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Medical Forum / General / Vision / May 2005Something good for a change
I went back to Dr. Linden's shop (long-term discount Pasadena practice), figuring that I'd get the exam and the glasses and the contacts all at one place. Knowing my history, I asked for their best contact fitter. The guy spent over an hour with me, talking about my visual problems, rechecking the readings, etc. The resulting glasses (CR-39 in the cheapest frames, of course) have given me one more Snellen line (R20/20, L20/30) in both eyes. Contacts are here, I'll go in Monday to see how well they work. Dr. Linden died in 1997. His obit, which I saved, contained a coupon for 10% off. The office chicklets had never seen it before and thought it was pretty cool. And so it goes...  SignatureCh rs, B v ======================================= My f ck ng k yb rd h s l st ts v w ls. Well, Bev, you lost me after the word "discount," despite the fact that it ranks right up there with "mom, " "apple pie," " Walmart" and "Costco." I guess it's no accident that there are so many confused contact lens patients wandering around here. DrG > Well, Bev, you lost me after the word "discount," despite the fact that > it ranks right up there with "mom, " "apple pie," " Walmart" and > "Costco." I guess it's no accident that there are so many confused > contact lens patients wandering around here. The first two times I tried contacts I went top drawer, with fairly foul results. This time I am going to a full-service optometrist, one I've gone to since 1978 and my husband has gone to since 1955. I've always been happy with the glasses these people have made, as has my husband. Are you saying that you only get stuff done right if you pay high prices? I have 50 years of shopping experience that says that paying for top quality doesn't mean you'll get it. Want to talk about the markup on frames? SignatureCheers, Bev ============================================================== Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't. I am by no means suggesting that you only get stuff right if you pay higher prices. Are you suggesting that there is a total disconnect between price and quality? Want to talk about the markup on frames at Walmart or Costco? Be glad to. DrG > I am by no means suggesting that you only get stuff right if you pay > higher prices. Are you suggesting that there is a total disconnect > between price and quality? No, I am stating that low-priced stuff is frequently as good as or better than high-priced stuff and that high-priced stuff is frequently priced a lot higher than the quality would warrent. Figure out what you need and what it costs. Learn to haggle. But never assume that high price means high quality. Case in point: local jeweler says that you should have your "fine timepiece" serviced once a year for $200-$400 a pop. What does that say about the "quality" of that Rolex or Omega you just bought instead of a car? I had an Omega Seamaster. Beautiful waterproof gold watch. Every couple of years it would stop running and need cleaning. I bought my Casio for $30 in 1997. Still running, hasn't even needed a battery change. There's a lesson in here somewhere. I always buy the cheapest frames. The only time they have broken is from near-deliberate assault (a skiing accident known as a face plant) and I fixed them with super glue. If the lenses were made incorrectly (once), the guy replaced them. > Want to talk about the markup on frames at Walmart or Costco? Be glad > to. It's probably less, but still big. I can get the same lenses (basic CR-39) for $59 including cheap frames or $hundreds if I select "designer" frames, which look pretty much like the cheap frames except more fashionable. Zenni sells titanium frame+lenses for $30, presumably making a profit on the deal. So what am I buying for the extra money? SignatureCheers, Bev +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Save the whales for dessert Let me put it this way. Having been in the "biz" for over 20 years, and having done repairs on thousands of frames, I know the difference. The better quality stuff breaks less often and doesn't tarnish. It also looks better...a non-trivial point for some. I agree with you that a designer name does not automatically confer quality. It depends on the manufacturer. Cheap polycarbonate lenses have a great profit margin. However, if you don't want to feel like you are walking downhill all the time, a high index plastic will be the better option, and it will cost more. Although you don't seem like the type who would "splurge" for an anti-reflective coating, there are meaningful differences. The "cheaper" coatings will flake off within a year, while the more expensive coatings have a two year warranty, and will probably look almost as good at two years as they did the first day. In more than 20 years I have found a relationship between better quality and a higher price tag. Price is relative. As a matter of pride, I have never sold "junk," and will never sell "junk." There is already an abundance of junk out there. DrG > Let me put it this way. Having been in the "biz" for over 20 years, > and having done repairs on thousands of frames, I know the difference. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > don't want to feel like you are walking downhill all the time, a high > index plastic will be the better option, and it will cost more. Is this true for both near- and far-sighted people? > Although you don't seem like the type who would "splurge" for an > anti-reflective coating, Bingo! I might like such a coating on the rear surface, but I know I'd scratch it all to hell before I even got home. I feel pretty good that I got two pair of glasses home from the optometrist last Friday without a single scratch. I should have bought a lottery ticket. CR-39 is fine as long as I select small frames. > there are meaningful differences. The > "cheaper" coatings will flake off within a year, while the more > expensive coatings have a two year warranty, and will probably look > almost as good at two years as they did the first day. I'd like scratchproof and unbreakable, but I'm pretty sure I can't have that :-( The rest doesn't seem worth the price. > In more than 20 years I have found a relationship between better > quality and a higher price tag. Price is relative. As a matter of > pride, I have never sold "junk," and will never sell "junk." There is > already an abundance of junk out there. Indeed, and much of it priced beyond the reach of large numbers of potential buyers. SignatureCheers, Bev ==================================== Start worrying -- details to follow. > Indeed, and much of it priced beyond the reach of large numbers of potential > buyers. Indeed. Junk comes in all price ranges. One's trash is another's treasure, or something like that. Anyway, some of the world's largest discount stores have built an empire that way. DrG |
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