Opticians: Mother - In - Law has just paid over £300 for a new pair of spectacles ...?

Question

... and that was with 30% off.

They are vari-focals etc.

She is well in to her 70's.

Do you think this sounds an awful lot of money to pay?

She had a new pair two years ago, and apparently opticians don't change the lenses in her old pair.

Should I have gone with her?

Answer 1

Yes it's a lot of money, but what price good eyesight?

Answer 2

My husband's latest specs cost £500 and mine, last year were around the £300 mark.  Mine were just for the lenses - I had my own frames - varifocal (I'm long-sighted some probs with reading) and photochromic; this was from a factory optician.  Not a lot of change out of a State Pension of £60 per week!!

Opticians will change lenses since I've had them done in the past, but a lot depends on how worn the original frames are and if it is possible to remove the old lenses and replace with new without damage.

Answer 3

Yes you should have gone with her,Haggle the price down,

Answer 4

It sounds like she has either chosen an expensive pair of designer frames, or she has a very specific and unusual lens requirement. But if either of those is true then £300 is not excessive.

Answer 5

yes and you should have found another pair under 300

Answer 6

Varifocals are the most expensive lenses you can get.  The cheaper version are bi-focals or even 2 seperate pairs of near and long vision.  The frames would also have cost quite a bit.  She could have saved some money by having new lenses put into her old frames.

OAP's can get free frames and lenses but these are the most basic and not particularly nice.

So all in all, for what she has had £300 isn't unreasonable. She obviously decided on the more glam and more expensive - and for this, you have to pay.

Answer 7

She should have gone to ASDA

Answer 8

Should've gone to specsavers!

LOL

Sorry I just couldn't resist

Answer 9

Sounds as though she was gouged.I am guessing vari focals equates to progressive lenses which are usually the most costly. I used to pay near that much for progressives though have bought my last pair online from Zinni Optical at a fraction of the cost.

Answer 10

I didn't think they charged for lenses for anyone under 18 or over 65. However as she had vari-focals that maybe different. I am guessing they choose to show her some nice expensive frames so probably would have helped to have someone there.

If she can afford to spend the money though and loves the glasses then I guess its worth the money.

Answer 11

that sounds like alot to pay even for vari-focals! they should have offered to change the lenses in her old specs, i think you should have gone with her.

there are lots of opticians out there, you can shop around for the best price now.

Answer 12

unfortunately it soesnt seem like an unreasonable price, I picked my glasses up yeaterday, around the £300 pund mark also.

In regards to the lenses........usuall they can cut the lenses to any shape, it may be worth going in to check on their policy.