Originally Posted by
Chris Ryser
The problems, are not self inflicted. There was a time when the optical world sold glasses made from plastics that would dry out and not last longer than 2-4 years............the lenses were glass only........high index lenses were very brittle.
Opticians would sell glasses and advise their customers that this item would have to be handled in a delicate way or they would break it. So it was natural that customers would be as careful as possible, or had to pay for a broken frame or lens which was part of the opticians income. Charging for fixing, repairing or replacing at going market value.
In the 1960's American Optrcal was the first company to warrat their kid's frames for one year. Suddenly other companies had a hard time selling kids frames. I had actually an optician customer.................who got broken frames replaced by AOC for free under warranty, but then charged the kids parents for a new frame.
When Essilor introduced the Varilux lenses, mid 1960's, in Canada many years before they started in the USA. opticans were hesitating to use them. So Essilor started the non adapt warranty, to replace the non adapts with straight tops at now extra charge.
Opticians used to buy frames................order them and pay for them and actually invested money in their stock.
When the market got overloaded and flooded with new frame brands, names and manufacturers in the late 1970's and early 1980's some frame manufacturers and or importer distributors reverted to start giving frames on consignment, which means, they got the frames into their stores but only had eo pay when the merchandise was sold.
Having said all this................the above statement that the problems are self inflicted is not quite correct.
Through tough competition in the manufacturing sector the customer.........the optical retailer got more and more spoiled..........with easy purchases........return policies...............warranties and so forth. ..............However as there are no freebies in this world, the retailers are also paying much higher prices than they would have under the old system. Break your glasses, scratch them..............replace, repair or buy new ones.
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