ProDesign at lenscrafters ?

[orangezero]

Has anyone seen this? I was visiting another city and noticed two different lenscrafters had Prodesign frames. interesting.

[Johns]

Two years ago, I would have cared. Today, Prodesign has been knocked off by almost every lower tier manufacturer. It would be absolutley ridiculous forLC to shell out the kind of $$ PD wants.

On the other hand, are you sure they're not disco. frames? They must be getting (PD) ready to dump some product if they are going to refresh their line and head in a new direction. If they don't - they're toast.

[For-Life]

LC is going to be positioned as pretty much designer brand names. This is what is going to happen with the brand name look.

Not a bad business design really (with the people who do not like it buying from Pearle or Sears).

[HarryChiling]

LC = Young, Hip, Trendy - They focus on the frames
Pearle = Family, Quality - We focus on the lens and exam
Sears = Value, Budget - They focus on the cost consious

[bt5050]

I to have seen Pro Design @ LC's and as for the break down by brand focus- i also think you are right on the marker

seems like they are covering everything from Higher end - at LC - to those budget customers at target and BJ's.

Now one of my questions is - is their eye med carried at each brand as well ?

[uberoptiker]

I'm surprised he's selling to them. He's going to tick off a lot of independants!

[Grubendol]

I've seen knock offs at lc, but not the real deal....this saddens me as prodesign is my fav line.

[bt5050]

The ones that i have seen - are not knock off's -- they are ligit - and although they are not the newest styles - they seem to be the more popular models -

I did ?- about ordering a custom pair - and was told they could not do that - so it appears either they do not have that great of a relationship with PD - but i think they just don't do allot of ordering of anything in general -

although i did have a friend workign there that said to me - it really depends on what office you goto - because i have had some pts - order replacement frames thru LC - and i have had MANY pt come to me saying LC could not even replace ( order ) a product that LUX makes - but go figure they come to me - and all i need to do is pick up the phone and call -

don't you think that is odd- that LC has issues - or lets say policy that even though the PT purchased a particular frame from them XX mnth ago - they are not able to order another one from the vendor - ( even if it is LUX )

I have many tell me - when they can not get the frame - it is their policy to have the pt pick out another frame and they just comp the lenses - and call it a day - i was told by my friend that they feel that they are doing a cutsomer a service - by having htem pick out another product that day - and comping the lenses- since they get their glasses quickly - and not run into issues with BO- disc. products - ect
must be nice to have deep pockets like that - ?
anyone have insight on this ?

[Jubilee]

Your friend is correct. LC does not promote special ordering frames. In fact they actually did away with there frame search features (such as getting a store list) to discourage this practice. The idea is that too much time is spent in the search for a frame, both the associate's and the patient's that it is better to have them pick a similar style/price point, and comp the lenses.

You have to admit with almost 900 stores in the LC division alone, that the headaches of managing a special order system for frames could get crazy. They used to have 3 people at the service center whose sole purpose was to track special order frames for stores...

Each individual store can not special order frames or lenses for that matter from anyone but their CSC. The CSC then distributes the individual orders to where they need to go, AR lab, central lab, mirror, etc.. They do not want 800-900 individual accounts for each vendor/lab... too much administration...

Cassandra

[bt5050]

thanks for the insight -

i was just wondering about - why many pts come into us saying - the frame at LC they bought - 14 mnths ago - is a private label - and they are not able to order it from the vendor - when i fact they bought this frame from them - and even sometimes LUX makes the frame -

i can see that over 800 stores calling around does take time and energy - but for them to be unwilling to get a product from their parent company - to replace it -- VERY VERY ODD - esp when i have ts tell me that they have gone on line - or directly to the vendor and replaced it - however LC will not order it for them - when they bought it from them -