This is rather *Eye Opening*!

[Fezz]

I am posting a link to a thread on a *Survival Board*.

Please read through all of the posts.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=83690

Thoughts, ideas, opinions, vents, crying points?

[fjpod]

Amazing the misconceptions people have...and the bad advice they give...as if they were experts.

[LandLord]

Shows you the market penetration zenni has. I wish I had thought of it first.

[For-Life]

Shows you the market penetration zenni has. I wish I had thought of it first.

you get to sleep at night instead

[NAH]

"I woudl see if you can get some daily disposable contact lenses. I have made lenses that were supposed to have a 2 week lifespan last 8-12 months! It is a great way to save money but if a disaster were to hit, you could make them last much longer than just 1 day or 2 weeks. The doctors have never said anything about it causing problems with my vision as I have has the same script for 17 years. My eyes are healthy as well.

Just a thought"

Yeah, there's nothing that could go wrong with that recommendation. What's the worst that could happen, right? Protein build-up, warped lenses, hypoxia, corneal abrasions, neovascularization...

[Johns]

You know, this doesn't really surprise me, nor bother me. It's no different than a bunch of guys that really know their firearms, sitting around talking about the latest and greatest that they own, and I guy walks in with a bb gun he bought at WM.

Some people just don't understand, and they just don't care to. If this guy ever gets serious about guns, he'll go to a pro. If these yahoos ever get serious about their vision, they too will go to a pro.

Guys that own gun shops don't sit around and wring their hands about the guys buying from WM, and I don't sit around and worry about guys sticking junk in their eyes, and wearing glasses made in China.:hammer:

Life's too short, and I've got money to make!:cheers::cheers:

[FVCCHRIS]

You know, this doesn't really surprise me, nor bother me. It's no different than a bunch of guys that really know their firearms, sitting around talking about the latest and greatest that they own, and I guy walks in with a bb gun he bought at WM.

Some people just don't understand, and they just don't care to. If this guy ever gets serious about guns, he'll go to a pro. If these yahoos ever get serious about their vision, they too will go to a pro.

Guys that own gun shops don't sit around and wring their hands about the guys buying from WM, and I don't sit around and worry about guys sticking junk in their eyes, and wearing glasses made in China.:hammer:

Life's too short, and I've got money to make!:cheers::cheers:

I really agree with that but it is so frustrating to read things like that and not feel like our industry lacks the will to do anything about it. It's the whole legality issue that bothers me the most. I just don't see why the O's don't figure out a way to shut them down. If they can operate with impunity then why can't I get my prescription pain meds by making up my own Rx and faxing it in? :finger:

[LandLord]

you get to sleep at night instead

It's true I love to sleep. But I also love to make money. If I owned Zenni Optical I could make money while I sleep !!!!!!!!!

[For-Life]

It's true I love to sleep. But I also love to make money. If I owned Zenni Optical I could make money while I sleep !!!!!!!!!

who said it is making money? Keep that in mind. High revenues does not always = profits. Amazon took years to make a profit. 1800Contacts too (I actually do not know if the company has ever made a profit yet). These internet glasses dealers are fighting over price so much that I can guarantee you that most of them are losing big bucks

[Chris Ryser]

Coastal eyeglasses revenue tops $1 million in July

Vancouver, British Columbia – August 10, 2009 — Coastal Contacts Inc. ("Coastal" or, the "Company") (TSX: COA) announced today that it sold more than $1 million in eyeglasses during the month of July, 2009. In addition, usage of Coastal’s revolutionary "Virtual Mirror" technology grew at an incredible rate with more than 150,000 users now having uploaded their digital image in order to "virtually" try on eyeglasses.

[Chris Ryser]

These internet glasses dealers are fighting over price so much that I can guarantee you that most of them are losing big bucks

Here are some details: Zenni is selling 4000 glasses a day

The website exist's since: Online Since 19-Apr-2003

Alexa Traffic Rank : 31,020 (OptiBoard 155,533 = 5x less traffic)

Traffic increase: 3 month change12%

It is easy to belittle other people or ventures and make statements that seem to be taken out of nordic air.

If Zenni is in existence for 6 1/2 years and loosing money on a daily base they would have closed down that website a long time ago.

This is a real threat to the professional optical trade and should be taken serious.

Obviously this website is going up and not down, therfore their sales are visibly increasing, .......................if you like it or not.

If you would look at the material cost and setup these on liners have, you would understand that they are making good money by selling the way they do..





Traffic on website:

[For-Life]

Here are some details: Zenni is selling 4000 glasses a day

The website exist's since: Online Since 19-Apr-2003

Alexa Traffic Rank : 31,020 (OptiBoard 155,533 = 5x less traffic)

Traffic increase: 3 month change12%

It is easy to belittle other people or ventures and make statements that seem to be taken out of nordic air.

If Zenni is in existence for 6 1/2 years and loosing money on a daily base they would have closed down that website a long time ago.

This is a real threat to the professional optical trade and should be taken serious.

Obviously this website is going up and not down, therfore their sales are visibly increasing, .......................if you like it or not.

If you would look at the material cost and setup these on liners have, you would understand that they are making good money by selling the way they do..





Traffic on website:

What in the world does that have to do with what I posted?

[Barry Santini]

Zenni is NOT professional...that's is the difference.

I just saw apair from them.

Zyl frame - no spring hinge (GOOD, IMHO)
Fit well.
Lenses were Poly AR

But...only AR on one service (since this production batch was defective, no wonder the china supplier sold them to zenni so cheap.

Overall, not bad for $20.00, including case and micro fiber cloth.

You'd better be delivering your absolute best every day, ECPs, or no amount of EYEMED, VSP, or any other "safety net" insurance will catch you when you fall.

Could this spell the end of unqualified dispensing?

Also - The frame was about equivalent to some models I now get from some suppplier for alot more.

They're days of long margins are also over...along with slapped-on designer names.

I relish the challenge! How about you?

Barry

[Barry Santini]

I think we're seeing the optical equivalent of the mid-50s entrance into the "food" market by companies like Mickey D's.

They now dominate their market..but they don't own it.

Did people stop buying meals at better restaurants?

I don't think so.

Wake up, ECPs. Good enough is no longer good enough!

Barry

[LandLord]

It's true Zenni is making a ton of money and all they have to do is hold on to their surfboard and ride the tidal wave of customers converting their shopping to the web. On the other hand, traditional optical retailers have to stop the tidal wave. Who's going to win?

Imagine poking a giant hole in the bottom of the Atlantic ocean and you get the picture.

Why should your customers pay you $350 for a pair of glasses? They are probably made in China anyway. Why not pay $35 and take your chances online? I would. Service? Quality? Phooey! It's not worth the extra $315.

[obxeyeguy]

...

[Jana Lewis]

I think this is a good time for us to take a good critical look at ourselves and come up with ways to compete. Online glasses are not going away.

Why would anyone want to come to you for they're eyewear purchase?

[For-Life]

10 years from now, I will be playing the "I told you so card."

People are still only listening to the small group of dissenters. They are not listening to their own clients.

[drk]

Epic thread derailment, but I'll play along.

In this phase, the smart optical is highlighting it's quality and service.

[Jana Lewis]

Epic thread derailment, but I'll play along.

In this phase, the smart optical is highlighting it's quality and service.

I don't think it's a thread derailment at all. The comments in the link that was posted shows the severe misconception people have about eyewear. Most of this links to the internet and online glasses.

And i agree. Quality and service will be the only way any of us survive.

[Spexvet]

I am posting a link to a thread on a *Survival Board*.

Please read through all of the posts.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=83690

Thoughts, ideas, opinions, vents, crying points?

Are a lot of people seriously making concrete plans for when the world, as we know it, changes?

I have high blood pressure. I don't really want to take my high blood pressure medication because I might have to increase the dosage after TSHTF. I found a web site (which won't do me any good after TSHTF) that sells some roots, mixed with lion urine and crushed ostrich pelvis bones, that the site says will control my blood pressure just fine. I'm going to buy a whole load of roots, lion urine, and crushed ostrich pelvis bones - you know, stock up for when the SHTF - and I hope that I'll be able to mix them in the right ratios. :hammer:

[drk]

the only way any of us survive.

Ah, and we come full circle with that post...Perfect ending.

[Happylady]

But...only AR on one service (since this production batch was defective, no wonder the china supplier sold them to zenni so cheap.

I don't understand what you mean here.

[LandLord]

Better quality and service is not going to save you from the internet. It didn't save anyone from Lenscrafters, Walmart or Costco. Talk to the independent practitioners who were forced to close their doors after 25 years of quality and service!

There are only 3 ways to get customers. Lower price, dramatic difference or luck.

Many people mistakenly assume they are in the second category when they are actually in the last. But they don't realize it until someone takes away their customers.

[Jana Lewis]

Better quality and service is not going to save you from the internet. It didn't save anyone from Lenscrafters, Walmart or Costco. Talk to the independent practitioners who were forced to close their doors after 25 years of quality and service!

There are only 3 ways to get customers. Lower price, dramatic difference or luck.

Many people mistakenly assume they are in the second category when they are actually in the last. But they don't realize it until someone takes away their customers.

I honestly do not think that is true, in my case anyway. My patients come back because they have received a quality product from qualified people.

I set myself apart, and I continue to make changes to set myself apart. Online glasses is not going away, the only way I can make it is by setting myself in a position where I am offering something they are not.

Price dosen't mean everything to everybody.