How often do you have people bringing their own brand new (still with display lenses) frame that they purchased elsewhere (including online) into your dispensary to have lenses put in them?
How often do you have people bringing their own brand new (still with display lenses) frame that they purchased elsewhere (including online) into your dispensary to have lenses put in them?
Could this be a new business model? Specializing in frames or lenses only. Hmmmmm...
There's a funny bit in the book Slaughter House Five about the optometrist saying, "The money is in the frames". Not sure I agree anymore, and if it was possible I'd just as soon have everyone just bring their frames in to have lenses made. Frames sit on the walls, ties up $, a fair bit goes unsold, yada yada. You don't get stuck with lenses and that's all I have to say about that.
I offer my customers the option of putting filter lenses into a supplied frame. Since they can't try on the frames I supply, they get to do that at a dispensary and make that optician some money. I think its a win-win proposition. (and btw the jobs are about 99% plano)
about 2-3 a year, as long as you charge a POF (Patient Own Frame) or Lab Fee for cutting down the lenses they purchased from you it's just another transaction.
It doesn't bother me any. Neither do POFs, I just have people sign a waiver saying that I'm not liable for breakages.
"Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened beings; only enlightened activity." -Shunryu Suzuki
I did 2 this week. One was a Rayban ophthalmic, and I can't get those, and I did call Lux. I was told I had to buy 12 to get that frame, and no warranty on it, so I told him to buy it online. The other was for a coach frame, and I can't get those either.
Normally get about 4 a year, but had a recent surge as a whole load of clear current ophthalmics from Lux have shown up at TJ Maxx.
I actually prefer to see the frames come from TJs (I can get lens business), than have the big guys sell overstocks to Costco or other Warehouse (no lens business for me).
Harry
I get about 4-5 a week. They can be a mainstay for you. However, I do love to sell the frames I have in stock. I never turn the business away, as they always come back and buy more from me. I have to say, if you have a frame selection that is different than the "big box" stores, you are going to have a better chance of selling your frames. Just my opinion.
I came, I saw, I left
I have had a few over the years.....................but we are also a source of interesting frames, in our neighborhood, and probably put more out on the street than we have to glaze!
I just simply inquire about a receipt/source, because, occasionally.............they are "five-finger" discounted, and we will not glaze those. No documents, no lenses.
Any we have marketed, are given with extensive explanation about repair/warranty, maintenance responsiblity, and potential costs they may incur by purchasing from us and glazing elsewhere.
Eyes wide open
I like the idea of requiring a receipt- I don't have as much of an issue with stolen frames where I am now but when I worked in downtown Milwaukee and even in uptown Charlotte I had several people come in with frames that had the tags still hanging off of the temples asking about lenses or just removing the words on the demo lenses.
"Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened beings; only enlightened activity." -Shunryu Suzuki
Do what you do best. If you don't have the "touch" to stock frames that sell in your market, then focus on lenses only.
If I ever go into the donut business, and customers start bringing in their own donuts, I will NOT apply glaze/frosting/jelly/etc., even for an additional fee.
Will I do lenses only? Of course, I do it all the time. Would I ever focus on this as a business model? No way!
If I'm going to be an optician, I'm going to be an optician. That means fitting glasses, fitting contacts, selling lenses that go with the proper frames, and everything else that goes into what we do. Just because frames are available for purchase other places, doesn't mean the people have a clue as to what they should have. An classic example would be this _ _ _wipe that received a "Googleducation" on lenses somewhere:
Online retailers who carry thick lens blanks?
I have a -16.00 Rx and am struggling to find an affordable online retailer who will manufacture lenses for my eyeglasses the way I want them. Both Zenni Optical and GlassesShop.com will fill my Rx, so that's not the issue. What I have found is that the stock lenses used by these retailers seem to top out at around 12mm thick or so. With many of the frames I like, this results in a quasi-myodisc effect, where there is a noticeable "bowl" of Rx power and then an area of flat, prescriptionless lens near the edge.
I don't like the aesthetic of this and would prefer to simply have a thicker lens with the corrective area extending all the way to the edge - i.e., without the "myodisc effect". I am aware that depending on the frame, the resulting lenses could be close to an inch thick... but I prefer that to the appearance of a myodisc.
Can anyone suggest an online retailer who is able to accommodate this request?
Thank you!
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Daily. Ok with me.
Is it a frame you stock? A line you carry? If not, why are you upset? Do you somehow make less profit on lenses if they're in a frame you didn't sell (other than the profit from the frame, obviously). Don't you charge a patient's own frame fee?
There are a myriad of reasons for someone to bring in their own frame. It could be old but reliable and beloved. It could, as I mentioned, be from a line you don't carry. The person could be new to your area and may have purchased the frame before moving but wasn't able to have it lensed in time (rare, I know, but I've been in a similar situation). If they're giving you their business, why complain? They obviously had reasons for not having it lensed wherever they purchased it, and now they're putting money into your pocket for your services.
When so many threads are dedicated to decrying online retail, I don't see the point in complaining about someone bringing in their own frame to have it lensed. They can receive in person consultation, adjustments, and the oh-so-dreaded PD measurement-- for use with lenses they're buying from you.
Sometimes the cake comes without frosting. It's still cake.
I agree, and I take the good (complete F/L) with the Ok (lens sale). My rant was against this mindset:
Not sure I agree anymore, and if it was possible I'd just as soon have everyone just bring their frames in to have lenses made. Frames sit on the walls, ties up $, a fair bit goes unsold, yada yada. You don't get stuck with lenses and that's all I have to say about that.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
"Sometimes the cake comes without frosting. It's still cake."
Brilliant. love it.
"Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened beings; only enlightened activity." -Shunryu Suzuki
Last year when I was at LensCrafters I had a nice upper middle class couple in with a frame they got online wanting to price lenses, boy were they suprised when I pointed out that it was a stolen LC frame, still had the LC tag on it, it retailed for $400, they got it for $179. Needless to say they did not buy lenses......
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