Gents, let’s be honest. Finding men’s designer eyeglasses within your budget feels impossible. Where are you supposed to start looking? Is the perfect pair even out there? Can you afford them?
Don’t worry, I got you! These are tried-and-tested bargain-hunting tips to help you find the eyewear that you want.
Before the Bargain Hunt
The great thing about shopping online is that everything is within reach. You have so many eyewear brands, styles, and stores to choose from. The bad thing about shopping online is that you have so many eyewear brands, styles, and stores to choose from! Where do you start, and how do you find the best deals?
First of all, before we go bargain hunting on the web, make sure to have your prescription ready. You will need this when you order your eyeglasses online.
Next, it’s a good idea to already have an idea of the brand or model/style of eyeglasses that you want. You don’t need to know the specifics, sure. You can click, scroll, and look around. But it is a time-saver. Plus, if you know the brand that you like best, you know what to expect when it comes to their pricing.
Where to Hunt for Eyewear Deals
Ready to start hunting for men’s designer eyeglasses? Let’s check out a few spaces online where you can begin your eyewear search.
Popular Retailers With Both Physical and Online Stores
If you want to actively hunt in person and online, then check out popular eyewear retailers with both physical and online shops.
These retail stores are what you’d call “old reliables.” You know you can easily find a shop at a mall or commercial district. Otherwise, go online. They will likely have exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to eyewear and eye care.
Pros
You probably grew up with some of these store brands. They’re popular and accessible. You know you can rely on them for your eye health needs.
Cons
The downside is that their physical stores might not carry the item that you want. Likewise, shops that have brand recall or are popular typically don’t offer their products and services at a discount.
Pro Tip
Sign up for the retailer site’s newsletter. They give limited-time discounts as an incentive for signing up. Plus, you get alerts about upcoming sales events.
Shops to Check Out
LensCrafters
LensCrafters’ Offers page includes several coupon options. Use these codes upon checkout.
ForEyes.com
ForEyes has a clearance page that includes items that are currently on sale. No coupons needed.
EZContacts and Other Direct-to-Consumers Online Retailers
EZContacts is a direct-to-consumer online retailer with some of the lowest prices online for authentic mens designer eyeglasses. They deal directly with manufacturers and have a large inventory with tons of different eyewear styles and sizes.
They offer occasional sales, and they also have a deals page that’s regularly updated with discounted eyewear.
Other online eyewear retailers with deals pages include:
- FramesDirect
- EyeBuyDirect
- GlassesUSA
Pros
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of these online retailers. If you have a specific eyewear in mind, you’ll definitely find it… at different varying prices.
Cons
Websites with well-known names, such as EZContacts and FramesDirect, are always a good bet when buying eyewear online. However, if it’s a more obscure website, you’ll need to do a little research first to make sure they’re trustworthy, especially if they don’t have verified buyers’ reviews.
Pro Tip
Subscribe to these online retailers’ newsletters to get occasional discount offers.
Discount Optical Sites
If you want guaranteed lower prices for mens designer eyeglasses, discount online optical stores offer eyewear at the best drop-down rates. Finding deals from these sites is a high-stakes hunt, though. You have to know which sites you can trust for quality, authenticity, and customer support.
The big differentiator of these discount sites is how they are able to pass on such big savings. Some may resort to using fake men’s designer eyeglasses. Others carry legit direct-to-consumer inventory.
Pros
You can find quality, authentic eyewear at discounted rates.
Cons
You may run into fakes.
Pro Tip
Always check the reviews. If the site is on BBB, check that too.
Shops to Check Out
GlassesUSA.com
Their sales page offers different discount codes you can use for your purchase. Copy the code and plug it in on checkout.
Flash Sale Sites & Deal Aggregators
Deal aggregators and sale sites, such as Groupon and LivingSocial, are great sources of discounted eyewear… that is, if you act fast. Many of the deals featured on these sites have limited validity. Plus, you also need to make sure that the sales events or deals are coming from legit online eyewear retailers.
Pros
Real deals and sales events for those ready to buy.
Cons
You need to act fast. Be ready to buy, but also check out the retailer’s site to make sure they’re legit.
Pro Tip
Plan your visit to these sites. Have your prescription and your credit card ready.
Secrets for Maximum Savings
Now that you know where to look, arm yourself with strategies that can boost your savings.
Time Your Shopping
Retail stores love doing sales events at key occasions each year. Watch out for Black Friday and Christmas sales. You can also find sales that celebrate “days,” including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Siblings Day, and everything else in between. Time your purchase to enjoy more savings.
Dates to Watch Out For
- New Year’s Day: January 1st
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Third Monday in January
- Presidents’ Day: Third Monday in February
- Spring Sales: March to April
- Mother’s Day: Second Sunday in May
- Memorial Day: Last Monday in May
- Father’s Day: Third Sunday in June
- Back-to-School Sales: July to August
- Labor Day: First Monday in September
- Halloween: October 31st
- Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving
- Cyber Monday: The Monday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas / Year-End Sales: Late December to Early January
Coupon Codes & Discounts
Take the time to look for coupon codes. There are several websites that specialize in these, such as RetailMeNot and Coupons.com.
To use these coupons, look through authorized and discount optical retailers first. Find the eyewear that you want. Then, go to the coupon sites to see if they have coupons for your chosen eyewear retailer.
Price Comparison Services
The great thing about price comparison services, such as Google Shopping, is that you can see the retail prices of the mens designer eyeglasses that you want across the most trusted online retailers. It saves you the work of hopping from one site to another to canvas prices.
You need to know what you want first, though. So, scroll and do virtual try-ons. Once you have the specific eyewear that you want to buy, head to a price comparison service.
Loyalty Programs & Rewards
Trusted eyewear retailers, such as EZContacts, often offer rewards and loyalty programs for their regular customers. This is actually a green flag when it comes to deciding where to buy your eyewear online. It’s not just about getting rewards. This is a sign that the retail company is also investing in you as a customer.
Typically, you automatically sign up for these programs once you make your first purchase. For instance, with EZContacts, you earn points starting right from your first purchase. Every $2 you spend gets you a point. You get a $25 voucher once you reach 250 points.
Other eyewear retailers with loyalty programs include:
- Focus Loyalty and Rewards Program by EyeBuyDirect
- Sun Club Loyalty Program by Sunglass Hut
- F/E Loyalty Program by Fashion Eyewear
Senior, First Responder, Student & Military Discounts
Many retailers offer discounts to seniors, students, and military personnel. Savings from these can be significant, so ask about these, too. Go to the eyewear retailer’s website or talk to their customer support about this.
FramesDirect, SmartBuyGlasses, and EyeMartExpress offer military discounts.
In addition, Eyebuydirect, GlassesUSA, and Sunglass Hut offer student discounts.
Shops to Check Out
EyeBuyDirect
EyeBuyDirect offers military, student, nurse, medical provider, and first responder discount codes.
Eyemart Express
Eyemart Express offers 20% off for military, teachers, and first responders.
Level Up Your Eyewear Without Emptying Your Wallet
Finding the perfect mens designer eyeglasses is not just about finding the best prices. You also have to consider the reputation of your online retailer, as well as their shipping and return policies.
Just keep at it. Apply the tips you learned here. Finding affordable designer glasses is an exciting and worthy hunt!
TL;DR Summary
- Before you go out eyewear deal hunting, make sure you come prepared. Have your prescription ready!
- Popular retailers with both online stores and actual storefronts are good places to start looking. These are well-known names, such as LensCrafters. Don’t expect bargain prices.
- Direct-to-consumer online eyewear stores, such as EZContacts, are some of the best places to find men’s designer eyeglasses at discounted prices.
- There are also discount optical sites, but be careful. Sometimes, products may not be the real deal. Check their reviews to make sure you’re buying authentic products that will be shipped to you promptly.
- Flash sale sites and deal aggregators are also good sources of eyewear discounts. Just make sure you have your wallet ready. Sales and deals have limited validity.
- Other ways to save include shopping during seasonal sales, using price comparison sites, signing up for loyalty programs, using coupon codes, and using senior, first responder, student, and other discounts.
