Searching for “glasses near me” shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt, but too often, it does. Between finding the right prescription, the perfect fit, and a price that doesn’t break the bank, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
You’ve got a couple of things to consider, especially when you want a pair of glasses that’s perfect for your prescription and your style. Luckily, I’ve got a few smart strategies that can help you track down the best deals on glasses you’ll love!
In-Person Shopping: Glasses That Are Literally Near You
Call it old school, but for me, nothing is as fun as going out with your friends on a shopping spree. When you’re on the lookout for eyeglasses, having your entourage around for style opinions makes for a memorable experience.
Sure, there are disadvantages—achy feet, for instance. But the pluses add up, and in-person shopping is a good way to find the best deals near you.
Pros
The big plus of buying in person is that if you see glasses you like, you can immediately try them on. You’ll know how they look on you and how it feels to wear them.
If that nice-looking pair of eyeglasses you’ve been eyeing doesn’t suit your face shape or feels clunky, just put it back on the rack and look for another one. And you do all this with the help of the shop’s attendant and whoever you bring along on your spree. The experience can be very personal and enjoyable.
Cons
In-person stores typically have higher overhead and labor costs. While online stores also employ limited personnel, such as lab technicians and maintenance and warehouse staff, they don’t need to pay for a nice-looking storefront. Stocks are kept in warehouses.
In-person stores, on the other hand, have customer attendants, in-store opticians, lab technicians, and maintenance personnel. Plus, there’s the additional cost of maintaining a storefront that’s nice enough to attract customers.
Unlike shopping online, you can only buy from a small selection. You will need to make the most of what each shop has to offer.
Where to Go
There are several well-known eyewear retailers with multiple branches all over the US.
LensCrafters, for instance, has almost 1,000 stores all over the country. Ninety-six of these are within Macy’s department stores—that’s a shopping convenience that perhaps you didn’t know you needed!
You can visit their online shop to look up branches near you. They can also process online orders if you don’t have any shops close by. LensCrafters has several ongoing promotions you can take advantage of.
Another glasses retailer that may be near you is Pearle Vision. This is an EssilorLuxottica company with more than 500 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. They dub themselves as “your neighborhood EyeCare Center.” They have a website where you can book eye exams at your nearest branch.
Eyeglass World is another familiar name in eyewear retail, and they have more than 100 branches in the U.S. You can book your eye exam through their website. Additionally, you can check for available promotions online.
Also, consider buying from your local non-chain eyewear stores. This will help these businesses stay afloat, especially since they’re competing against big multi-chain companies.
Find these stores by doing quick Google searches. For instance, a search for Glasses Near Me in Chicago leads you to the Chicago-based SoLo Eye Care & Eyewear Gallery, which has great reviews for its service and eyewear selection.
Online Shopping: Shop the World
Shopping online offers a world of benefits. Plus, you can do it anywhere, even while wearing your pajamas!
Pros
On top of the list is, of course, convenience. You could be in bed on a lazy Sunday afternoon and find the perfect new pair of eyeglasses.
You can choose from literally thousands of online eyewear stores, including EZContacts. Several eyewear brand sites also offer online shopping, and let’s not forget to mention the world’s most well-known online retail giant: Amazon.
Additionally, when inventory is sold strictly online, shops can often afford to sell their goods at more competitive rates. They have the benefit of reduced overhead, unlike brick-and-mortar businesses, which have one or more storefronts to maintain, sometimes in addition to a warehouse.
Cons
You’ll need to have your prescription ready, including your pupil distance. If your prescription is over a year or two old, it might not be accurate, and there’s a good chance many online retailers won’t honor it. At the very least, you’ll need to take an online vision test or visit a local optometrist.
Even if you have a current prescription, you can’t physically try out the eyeglasses that you find online. You can take advantage of virtual try-on options, digitally overlaying glasses onto a selfie or live image, but that won’t give you the feel of the glasses or how comfortably they fit you.
Where to Go
EZContacts is first on my list. You can find high-quality, authentic eyewear at a cheaper price. Plus, the company has a Deals page that’s constantly updated with items available at further discounts.
FramesDirect is another popular online-only eyewear store with regular sale items on offer. Their Sale page is full of designer eyewear available at discounted prices.
Become an Expert Deal Hunter
Now, let’s get to the exciting part: finding the best deals and buying your glasses!
The Art of the Online Deal
The best deals online are just a click away. Here are a few ways to start looking:
- Price Comparison Search: Search engines have made it easier to compare the prices of glasses across several online stores. Just go to Google Shopping, and type in the eyewear brand/model that you have your eyes on.
- Email Newsletters: Go to your favorite online eyewear stores. Shops like EZContacts regularly send out email newsletters to their subscribers. This typically includes news, promotions, and sales alerts.
- Coupon Codes and Discounts: Sign up with sites like RetailMeNot and Groupon to browse their listings of coupons and discount codes.
- Exclusive Discounts: A few online stores offer special discounts for students, the military, and seniors. Check out their websites or ask customer support.
In-Person Savings
You might need to do a little legwork (sometimes literally) to find the best deals in person:
- Local Promotions: Retail and outlet stores, as well as specialty boutiques, typically announce promotions through their websites, newsletters, or posters and banners at or near their locations. Be on the lookout!
- Package Deals: Most brick-and-mortar eyewear stores offer packaged deals, where you pay one discounted price for an eye exam, frames from a limited selection, and standard prescription lenses. Some stores will even include a starter cleaning set.
- Mix-and-Match Strategy: This will require some effort. You’ll need to buy frames from one store and have your lenses fitted at another. It’s also possible to switch it up, purchasing your lenses first, then having the frame store set them in your chosen style.
Time Your Shopping
When you shop also factors into the deals you can get. Retailers love celebrating holidays with on-site and online sale events. For example, you can find sites that offer Thanksgiving deals.
Over at EZContacts, you can find Back to School deals.
Stay on top of these deals by signing up for these sites’ newsletters!
Beyond the Price Tag
Before you go off on your deal-hunting expedition, remember a few aspects to consider beyond price tags:
- Quality and Authenticity: These are considerations for both online and in-person shopping. You need to make sure that you’re buying high-quality, authentic eyewear. Maybe handling the actual glasses will help here, but not always. There are a lot of good fakes in the market!
The best way to ensure you’re getting the quality and authenticity you pay for is to buy only from authorized retailers (online and physical stores). Ask about their warranties/guarantees. It also pays to check out the reviews and actual buyer experiences.
- Warranty and Return Policy: Check the retailer’s warranty and return policy to ensure you’re protected against defects or damage. Laws regarding returns and refunds vary by state; different retail outlets might even have their own. So, ask about it first. Find out if there’s a return/refund period.
- Customer Service: Will you get help if you have problems with your purchase? Both physical and online stores should provide you with professional post-sale support. Check out the reviews to see what verified purchasers say.
- Insurance Coverage: Check your vision insurance to see what kind of coverage you get. Sometimes, you may be limited to service providers associated with the insurance company’s network. If you have out-of-network support, you’re freer when it comes to buying your prescription glasses from anywhere, whether online or in person.
TL;DR
Ready to shop for glasses near you? Remember:
- First, weigh the pros and cons of online versus in-person shopping.
- With online shopping, you shop the world. There’s a much larger selection and price range.
- With in-person shopping, you can try out the glasses and have an attendant to help you out.
- To get the best deals:
- Online: Do a price comparison search, sign up for the shop’s newsletter, check out discount sites for coupons, and watch out for exclusive site promos.
- In Person: Visit the store during sales, ask about packaged deals, or save by buying frames from one store and lenses from a different store or lab.
- Consider other factors in your purchase, such as the trust factor, customer support, insurance coverage, warranties, and return policies.
Bottom Line: Finding the perfect glasses means balancing selection, cost, quality, and location.
