So I just found out last week that Nikon uses Essilor as their lens supplier. Does anyone know if the lenses they use are exactly the same? Like is a Nikon I just a rebranded Ovation or a Natural or something?
So I just found out last week that Nikon uses Essilor as their lens supplier. Does anyone know if the lenses they use are exactly the same? Like is a Nikon I just a rebranded Ovation or a Natural or something?
I believe nikon has a partnership with essilor but essilor is essilor and nikon is nikon to my knowlege anyway.
sort of a distinction without a difference.
same polymer, same coating, lenses with front sides and backsides, sold at obscene prices, with nonsense marketing and a roster of names for "different" products which for the most part, are all the same.
somehow and by magic, E can sell a "lower" level progressive on line direct to consumer (frames direct?) with no problem, without eyecodes and visioffices and pixie opti dust.
The Nikon lenses sold in America are the E Accolade and Accolade Freedom. Check your progressive identifier.
Wesley S. Scott, MBA, MIS, ABOM, NCLE-AC, LDO - SC & GA
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.” -Albert Einstein
They're different in Canada. Flatter base curves. Fitting height 2mm above the cross. No prism thinning.
Are they worth the extra cost?
I have no idea what Walmart sells but oddly enough it has come to my attention that Costco up here sells the Essilor Accolade Freedom which is making **** confusing. Have to be careful because there is a Varilux lens also called a Freedom and there is no Accolade up here. The Accolade up here is called a Biofit but Costco is American and uses the American names for everything.
Different story in Canada
http://www.nikonlenswear.ca/
Same story here.
http://www.nikonlenswear.us
Look for Nikon Eyes in a Walmart near you soon.
A Nikon is a Nikon (and partially an Essilor).
Costco in Canada has moved to their own lab production and dropped Essilor as a supplier.
Nikon does not sell to Wally in Canada, however many sell Nikon based on the fact they dont sell to "chains". If you live in a boarder city (and even if not) I dont want my customers seeing this and "checking out what walmart has to offer".
I think this will drive those Nikon wearers to walmart. they were sold on the brand.....bad move!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIkTlscMidE
I think selling lenses without discussing brand is better, regardless what you are selling. I dont like to use a brand to do the "heavy lifting". "Mr Smith these are XYZ lenses, ther are the best, bla, bla bla"
All this does is create brand loyalty to XYZ and the customer/patient leaves thinking they can see good because they have XYZ brand. I would rather not discuss (unless asked) or not discuss (not hide) the lens brand and have them leave believing they see good (and look good) because they had a great exam and were fit and sold to properly by me. MY BRAND!
I think there are stats that show the % of the general population that shop at walmart semi frequently to be above 80%. So unless you are either located where there is no walmart for a very, very long distance or you are so high end of a practice that your customers/patients fall into the 20% (or whatever) that truly NEVER shop there, I would hope you have not put your eggs in one basket.
Consumers trust, with your help, quality brand names. That's what it is all about!
If they see Nikon, they see Nikon.........I would have a hard time justifying "its not the same BS argument" and have done it with other products (Essilor), not part of my strategy anymore!
Walmart is built on trusted brands for less and like it or not, we cant argue the success of this giant monster!!!
Last edited by lensguy; 11-02-2013 at 10:39 AM. Reason: my spelling sucks
I'd counter with "they aren't selling Nikon lenses, they're selling NikonEyes lenses". Different thing. As I mentioned before I don't primarily sell Nikon lenses but if that's what someone wants I can get them for them. As to the original question of the thread, getting someone a Nikon Go or a Nikon I or a Seemax or what have you are comparably priced to lens offerings from other companies. They're not more expensive.
They are for us:(. We can get a Physio360/Forte from Essilor or a Seiko Surmount/Junsui-AR from Plastic Plus for 50% less than what Nikon charges for an I/Digital/ICE. Maybe Nikon gives big discounts to their high volume customers, but we don't do enough business with them to get those. So unless Nikon is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack (and they clearly aren't) I see no reason for us to buy anything from them whatsoever.
Yikes. Costs me less than an Ellipse with Forte.
No name in optics resonates with consumers regarding quality as much as Nikon.
Period
B
Before I started working as a lab tech I certainly thought that Nikon lenses must be the best. I mean, they produce the best (or among the best) cameras in the world, right? From a customer's standpoint there is no reason that Nikon's well deserved reputation in camera optics shouldn't translate to a great reputation in lenses.
From that perspective it's amazing that no one has tried to license the Canon name, or Canon going into ophthalmic lenses, because of a similar (or in my opinion) better name recognition
What about Pentax? Used to be what we used at LC back in the day. Maybe still do? For me personally if there's one sure fire way to kill a credible name brand is to associate it with Walmart.
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