand, you may seem them on Coastal at some point.