as promised
Sep. 17th, 2009 08:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hyuriso a few weeks back, finding myself with a slight surplus of money, I decided it was time to get new glasses. after a bit of research, for which EyeGlassRetailerReviews.com and Glassy Eyes were very helpful, and examination of various stores' selections and option pricing, I decided to go with Zenni Optical who advertise $8 glasses.
I selected their $12.95 frame #2102, a bendable memory titanium alloy frame (though the site is unclear as to whether the full frame is Ti alloy or only the temples, the latter is the actual case), to which I added anti-reflective coating for $4.95. as you can see my prescription is rather strong, adding another $9. shipping was $4.95, bringing my total to $31.85. at this point I was distracted by the need to find my jaw which had somehow made its way to the floor.
I'd grown accustomed to pricing eyeglasses at, well, somewhere in excess of ten times that amount. twenty was not outside the realm of possibility. this coupled with a lack of insurance was the reason that my newest pair was by this point over a decade old.
back to the subject, I immediately placed the order - or so I'd hoped. I was directed to an error page informing that my credit card had been declined. rather strange, given that it was a check card rather than a proper credit card, and moreover it was for an account with over $200 in it at that point. nevertheless, having seen similar results from connection hiccups in the past, I went back to resubmit the order, being required to reenter everything as the cart was emptied. again the error.
not wanting to admit defeat on such a savings (and, admittedly, driven by a lust for new glasses), I switched tacks and attempted to order using Firefox. this went without a hitch, leaving me rather confused but happily so.
almost immediately I received the following email:
12 days later I received another email:
they were packaged in Zenni's normal manner (I received a white case) which appears to be more than adequate as there was no damage to be found, barring a bit of dirt on the envelope. (I took pictures but my phone's white balance is far too dark.) the eyeglasses are even lighter than I was expecting at 17.3g - my old pair are 28.7g! - so the only way I can even tell that I'm wearing them is from the pressure on my nose and temples, and the fact that I can see. they also appear, silently and without extra charge, to have been upgraded from the advertised 1.57 index material.
the temples seemed incredibly delicate at first look, but some cautious experimentation showed that they should withstand any abuse I'm likely to throw at them. I'm less sanguine about the strength of the alloy parts of the frame though they appear of similar construction to my old frames which, again, held up for over ten years.
I had my doubts that the frames would look good on me, accustomed as I am to wearing somewhat taller lenses, and prior to that aviator styles. my fears were completely ungrounded as I've received nothing but compliments and, more importantly, I like the way they look.
all in all, I think this is one of the best $32 I've ever spent. I'm already planning another purchase, this time of tinted aviators for driving.
oh, and unlike many reviewers, my A/R coating is colorless.
addendum: my eye exam was conducted at Sears for somewhat over $100. I've since learned that Costco and Walmart charge around half that, the former being generally cheaper than the latter; membership is not required.
I selected their $12.95 frame #2102, a bendable memory titanium alloy frame (though the site is unclear as to whether the full frame is Ti alloy or only the temples, the latter is the actual case), to which I added anti-reflective coating for $4.95. as you can see my prescription is rather strong, adding another $9. shipping was $4.95, bringing my total to $31.85. at this point I was distracted by the need to find my jaw which had somehow made its way to the floor.
I'd grown accustomed to pricing eyeglasses at, well, somewhere in excess of ten times that amount. twenty was not outside the realm of possibility. this coupled with a lack of insurance was the reason that my newest pair was by this point over a decade old.
back to the subject, I immediately placed the order - or so I'd hoped. I was directed to an error page informing that my credit card had been declined. rather strange, given that it was a check card rather than a proper credit card, and moreover it was for an account with over $200 in it at that point. nevertheless, having seen similar results from connection hiccups in the past, I went back to resubmit the order, being required to reenter everything as the cart was emptied. again the error.
not wanting to admit defeat on such a savings (and, admittedly, driven by a lust for new glasses), I switched tacks and attempted to order using Firefox. this went without a hitch, leaving me rather confused but happily so.
almost immediately I received the following email:
which pleased me even more. then a few hours later, I received another email which answered somewhat my confusion and made me even happier:Thank you for shopping at Zenni Optical. If you have any questions about your order please call us at 800-211-2105 Most orders will be delivered within about two weeks , orders which require some extra,special or custom lab work like progressives, bi-focals, custom suntint, or extra strength prescriptions can take three to six days extra. Although your glass may take a few weeks to arrive, they are made within 48 hours after you place your order. If there are any changes you need, please let us know immediately.
Dear <REDACTED>,
Your order has been processed successfully.
Order id: #<REDACTED> Order date: 09-02-2009 06:54:50 PM
Products ordered
SKU Product Item price Quantity: Total 2102 2102 Bendable (Memory) Titanium Full Rim Frame
Options/Prescription:
Frame Colors: 11 Silver AR Anti-Reflection Coating: Anti Reflection Coating Lens Tint Choices: No Tint Clip On Polarized 80% Sunshade: 0 OD-SPH: -10.50 X OD-CYL: -1.00 OD-AXIS: 29 OD-ADD: 0 OS-SPH: -9.25 X OS-CYL: -1.00 OS-AXIS: 161 OS-ADD: 0 PD-Pupillary Distance: 62 Prescription & Lens Type: 1.57 Mid Index Single Vision , No Charge Prescription Strength: X = Extra Strength - $26.90 1 $26.90
Subtotal: $26.90 Shipping cost: $4.95 Total: $31.85
Thank You For Shopping at Zenni Optical.Zenni Optical
Phone: 1-800-211-2105
Fax: 1-415-883-7020
URL: www.zennioptical.com
09/02/09
Re: Order # <REDACTED> & # <REDACTED>
Dear <REDACTED>,
Your orders were not finished, but charged.
Since these orders are exactly the same as your another order # <REDACTED> which is approved, we have cancelled the orders # <REDACTED> and # <REDACTED>, and refunded $31.85 to your credit card respectively, the transaction numbers are # <REDACTED> and # <REDACTED>. We will process the order # <REDACTED> for you.
Thank you for selecting Zenni Optical for your vision needs.
ZOCS: EY
12 days later I received another email:
A package was shipped to you from Zenni Optical on 09/14/2009 via U.S. Postal Service First-Class to the following address:containing a tracking number. the package was scanned into the mailstream the following day in Petaluma, and arrived at my home today, two days later, while I was out.
<REDACTED>
The package's Delivery Confirmation ID is <REDACTED>
To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit:
https://www.endicia.com/Status/?PIC=<REDACTED>
or the U.S. Postal Service's web-site:
http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm
Thank You for your order
Zenni Optical
Zenni Optical
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL! IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ZENNI OPTICAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT service@zennioptical.com OR PHONE MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM TO 5PM PACIFIC 800-211-2105. THANK YOU!
***********************************************************************
NOTE:
This e-mail was generated by Endicia Internet Postage (www.Endicia.com)
at the sender's request. DO NOT CONTACT Endicia if you have any
questions about the shipment or the package delivery. Please contact
the sender of this e-mail or the U.S. Postal Service if you have
questions about the package delivery.
they were packaged in Zenni's normal manner (I received a white case) which appears to be more than adequate as there was no damage to be found, barring a bit of dirt on the envelope. (I took pictures but my phone's white balance is far too dark.) the eyeglasses are even lighter than I was expecting at 17.3g - my old pair are 28.7g! - so the only way I can even tell that I'm wearing them is from the pressure on my nose and temples, and the fact that I can see. they also appear, silently and without extra charge, to have been upgraded from the advertised 1.57 index material.
the temples seemed incredibly delicate at first look, but some cautious experimentation showed that they should withstand any abuse I'm likely to throw at them. I'm less sanguine about the strength of the alloy parts of the frame though they appear of similar construction to my old frames which, again, held up for over ten years.
I had my doubts that the frames would look good on me, accustomed as I am to wearing somewhat taller lenses, and prior to that aviator styles. my fears were completely ungrounded as I've received nothing but compliments and, more importantly, I like the way they look.
all in all, I think this is one of the best $32 I've ever spent. I'm already planning another purchase, this time of tinted aviators for driving.
oh, and unlike many reviewers, my A/R coating is colorless.
addendum: my eye exam was conducted at Sears for somewhat over $100. I've since learned that Costco and Walmart charge around half that, the former being generally cheaper than the latter; membership is not required.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-18 04:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-18 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-18 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-18 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-18 05:10 am (UTC)Note: Plan B is apparently OTC. I ended up getting my membership because of this. :-/