Do you charge for nosepads?

[Ryan]

I work in a mall and we used to change nose pads for no charge for everyone, but I don't anymore. We get a lot of people from out of town and want us to replace broken nose pads and who will never be back to buy glasses from us. It is so frustrating after replacing them for free, and showing them frames while they are waiting, and giving them their glasses back suggesting they should buy them here next time, and they say they are just visiting, but thanks for fixing my glasses! Or they usually get their glasses from LensCrafters, but that is just too far of a walk from where they are in the mall, so can you change them out for me? All of our patients that buy glasses from us we will replace them free, all the time. So we charge alot of times $5 for a pair of nose pads.

Next time you need to buy some shoe polish, just go into any shoe store and see if they would give you some for free. :finger: :

[Johns]

Advice to all:

It is a good idea to charge at least $5 a piece (or $9 a pr. to cut some slack). You'll make a lot of money, and the customers will think you're a savy business man/woman. You'll probably never see them again anyway, because they'll all be going to my place where I give them away for free. Heck, I give frames away for free. What good is $10 cash when I can capture a whole family.:D

[Refractingoptician.com]

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[chip anderson]

I don' t think nose pads or free service are all the issues here. Some of us still enjoy the work some of us are burnt out and should be retired or go into something else. And some us are just plain cheap and lazy.

We used to give a lifetime of free service including bi-annual slit-lamp exams, polish jobs any changes in fit needed that did not require a new lens with our contact lens fitting. Our contact lens fitting was $ 175.00 (1960 U.S.) and this the only fee the patient paid except for replacements and Rx changes that could not be accomplished on the existing lens. Unfortunately, the dispensing doctor arose and patient's would buy thier lenses from the doctor and expect us to manage and re-fit the problems. Some of them still try to do this (but my insuance said I had to see him and he made me buy my glasses and contacts from him). Before the "climate changed" we had the most successfull and profitable contact lens practice for 500 miles in any direction.

So it's all a case of ones perspective and what you think your customers will respond to.

Chip

[Joann Raytar]

Re: yer all nuts

Gary said:
Canadian Tire doesn't service my oil and filter for free even if I do spent thousands per year there.

Actually, I bought my first set of tires from Town Fair Tire. They rotate your tires and do any patching and refilling for free. If the tire is inside of its warranty and the patch doesn't hold, they will replace it for free as long as you had the tires rotated every 5,000 miles, also free. Since that time, I have bought two more sets of tires from them and I didn't price shop; I went back to them because of the service.

[Johns]

Gary:

-How can you "cheapen"a product that costs less than 20 cents a pair ?
(???)

-When I got my oil changed, they gave me a free keychain w/ a little flashlight on it. (Big deal ? -I went back)

-When I got my mortgage 11 years ago, the company gave me a gift certificate for a nice restaurant in my new neighborhood. When I built a new house 5 years ago, I went to them again.




These little things add up to big things. This morning, I gave away a complete pair of glasses (frame & lens), because 5 children out of 7 have gotten glasses from me in the last 2 months. They spent $1345, I gave the a package for free worth $189. It cost me $XX (you know). It felt great to be able to do it. They were overwehlmed with gratitude. I was happy they didn't go to Wal-Mart (where they also give away nose pads).

I also don't kid myself on the value of my products. They're not so much better than anyone's else. The value is in the awesome serevice my staff delivers. And no- we don't charge more for
great service either.

[Joann Raytar]

I agree with you Johns. Folks have tried to pay us, on occasion, for nosepads and minor repairs; then, when we don't accept the payment they try to tip us. Instead we usually thank them for the thought and then insist they "buy" lens cleaner or something comparable instead. Nine out of ten of these customers return to purchase glasses from us; that's well worth a pair of nosepads and a bottle of lens cleaner.

[Johnny T. Bender]

Charge for nosepads?

I always go back to the same auto mechanic because he gives my cars a once-over and tops off the fluids when I get work done.

My dry cleaner has yet to charge me for a new button, including the labor for sewing it on.

My bartender buys me a drink one in a while.

The local deli gives me a free cup of coffee of Fridays.

I guess it would be fair to say that I have made eyewear for all these people, and others in my community. I have recieved fresh veggies from people's gardens, had wiring done on my store, had my taxes and business cards done for free, even pet sitting services.

The point is, maybe a set of free nosepads doesn't always offer a finacial return. But sometimes the cost of kindness cannot be measured in dollars, only in gratification. ;)

Johnny T.

[Johns]

Johnny T:

Amen Brother !

[Refractingoptician.com]

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[paw]

If you give stuff away for free, don't think your customers are coming back to you because of your great service. Your service may be great, but they are coming back to you because you give stuff away for free.

If you can still make money while giving stuff away as a draw, more power to you, but it does cheapen the profession. I'm still waiting for my MD to throw in a freebie whenever I visit him.

I had a small mole removed on my wrist where my watch irritated it. After the removal healed, I found the mole was not entirely gone. I went back to have the rest removed. He didn't do it for free, but I thought he should have since he didn't do it completely the first time. If MDs were like the optical business, he not only would have done it for free, but have thrown in free band-aids too.

[Joann Raytar]

I went to an MD once who charged a paper work fee. I never returned because I thought that was milking it a bit. He didn't add value to his profession; he ticked me off.

I remember when MD's would come out to your house and not charge you extra for the trip. Now that was service. Are we really going backwards by not nickle and diming the public to death or are we stepping away from a consumer base that charges for every little thing? On the other hand, if you give the consumer an inch will they take a mile?

I think the correct answer regarding charging for nosepads is it depends. It depends on who your consumer is and what type of shop you own.

[jon 22]

nosepads, screws, tmple tips

The question should be "why don't you charge for nosepads"
I generally include free nosepads and screws for the first year, after that they're only free if I'm in a good mood, or if they are buying something else, eg new lenses in their old frame. Its not just the cost of the part, but the time and expertise involved. Sure, you think its easy to replace a screw, but 9 times out of ten the patient can't, sometimes because they can't see to do it because they only have one pair of glasses. And "can't see" the logic in having a spare pair. When Hilco sends me free screws pads etc. maybe I'll consider giving them away. I feel a long rant coming on but I don't have the time.

[chip anderson]

Jon:

No need to explain, you're a Yankee and we can understand on that basis alone.

Chip;)

[Johns]

I spend more on the heat that goes out the door everytime a customer walks through the door than I ever could on nosepads.

Maybe I'm missing something here...we are talking about the screw in, or push on silicone things right ? Can they really cost that much more where y'all practice ?

Do you guys charge to clean a pair of glasses ? (A spritz of spray here and there could add up, not to mention all the laundry from the dirty towels)