There are six people in my office that always order their glasses online from zennioptical.com and they have nothing but good things to say about their glasses. They rave about the customer service and all own several pairs of glasses. I'm going to have an eye exam in the next couple of weeks and then order from here. I have heard that some of the optometrist can be a bit cranky, as they want to sell you the glasses. One gal in my office had her exam at Walmart and had to make 3 trips back in order to get her prescription written correctly. But, with all the money she saved on 4 pairs of glasses and paying only $40 for her exam, she still thinks it was worth it!

You should know, though, that you do get what you pay for with glasses. A lot of those cheap, online eye glass places use lenses manufactured in the 3rd world that are so bad, NO reputable optician will ever sell them to their clients. The frames are extremely cheaply made, as well.

It's also really offensive to buy glasses elseware to save money, and then take them to an optician to have them fit to your face. You're really stealing out of their pockets when you do that--even though most will smile and fit your glasses for you (while gritting their teeth behind that smile, because they are just trying to pay their bills and feed their families, like the rest of us).

And keep in mind, an optician isn't just a salesman--they're medical professionals. You need to have your glasses properly measured and the lenses properly positioned to get the best correction and most comfort from them--you cannot get the best fit ordering online, doing the measuring yourself in the mirror as they direct you to.

Let me make a better suggestion for saving on your eye glasses. Find the school in your area where opticians train and go to the dispensary there. The professors oversee everything, and you get the best quality product, made in the best way, for very little. I've been using the college for my eyeglasses needs for years. Just ordered a pair. I got Varilux progressive lenses (the most expensive brand), crizal's most expensive non-glare coating (it's so expensive, most optical shops don't even sell the product I got, because they have to charge over $100 JUST FOR THE COATING), designer frames with magnetic sunglasses. Total price at the college--because they sell at cost--was $154.00 That's less than you pay for just those lenses at any optical store. My insurance picked up $126 of that--so my designer glasses with high quality brand-name lenses, and very pricey non-glare coating cost me a grand total of $28. And understand, that's for a pair of glasses that would have retailed for between $800-1000 in any reputable optical shop--NOT a cheap pair of no-name frames and questionable lenses. You cannot get that quality, for that price online.

You're talking about your eyes here--and a product you're probably going to use every day for the next couple of years. It's NOT a place to skimp. There are ways to save, and still get good quality glasses, but buying low quality products, possibly made in less than proficient labs isn't the way to go.

I refuse to compromise my ocular health to the lowest bidder...

But for people with no insurance this is the way to go. I know so many people now that have gotten glasses from Zinni and love them and with no problems. The frames are such a ripoff and people are getting tired of being gouged at every purchases they make. I have insurance, but for someone who doesn't this is great...beats walking around squinting and bumping into things. I will use this to get my glasses because my insurance only pays for mny contacts. I realize they need to pay their bills and feed a family...so do I, so I look for ways to save $$ when and where I can. My son has no insurance but needs glasses badly. He is going to use them too.

But gwanny--it could cost your son much much more in the long-run. My dd (an optician) is currently treating a man who has damage to his eyes caused by cheap glasses. He's going to have to have about 2 years of therapy--which was designed by the ophthalmologist DD works for, which she is performing for the man (he has to make monthly visits to her)--just to get his eyes back to where they were BEFORE he bought a pair of cheap glasses. Is it worth it? And buying super cheap glasses, you are taking a big risk, because of the cheap materials, cheap manufacturing methods and very cheap lab help (often not even qualified to do the work)

Why not suggest that your son at least look into getting his glasses at the local college. Ours charges only cost. My husband--who has a simple prescription--generally only pays about $50 (sometimes less, depending upon the frames he chooses) for his at the college. Can it hurt for your son to at least PRICE glasses in a place where he should be able to get good quality at cost? with the work being done by the top-of-the-line opticians who are teaching our next generation of opticians their trade?

We depend so heavily on our eyes--it's just not worth taking chances on them, is it?

DH knew an optican. Many years ago he told DH the mark up on them and it was unreal! The frames barely cost them anything!
If there was a way to figure it out I'd try it! I cannot afford to spend $400-$700 on glasses! I just can't.

wow...I'm greatful for our insurance..15 co pay for the exam and another $15 copay for the glasses...frames and lenses included!
For $30 my husband had his eyes checked and a week later reading glasses..that look very "good" on him..LOL