Posted on 04/25/2007 8:53:00 AM PDT by Reagan Fellow
In his blog Ideas, Santa Clara University economist David Friedman (yes, he's Milton's son) wrote about the cost of eyeglasses. He was curious why a new frame and set of lenses costs less than $10 online, but five times that amount or more at most stores.
Part of the answer lies in statutes like Arizona's §32-1684.01, which states that anyone wanting to open an eyeglass store must "provide evidence to the board's satisfaction that at least one licensed dispensing optician works at the optical establishment on a full-time basis."
That means the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians, the licensing board for opticians, controls entry into the eyeglass shop business. By imposing educational and financial requirements, it can limit the local supply of opticians and eyeglass stores.
How much might this Board cost Arizona consumers? Making allowance for inferior customer service and the lower overhead costs of doing business online, Professor Friedman estimates the regulations make eyeglasses at least twice as expensive as they would be otherwise. In 2002, Arizona residents spent $174 million on eyeglasses and contact lenses.
In other words, regulations like these may cost consumers somewhere in the neighborhood of $87 million a year. Maybe it's time to take a closer "look" at these regulations.
And this was at Wal-Mart!!!!
Eyeglass coverage is worthless. It's cheaper to buy the glasses outright. It is such a $^#@&ing racket, but I can't get her to believe it. My next glasses will be purchased online for less than $100.
Why go to Wal-Mart for glasses? They just rent out an office in their store. I don’t know where you live, but the business is so competitive where I am that you can get a nice pair of designer frames with your prescription lenses for less than $200. Watch the ads.
“She bought a new pair of glasses last week that cost her $350 out of pocket, and supposedly her eyeglass coverage was paying another $300!!!!”
I got an even bigger ‘bargain’ than she did. I spent about the same amount out of pocket but they told me that without the vision plan it would have cost me an extra $500 more.
We also pay for optional eye coverage through my husband’s work. The policy is excellent. Mine cost nothing out of pocket and the last pair he got cost my husband $16 out of pocket. Everything else, including exam was covered, and we can get a new pair every year.
With what you are saying about your wife’s coverage, I am inclined to agree with you that she would be better off dropping the coverage.
I recently found I could buy the same glasses at the Dollar store for a buck...
For a pair of lenses that cost maybe, total, $10-$20 to make, and frames that cost all of $2 in China.
Heck of a deal.
We are such suckers.
Laws and regulations, such as the one in Arizona (for which every state has a version) are not there to "protect" consumers, but to guaranteee employment for opticians/optometrists.
I am amazed that Prada (who cares right?) plastic frames can cost $700... ??
Me too..walmart is outrageous.
And those Prada frames make you look like a giant fly! With rhinestones. I am vain enough to want nice designer frames and near-sighted enough to need decently ground lenses. But careful shopping results in both requirements being met without spending $700.
Well, if this is true, does anyone know some good sites to check out?
I am extremely nearsighted. I am also a serious bargain-hunter.
However, I would not dream of buying lenses from any establishment that did not have “at least one licensed dispensing optician.”
Is the $10 price a typo meant to read $100?
Having just spent nearly a thousand dollars for three pairs of glasses, I would like to know the answer to your question, too.
Google is your friend. Type in “eyeglasses” and you get an advertiser claiming $8.95 for complete prescription.
http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php
I have my ophthalmologist write me a prescription which I take to the place that has glasses on sale for two for $99. No muss no fuss have a spare pair and do not have to put up with a optometrist’s screenings. I already know I have Glaucoma so must go to the ophthalmologist to get my drops, is no sweat for them to do a refraction too and I pay the same copay regardless.
My son laser correction cost about 3000 dollars and glasses cost about 1000( 2 each per year) before laser (Now 20-20) and I pick up my frame at thrift stores at 1.00 each and I get lucky and pick up my computer glasses at the SAS I see adds for laser for 1000 per eye
Why Google when I can just ask the person who typed it? Anyway, I went to the site he referred to and bought myself a pair of bifocals for $43.00 delivered.
I had lazik surgery done for near sightedness. I LOVE it. However, since I am 56 now (had it done three years ago) I need reading glasses which I get at Wally World or at www.debspecs.com I can actually read some print but not the really small stuff. My vision right now is 20-40 per the opthalmalogist a couple of months ago. My surgery cost $1300 - $500 for one eye and $800 for the other.
I took the cost of eyecare over 10 years and had LASIK done.
Free at last, free at last (except now I need reading glasses, but I get them by the dozen at the Dollar Store)
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