Adapt or Perish - the law of the survival of the fittest.

[MikeAurelius]

^^+1000^^

As always, Barry, dead on the money.

[drk]

Many here don't like having to buy from only 'whole' packages of cable programs/channels they feel they'll rarely watch or use. They want to pay less for just what they want. But they can't, because cable providers are pretty much a monopoly.

The public has felt the same about eyewear. And the Internet and the release laws of our government have effectively ended the industry's control of the Rx.


In a nutshell.


B

False arguments in that nutshell:

"I JUST WANT THE BASICS"
What? "Pay for just what they want"? As in, patients only want to buy certain aspects of glasses, but not all aspects of glasses? How about a frame and two lenses? How much less can they purchase, a single lens and half a frame? If they don't want "add-on" channels they don't get them.

Is it price selection? Do they want 2 pair for $69? Heck, I'll give you one of a thousand Sunday newspaper coupons.

"I DON'T HAVE CHOICE"
What? There's a monopoly of eye wear providers? There's a million. How many cable providers? Few. That's a ludicrous analogy.

"I DON'T LIKE THE INDUSTRY CONTROL"
What? People are irked that they have to have a prescription for glasses? How would the glasses work without a prescription? Dartboard method?

What? How do release laws end the "industry's control of the Rx"? They've been able to get their Rx since for almost 50 years. Are we really going over what happened in the 60's? They've all retired! "Customers" can buy as many glasses as they want, wherever they want. Where's the industry control, and where's the loss of industry control? What a huge straw man argument.


THE INTERNET
YES! The internet has made it completely easy to get glasses without any input from any doctor or optician and no regulating authority gives a hoot. It's a do-it-yourself project. Hope it works for you. Enjoy completely deregulated health care. Get back to me and tell me how that works out for you, if I'm still around.

But I think the same can be said of anything, everything, that you get on the internet from drugs to porn to shoes to whatever. It's the wild west. I don't particularly suscribe to the theory that a.) something was broken, and b.) now it's fixed. That's crazy talk.


THE TRUTH
I think the background music I'm hearing on this site is that a.) glasses are like suitcases, b.) you shouldn't need a prescription for a suitcase, and c.) anyone can be a suitcase salesperson. The optician is a salesperson.

Much to the contrary, I think people want professionals to do the job right. They want professionals they trust. They want choice. All things that the current system provides.

Now, sure, there are those unwise people who just don't give a hoot about anything but the total price, and they're willing to cut any corner they can, even to their own detriment. Those are your internet people. I've seen them. You can grovel for them all you want.

[Golfnorth]

What? Patients only want to buy certain aspects of glasses, but not all aspects of glasses? How about a frame and two lenses? How much less can they purchase, a single lens and half a frame? If they don't want "add-on" channels they don't get them. Do they want 2 pair for $69? Heck, I'll give you one of a thousand Sunday newspaper coupons. Do you want the nicest glasses available? There's that, too. TOTALLY SCALE-ABLE.

What? There's a monopoly of eye wear providers? There's a million. How many cable providers? Few. That's a ludicrous analogy.

What? People are irked that they have to have a prescription for glasses? How would the glasses work without a prescription?

What? How do release laws end the "industry's control of the Rx"? They've been able to get their Rx since for almost 50 years. Are we really going over what happened in the 60's? They've all retired! "Customers" can buy as many glasses as they want, wherever they want. Where's the industry control, and where's the loss of industry control? What a huge straw man argument.

YES! The internet has made it completely easy to get glasses without any input from any doctor or optician and no regulating authority gives a hoot. It's a do-it-yourself project. Hope it works for you. Enjoy completely deregulated health care. Get back to me and tell me how that works out for you, if I'm still around.

But I think the same can be said of anything, everything, that you get on the internet from drugs to glasses to porn to shoes to whatever. It's the wild west. I don't particularly ascribe to the theory that a.) something was broken, and b.) now it's fixed. That's crazy talk.

I think the background music I'm hearing on this site is that a.) glasses are like suitcases, b.) you shouldn't need a prescription for a suitcase, and c.) anyone can be a suitcase salesperson. Much to the contrary, I think people want professionals to do the job right. They want professionals they trust. They want choice. All things that the current system provides.

Now, sure, there are those unwise people who just don't give a hoot about anything but the total price, and they're willing to cut any corner they can. Those are your internet people. I've seen them. You can grovel for them all you want.

I'm going after the eyeglass wearers that give a hoot. That's the sweet spot and where I want to be despite one posters gloom and doom predictions of Armageddon if we don't start to engage the do-it-yourselfers.

Regards,
Golfnorth

[MakeOptics]

I found an optical website that deals with all these issues, there is a sample:

QUESTION: WHY DO CONSUMERS BUY PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR ONLINE?

ANSWER: BRICK AND MORTAR DISPENSARIES ARE NOT SERVING THEIR NEEDS.
"Merchandising is a necessary and important service, however all too often the health care component of the Optician-Patient equation becomes secondary to the act of selling. In too many cases over zealous sales goals override our mission of providing vision health care, whereby the personalized, custom fitting of eyewear gets only minor consideration, if any. This reality is clearly demonstrated by the unfortunate and steady number of unhappy Patients and the subsequent loss of their revenue and referrals to the Internet."

"Opticianry is ultimately defined by how well the eyewear makes contact with the Patient, not by the number of customers served.
Many optical outlets are 'ready-to-wear' stores where
eyewear merchants sell 'one-size-fits-all' merchandise,
and where numbers of sales and customers is paramount
This environment has prostituted the practice of Opticianry."
"Optical dispensaries are healthcare facilities where Opticians practice
Three Dimensional Dispensing, the Discovery, Design, and Delivery of
prescription eyewear, and where the Patient's needs always comes first."
More and more prescription eyewear is being purchased from online providers because consumers can no longer find real differences between services in brick and mortar dispensaries and Web-based providers. Therefore consumers have no compelling reason not to purchase online. Opticians can get their groove back only by serving the Consumer with, a) the in-depth lifestyle interview; b) Optician-assisted frame-lens design and selection; c) handcrafted, hands on the Patient delivery of eyewear; and d) free lifetime adjustment and minor repair services. None of these services are available online.


See all of it: --------------> http://www.harisingh.com/OpticianryToday.htm

I hope this isn't viewed as insulting, but the site you quoted looks like it was designed by anyone but a millennial, more than likely someone in their 50's+ judgint by the poor use of animations and stock photography. The site is not very mobile friendly which means most millennial's aren't even going to bother to read it, the site is designed for the baby boomer generation and will probably ring true to most older opticians, personally I find it hard to read sites like that, I prefer content to be presented uniformly with a simple UI.

Mellenial's appreciate craftsmanship, especially olde world craftsmanship. Look to the maker movement and lumbersexuals. (I know lumbersexuals, LOL) You'll find the hipster of old sporting a thick well groomed beard with a $80 flannel, but it's still the same individual, mellenial women tend to look for a rugged quality in men and men tend toward DIY again reinforcing the traditional male role. The frames that sell well tend to be older style with chunky zyl and great quality. If you're not showing them how they are made and the quality in craftsmanship then you're missing out. The close is showing the tech in office, edgers or I should say (CNC - Cutters) are so familiar to this generation that it's a stamp of approval. If your cutting by hand they're cutting and running, they know a computer will cut more accurate so show them.

[TheRobotious]

As a young millennial beginning his journey in the optical world, threads like these really make me think about whether I'm making a poor decision studying to become an OD. I wonder whether glasses will lose all medical value in the future; whether people will neglect the medical aspect of vision and render us obsolete. Every time I have come to the same conclusion: there IS a future for me as an OD.

The medical treatment of visual defects and ocular pathology will not disappear. Although the consumer mindset and market may be changing, people come to us based on a MEDICAL need to do so. As opticians we try and provide the best service we can, but not everyone sees this clearly (pardon the pun), and will jump online for a better price next time. This should not and does not diminish the underlying medical nature of the very products we are selling and the service we are providing! Yes, we will need to change with the changing times but we do not have to lose our core values along the way.

I apologise if this all seems naive, I don't carry any of the experience you all do.

[MakeOptics]

As a young millennial beginning his journey in the optical world, threads like these really make me think about whether I'm making a poor decision studying to become an OD. I wonder whether glasses will lose all medical value in the future; whether people will neglect the medical aspect of vision and render us obsolete. Every time I have come to the same conclusion: there IS a future for me as an OD.

The medical treatment of visual defects and ocular pathology will not disappear. Although the consumer mindset and market may be changing, people come to us based on a MEDICAL need to do so. As opticians we try and provide the best service we can, but not everyone sees this clearly (pardon the pun), and will jump online for a better price next time. This should not and does not diminish the underlying medical nature of the very products we are selling and the service we are providing! Yes, we will need to change with the changing times but we do not have to lose our core values along the way.

I apologise if this all seems naive, I don't carry any of the experience you all do.

Actually quite refreshing, your point of view and mindset is what's being discussed, you my friend are an expert on the subject, more experience on mellenial's than all other combined on the thread. There is a place, I see a bright future with new innovations and new techniques pioneered by folks such as yourself. I think the big takeaway from this thread is stay hungry and never get complacent.

[Wes]

As a young millennial beginning his journey in the optical world, threads like these really make me think about whether I'm making a poor decision studying to become an OD. I wonder whether glasses will lose all medical value in the future; whether people will neglect the medical aspect of vision and render us obsolete. Every time I have come to the same conclusion: there IS a future for me as an OD.

The medical treatment of visual defects and ocular pathology will not disappear. Although the consumer mindset and market may be changing, people come to us based on a MEDICAL need to do so. As opticians we try and provide the best service we can, but not everyone sees this clearly (pardon the pun), and will jump online for a better price next time. This should not and does not diminish the underlying medical nature of the very products we are selling and the service we are providing! Yes, we will need to change with the changing times but we do not have to lose our core values along the way.

I apologise if this all seems naive, I don't carry any of the experience you all do.

If you're half as smart as you seem, you'll do fine in this field, and most anything else you choose to do.

[Wes]

I hope this isn't viewed as insulting, but the site you quoted looks like it was designed by anyone but a millennial, more than likely someone in their 50's+ judgint by the poor use of animations and stock photography. The site is not very mobile friendly which means most millennial's aren't even going to bother to read it, the site is designed for the baby boomer generation and will probably ring true to most older opticians, personally I find it hard to read sites like that, I prefer content to be presented uniformly with a simple UI.

Mellenial's appreciate craftsmanship, especially olde world craftsmanship. Look to the maker movement and lumbersexuals. (I know lumbersexuals, LOL) You'll find the hipster of old sporting a thick well groomed beard with a $80 flannel, but it's still the same individual, mellenial women tend to look for a rugged quality in men and men tend toward DIY again reinforcing the traditional male role. The frames that sell well tend to be older style with chunky zyl and great quality. If you're not showing them how they are made and the quality in craftsmanship then you're missing out. The close is showing the tech in office, edgers or I should say (CNC - Cutters) are so familiar to this generation that it's a stamp of approval. If your cutting by hand they're cutting and running, they know a computer will cut more accurate so show them.

So you're saying it looks like "Opticianry Yesterday?"

[drk]

Hey Wes, at least you have the beard. Come back, bro...

[Johns]

Mellenial's appreciate craftsmanship, especially olde world craftsmanship. Look to the maker movement and lumbersexuals.

I heat my home with wood I burn in a woodstove. Does that count for anything? Are you saying that chicks (besides amish chicks) might dig me after all?

[Browman]

20/20 Millennial Project: Joseph Abboud - Make Mine Millennial

A Millennial talks to Joseph Abboud about targeting and selling to Millennials. An enlightening and accurate article by a brilliant *cough cough* observer of the state of eyewear.

[drk]

Ephemeral style doesn't equal substance.

Frame fashion doesn't equal Rx lenses.

But I do dig me some flannel.

[Chris Ryser]

The eyeglass business is not insulated from this metamorphosis

....................an important issue for all of us, from suppliers to retailers and how we can kill the thread.................

drk

Ephemeral style doesn't equal substance.

Frame fashion doesn't equal Rx lenses.

But I do dig me some flannel.

Originally Posted by MakeOptics
Mellenial's appreciate craftsmanship, especially olde world craftsmanship. Look to the maker movement and lumbersexuals.

Johns
I heat my home with wood I burn in a woodstove.
Does that count for anything? Are you saying that chicks

(besides amish chicks) might dig me after all?


drk

Hey Wes, at least you have the beard. Come back, bro...

[Golfnorth]

When will that happen ? Is it not wise to take action before it happens ?

Chris;

You know as well as I that you wouldn't go and chase after a very small segment of your chemical market which would neglect and alienate the bulk of your business. So why then are you advising others to do just that to their detriment?

I was working with a client on a multiple pair $1,000 sale last week. A lady came in and wanted me to adjust her glasses. I advised her that there would be a charge for this service as the eyewear was not from me. When she took her others out and when asked advised me that they were purchased at Clearly Contacts, I refused to service her. I advise her that as an eye care professional I wanted to be involved in the complete sale from start to finish and wasn't interested in servicing internet glasses at any price. Then I finished up with my $1,000 customer.

Regards,
Golfnorth

[Barry Santini]

In the optical field, control corrupts. And absolute control corrupts absolutely.