"Mini" reading glasses

**Suzy W** · 03-27-2003, 06:07 PM

I am having a slight thinking problem and was wondering if the wonderful, intelligent minds on the board could help me.
Who makes the little reading glasses that come in a case that looks like a pen with a little pocket clip? I know I've seen them and can't remember where.
Thanks

Suzy "if you find my brain let me know" W

**aaron** · 03-27-2003, 07:17 PM

You can get them from California optical and I think you can get the readers that come in the little working pens (of various colors etc..) from REM.

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**harry888** · 03-27-2003, 07:37 PM

Or you can buy them retail for $5.99 from the Christmas Tree stores, a large closeout chain thats a sort of odd-lot here in the northeast.

I checked them out, quality was pretty good.

I stay out of the reader market, telling customers that the local odd-lot sells them for less than my wholesale.

Harry

**Joann Raytar** · 03-27-2003, 07:44 PM

harry888 said:
Or you can buy them retail for $5.99 from the Christmas Tree stores, a large closeout chain thats a sort of odd-lot here in the northeast.

I checked them out, quality was pretty good.

I stay out of the reader market, telling customers that the local odd-lot sells them for less than my wholesale.

Harry

We've decided the same thing.

**Suzy W** · 03-27-2003, 07:48 PM

That was my first thought also, we don't really deal in readers either. The patient that called today doesn't want to go that route. She said that they had already looked at some others but the glasses were not of the quality that they wanted. She told me I was the first office that even offered to help her, which of course makes me want to find something for her.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Suzy

**Joann Raytar** · 03-27-2003, 07:54 PM

Hmmm. LBI has a tiny ophthalmic frame; all you would have to come up with is a cute case.

**Johns** · 03-27-2003, 08:01 PM

As of 2 years ago, I sell a ton of readers (we display over 200 ready-made). I shop around, pay less (or at least the same) than the closeout places, and sell them $10 each, or 2 for $15. They are such an implulse buy that contact lens wearers can't resist them, and if emerging presbyopes get their first readers from us, chances are they'll buy their first progressives from us as well. The only reason we never sold many before is because we never carried many. We have people stop in just to see what new readers we have in. They're so inexpensive to buy, there's really no reason not to carry at least a few dozen. (And no, you can't afford to carry many of them if your buying them from the optical suppliers)

Next time you're in the drugstore, get the name and the (800) number of the company they buy theirs from (it's on the pack of the package, or somewhere behind the display for re-stocking purposes)...what do you have to lose-except another sale ?

The only reason they carry them is because not enough of us do.

**Lisa Lingard** · 03-27-2003, 08:22 PM

I was just introduced to SmartGift, Inc. at Expo East. They have several "mini' readers available. They come in pen cases, calculators, and just a plain metal mini case. Lots of colors and a compact display available. Real nice people, too. Contact them at www.smartgiftinc.com or call (866) 620-1818. Hope this info. helps.
Lisa