Kids. A survey of pricing

[Cowboy]

I was talking to my OD who wanted to know why I price kids lenses the same as adults. Why I did not offer lower package prices for them. I responded, "with today's technology in lens coatings and materials, protection to the purchased products are greater than yesteryear and therefore, less and less of the clients returning for warranty replacements." "Now, if you take that same child and give the lenses at a less dollar amount usually between 30-50% than the adult, but you have to replace it 2-3 times over the adult, you have just lost any profit. If the parent has to pay more for the eyewear, just as their own pair, then the likely hood is that the parent is going to assist in the care of the product. When it comes to frames, the better the quality, such as flexon, the higher the price, but longevity of said frame justifies cost." He still somewhat disagreed with me as other locations in our area have special prices for kids and felt that we may not be competitive enough in that market. But, when they offer Zimco frames, or simailar quality, it is easy to have an appeared low price, but a low quality to back it. We are a location of mid-to-high end of products and service. The other locations are low-mid range, we have the market that no one wanted to cater to and therefore, I feel justified in my pricing.

How do you other Optiboarders feel about pricing for Kids eyewear?
If you don't agree with my thought process, thats fine, I'm not looking for that critique; rather, how do you price and why?

:cheers:

Cowboy

[BobV]

I also price my meager kids collection at regular prices. If I wanted to sell cheap stuff and push it out the door without any concern for the patient, then I'd be more than happy to package price and reduce the costs to the parents. Unfortunately, I have too much pride to do that to someone just starting out in glasses.

Bob V.

[varmint]

Isn't it funny how some parents will spend more money on a dinner out than on their children's eyewear.
I too price children's the same as adults, but then 99% of my clientèle are retired.

[UFRich]

We have a very large collection of childrens eyewear consisting mainly of Marchon. We price the frames out equally with the adult frames, but reduce the poly lenses to match the CR39 price so the parents have no excuse to not protect their childs eyes. Addons are priced at full price.

UFRICH:cheers:

[klewless70503]

I was in a Sport Chalet a few weeks back, and was impressed by the quantity of children's sunglasses that they carried.

One example: polarized polycarbonate lens with UV (in a decent but decidedly lower end frame): $8. Eight bucks.

Perhaps things like this are driving patient perception. I can't figure out how they price things that cheaply; maybe they make it up on volume as kids seem to lose/break/outgrow their glasses quickly, but it seems to me there's more than $8 worth of material in that pair.

[paw]

I'm sorry, but there just can't be quality in an $8 pair of sunglasses.

We price kids the same as adults. We do offer a kids value package, though, for cost conscious parents. But most parents don't ask for the value package.

[EyeManFla]

OK, problem Number One....Never discuss your pricing with your OD. They are clueless and it's just not worth the effort.

Why charge the same, because they cost the same, dummy! A single vision poly lens costs the same for and adult as for a child. I am suprised that your OD didn't suggest cutting it in half because the frame is half the size!

Now as for pricing, I keep my all my kids frames, even the over prices Harry Potters and Polos all the same. I charge $149.00 for frame, poly lenses regardless of Rx and a TWO year warranty.

Why?

I have always believed that if you get the kids, you get the rest of the family as well. And it works!

[Cowboy]

Too funny Eyeman. "Half the price, 'cause they're half the size!" LMAO.

Anywho, with your pricing strategy, I work in a similar fasion, Get the Wife/Mother, get the family. Who, in most households, makes the appointments? Kids can't get there without a ride. Nonetheless, your philosophy is your own and I respect that.

:cheers:

Cowboy

[Johns]

I sell my kid's pkgs for $149 complete (standard), and $189 flexon. Includes poly, 2 year warr on frame, 1 yr on scratching, and - (this is REALLY big of me)...Lifetime warranty on the LENS against breakage.

I'm with EyeMan...get the whole family!

Giving kids a great deal, and really and truly standing behind it makes your practice really stand out from the rest.
(Our best sellers are private labels, and we stock at least 40 of each frame so we can replace on the spot, and not have to have them wait.)

[Jo]

We retail kids' poly lenses at the same cost as adult lenses. Our kids and teen frames run $115 - $210. Most frames are $115 - $149. Our poly is only $20 more than PSR, if a parent would rather save the $20 we usually fill the Rx with poly but discount it.

[harry888]

I too charge the same for kids products, though I would actually like to charge MORE.

Better than half my kids frames/lenses come back under warantee, Adults about 10%.

Harry

[Jo]

Johns said:
Includes poly, 2 year warr on frame, 1 yr on scratching, and - (this is REALLY big of me)...Lifetime warranty on the LENS against breakage.

Hmmm, it sounds like the lifetime breakage warranty doesn't include scratching so it's actually pretty reasonable. Johns, you have some good ideas in that head of yours.

[officeManager]

I run a nicely run small optical shop and my boss is an OD. I carry the Oliver People and Paul Smith as the "Wow" quality. Then I go down to the Pro Design and Guess and what have you. I need a company that has WoW power with out a wow ticket for a childrens/Junior line.
Rachel

[CuriousCat]

Lafont Enfant

[Framebender]

for adults and children. Our kids package consists of frame with 1 year warranty, stock poly lenses with a 1 time within 1 year normal wear and tear replacement. You get this for $69.00. You can upgrade to trivex for $30.00. Power is +/-4.00 to a 2.00 cyl. I don't have a childs job that includes plastic or glass.

Yes, I remember the past and my Dad had me wearing glass at 8. I can also remember following the DDT trucks through the neighborhood on base riding through the clouds on our bikes. We know better now. Just because we used to do it doesn't make it safe.

Just my 2 cents.

:cheers:

[kdog2020]

We charge the same for kids and adults, and offer a one year warrenty for $25 (one time free replacement for frames and lenses, half off retail second time, half off retail for lost glasses).

I love package pricing, however, our high percentage of insurance jobs limits the usefulness of package pricing.

[Happylady]

We have a special $99.00 price for complete pairs for kids 12 and under. It includes poly lenses, an inexpensive frame, and a 1 year warranty.

We also offer a nicer selection of kid's frames that are marked up the same as adults. The lenses we sell for $75.00.

[EyeFitWell]

I price my kid's stuff the same as adults. We have very very few children as patients, though. I recommend two things: Price the frame to include the lenses. That way, it's only one initial sticker shock, and they're less likely to nit pick about addons for poly, etc. We have a children's package which includes TD2 and Poly. We have some discontinued frames which we price very affordably.

If you feel that you would like to price your children's things lower, try adding a small fee per warranty replacement, like 10 bucks or 20. Many of the chains do this, just to cover their time/shipping on returns. Most parents will understand, I think.

I frequently loose children to stores like Sears b/c "My child will loose them before they get broken." So my warranties don't seem to draw much business for the kid's glasses. That's fine by me, though. Like several others have stated, I only want to present quality eyewear.

[KStraker]

We price the kids stuff the same as the rest. We offer a low price package on sv and ft28 for price shoppers. I don't see the logic in offering kids glasses at a lower price. The wholesale cost of materials is the same in either case.

[Jubilee]

We price the kids stuff the same as the rest. We offer a low price package on sv and ft28 for price shoppers. I don't see the logic in offering kids glasses at a lower price. The wholesale cost of materials is the same in either case.

We offer value packages for kids and adults. I have a section that has package pricing frames on them (same styles as what we offer medicaid) and two different levels of pricing.

We work very closely with our lab so that we can offer decent quality frames and lenses at a very competitive price.

Cassandra

[chip anderson]

You will find that they will continue to see you as long as they are small enough to fit in low priced kids frame. They will move to a higher priced shop as soon as they out grow the kids' frames. Go first class from the start.

[For-Life]

You will find that they will continue to see you as long as they are small enough to fit in low priced kids frame. They will move to a higher priced shop as soon as they out grow the kids' frames. Go first class from the start.

Good point. You offer inexpensive jobs, making virtually no profit, do constant repairs, and in the end they leave you for someone else.

[KStraker]

We price the kids stuff the same as the rest. We offer a low price package on sv and ft28 for price shoppers. I don't see the logic in offering kids glasses at a lower price. The wholesale cost of materials is the same in either case.

We use Ideal's Casino and JellyBean collections paired with Somo SV lenses in our package deals. The frames are low priced, but honestly seem to have less breakage than most of our more expensive brands. Ideal has a huge range of styles in all categories. Somo lenses have a nice price and are available in a wide range of materials(AR and HC).

[officeManager]

Who sells these frames. What does the frame and lens cost you?