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Thread: Essilor's new Pal exclusive to Vision Source

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    OptiBoard Professional Lee H's Avatar
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    Essilor's new Pal exclusive to Vision Source

    Anyone have any information on the new lens Essilor is offering exclusively to Vision Source members beginning June 1st?

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    I hear it's an Ovation . Anyway, that's the rumor that I am starting.

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    I'm curious. Is Vision Source a third party? If it is, my Varilux allegiance is going to wane.

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    Quote Originally Posted by MarcE View Post
    I hear it's an Ovation . Anyway, that's the rumor that I am starting.
    LOL

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    I heard it is supernoline with Digital back side surfacing

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    My sources say:

    The will call their new lenses "Tru Clear" and Tru Clear HD". These are the same lenses as the Physio and Physio 360. They will be available only through Essilor labs.
    They are also going to have private labled Crizal and Crizal Alize. They will be called "Viso" and "Viso-XC"

    I don't see this as a real big deal as Essilor has been making two versions of the same progressive design for years. One they market to private and one they market to commercial. Essilor and Vision Source simply made a deal. For Vision Source they get a good, but not great, price. For Essilor they get more of the Vision Source business going to the Essilor owned labs.

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    So the same lenses already available to you but now renamed to make it a VS lens...And the VS name is not even included

    Brilliant!

    Hey, I just put a logo sticker on a physio box-I now have my own line too...

    Essilor really goes above and beyond to make you feel all warm & cozy...

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    OptiBoard Professional Lee H's Avatar
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    Engravings

    I hear this new lens has "VS" engravings..... ?????

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    Quote Originally Posted by ADO View Post
    My sources say:

    The will call their new lenses "Tru Clear" and Tru Clear HD". These are the same lenses as the Physio and Physio 360. They will be available only through Essilor labs.
    They are also going to have private labled Crizal and Crizal Alize. They will be called "Viso" and "Viso-XC"
    Now Vision source can sell the same high quality that Wal-mart sells.*

    * For background information search threads on Wal-Mart and Freeform progressives

  10. #10
    One of the worst people here
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    Question, what would you prefer. A supplier selling product in those places under the same name or under a different name?

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    OptiBoard Professional Lee H's Avatar
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    Not sure....

    I would guess it would be better if a supplier sold to these places under a different name. Having said that, if the product is sold at a deep discount to a certain segment or group, then I believe that would be a bigger threat. I would be curious to hear others' take on this.

    Nevertheless, it seems like smart marketing on the supplier's part. If I were a non-member, however, I am not so sure I would care to pay a premium for the same product while my competition is paying alot less. Especially if I had been supporting that same supplier for many years. I would feel as though I were helping to subsidize these special deals....

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    Master OptiBoarder karen's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lee H View Post
    if the product is sold at a deep discount to a certain segment or group, then I believe that would be a bigger threat. I would be curious to hear others' take on this.
    Well, as an independent lab who cannot compete with the deep discounts VS Docs get (although for 4% of their gross-or whatever-it had better be a good discount :hammer: ) this is another in a long line of frustrations for me. Although to defend Essilor (yes I said that) they were trying to hold onto these guys who would likely jump to whichever manufacturer would give them the best deal. We even called VS to see if we could be a participating lab and they said no thanks.....

    I can say that it does chap my hide that I was having some success with a few Docs who were getting Varilux from me because their lab of choice was not authorized and this will likely kill that. :shiner: ? Ain't the optical business grand??
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    Optical Clairvoyant OptiBoard Bronze Supporter Andrew Weiss's Avatar
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    Considering that ELOA labs give VS doctors a big discount as well as an additional rebate, the "private label" progressives and A/R don't strike me as a major change . . .

    What concerns me is the subtle pressure that a private label product can create: to give the patient that lower-cost progressive even though one that costs us more may be better suited to the patient's Rx and needs.
    Andrew

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    Optical Clairvoyant OptiBoard Bronze Supporter Andrew Weiss's Avatar
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    What is it?

    My boss the VS doc told me that the word amongst Vision Source ODs is this:

    Someone at Essilor told one of the VS docs that the lenses combine features of the Physio/Physio 360 and the Definity. Also that some senior management at Essilor opposed letting this design go to private label (wanted to hold it in-house) but lost.

    So what does this mean? I really won't know until I see the thing. It's due to be available June 1. My fear: it's a b******ized design that flopped.

    We'll see.
    Andrew

    "One must remember that at the end of the road, there is a path" --- Fortune Cookie

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    Wave

    Our reps answer - this lens is a "hybrid" of Essilor PAL technologies and not one particular lens design. Now how is that for the best marketing speak ever?
    Karen- we feel your pain.
    Florida Optician;)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Florida Optician View Post
    Our reps answer - this lens is a "hybrid" of Essilor PAL technologies and not one particular lens design. Now how is that for the best marketing speak ever?
    Karen- we feel your pain.
    You guys should take some action and wane off Essilor's products if you don't like their business practices. They are not the only game in town although they would like to think so. I was at a conference recently and when asked by an Essilor lab rep why I wasn't giving them more business I told them that by me not giving them more business they could spend more time selling lenses to Walmart.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss View Post
    My boss the VS doc told me that the word amongst Vision Source ODs is this:

    Someone at Essilor told one of the VS docs that the lenses combine features of the Physio/Physio 360 and the Definity. Also that some senior management at Essilor opposed letting this design go to private label (wanted to hold it in-house) but lost.

    So what does this mean? I really won't know until I see the thing. It's due to be available June 1. My fear: it's a b******ized design that flopped.

    We'll see.
    Sounds like an Accolade. I would like to see the "VS lens" material availability and compare to the Accolade materials to be sure. It's a good lens, (better than Comfort, Ovation and Panamic IMHO) but VS is kidding themselves if they think this is a lens made especially for them. Even Wal-mart doesn't have that much clout w/ Essilor.

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    Professional Rabble-Rouser hipoptical's Avatar
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    I still have hope that there are a few remaining people out there who have more than two brain cells- some have posted on this thread, which renewed my hope. For the rest of you, I'll speak slowly, and use small words....
    Essilor....is....not....your....friend.
    If that was too hard to understand, I'm sorry- really, really sorry.
    If you honestly just don't get it, well that's just sad. Here's how it goes (one more time)...
    They make a lens and tell you it's the greatest. You, not knowing any better, buy it for premium $$ and sell it for premium $$$$. They tell you "only select labs, blah-blah-blah". After you've paid for the R&D, they release a "new" lens to the general riff-raff with a new name. The "riff-raff" pays less, and makes more $$ than you. You take pride in being "different"- just like everybody else. Then, just like washing your hair- rinse, and repeat. Bottom line here is this: they couldn't sell enough of the latest-and-greatest, so they agreed to private-label through a huge buying group. You simply do not cut deals on items you are selling a lot of. You cut deals when you are feeling the pressure of an industry that has figured you out for the fraud you are.

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    I like your GUSTO!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by hipoptical View Post
    I still have hope that there are a few remaining people out there who have more than two brain cells- some have posted on this thread, which renewed my hope. For the rest of you, I'll speak slowly, and use small words....
    Essilor....is....not....your....friend.
    If that was too hard to understand, I'm sorry- really, really sorry.
    If you honestly just don't get it, well that's just sad. Here's how it goes (one more time)...
    They make a lens and tell you it's the greatest. You, not knowing any better, buy it for premium $$ and sell it for premium $$$$. They tell you "only select labs, blah-blah-blah". After you've paid for the R&D, they release a "new" lens to the general riff-raff with a new name. The "riff-raff" pays less, and makes more $$ than you. You take pride in being "different"- just like everybody else. Then, just like washing your hair- rinse, and repeat. Bottom line here is this: they couldn't sell enough of the latest-and-greatest, so they agreed to private-label through a huge buying group. You simply do not cut deals on items you are selling a lot of. You cut deals when you are feeling the pressure of an industry that has figured you out for the fraud you are.

    Very well said! BRAVO!!!!


    :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

  20. #20
    The Hi-End PALs Specialist Bobie's Avatar
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    Sometime, we have to pay 3 times or more for the name of PALs if we not have enough knowledge.
    " Life is too short to limit your vision"


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    :cheers:

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    Quote Originally Posted by hipoptical View Post
    I still have hope that there are a few remaining people out there who have more than two brain cells- some have posted on this thread, which renewed my hope. For the rest of you, I'll speak slowly, and use small words....
    Essilor....is....not....your....friend.
    If that was too hard to understand, I'm sorry- really, really sorry.
    If you honestly just don't get it, well that's just sad. Here's how it goes (one more time)...
    They make a lens and tell you it's the greatest. You, not knowing any better, buy it for premium $$ and sell it for premium $$$$. They tell you "only select labs, blah-blah-blah". After you've paid for the R&D, they release a "new" lens to the general riff-raff with a new name. The "riff-raff" pays less, and makes more $$ than you. You take pride in being "different"- just like everybody else. Then, just like washing your hair- rinse, and repeat. Bottom line here is this: they couldn't sell enough of the latest-and-greatest, so they agreed to private-label through a huge buying group. You simply do not cut deals on items you are selling a lot of. You cut deals when you are feeling the pressure of an industry that has figured you out for the fraud you are.
    :cheers:

    I'll drink to that...Some independents get it some dont...Buy an Essilor product-Essillor takes your money-makes more lenses-sales lenses to your competitors (chains)-you put money in competitors pockets!

    Yay! Thanks to all the support from the independents our competitors will live to outsale us another day:hammer:

  22. #22
    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Optibird
    I'll drink to that...Some independents get it some dont...Buy an Essilor product-Essillor takes your money-makes more lenses-sales lenses to your competitors (chains)-you put money in competitors pockets!
    I love there explanation for it too, it helps with the cost of production so that they can offer the independent a cheaper lens.
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    The Hi-End PALs Specialist Bobie's Avatar
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    My recommendation is at below ;

    1. If the wearer would like to pay more for the name or pay for what they believe , that is their money. Then , It's not wrong to sell Physio or Physio 360.

    2. If the wearer would like to save a lot of money and get some PALs that have same or even better performance more than Physio or Physio 360 , then we have many PALs to used.
    " Life is too short to limit your vision"


    ISOPTIK : The Hi-End Eyeglasses Centre
    494 ERAWAN BANGKOK 4th floor
    Ratchaprasong , Bangkok , Thailand 10330
    isoptik@gmail.com
    www.isoptik.com
    Hotline & SMS : +66 81 538-4200
    Fax. : +66 2 251-3770

    :cheers:

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    facts of life

    Hate to ruin all the Essilor bashers fun, but the fact of the matter is that "white boxing" of product has been around for years. All, let me repeat, ALL lens manufacturers, have "white boxed" products for high volume customers. There are no good guy, bad guy scenarios here as it is just a fact of the normal supply and demand process and an integral part of being in a capalistic economy. It doesn't matter what the lens is; it doesn't matter who the customer is. If you go to any manufacturer and say, "I have the potential to give you "x" number of dollars in business for a private labeled product", the manufacturer will invaribly say yes. It would be financial suicide not to. If Essilor did not do it, there is a long line of manufacturers that would, inclusive of anyone you can think of.

    Trust me, manufacturers do not like to be leveraged like this either, but given a situation where the potential to lose much more than what is asked for...what would you do in this situation? Exactly...I thought so. After all, aren't third party programs putting you in the same situation?

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    This battle has been going on in one form or another for years now.

    Yes-everyone "white boxes" but it seems that unlike other manufactures, the word just seems to slip out with Essilor. Don't you find it interesting how many rumors we have already heard about this VS proprietary lens? One of our accounts ( who is a VS office) told us that they were told it was the Physio.So who knows what it is.
    This reminds me of an ad we were given one time for the "Natural Comfort" lens that a chain was selling in Georgia.
    Yes- Essilor makes great lenses but so do a lot of manufactures.I was floored the day a new OD starting out told me that her office HAD to sell Varilux products-when I asked why she thought that-her answer was because that was what we were told in school!
    Bottom line in my opinion-Essilor is really really good at marketing and we can only hope that independents will wake up and realize that if they truly want to be different than everyone else -they will look into the numerous other great progressive lens on the market.
    Florida Optician;)

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