Southern Calif. Lab Blues
Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to start a thread on the southern california optical lab scene. I am situated near Cerritos, Ca and own my own optical shop. We do not edge. Therefore, I am sending out 1/2 of my work to a VSP lab in the area which is too expensive to send my private work. My private jobs are being assembled at another independent lab using stock lenses that I have to send them from a stock lens house (KMars). We have to integrate the movement of lenses and frames between these 2 places to get our private jobs done inexpensively. The independent lab that we use also sells us name brand progressive lenses (which KMars does not have) but they don't have reasonable prices on Varilux and Shamir products (their prices are good on everything else). So I am now forced to look for another lab to sell me Varilux and Shamir. Just to add another layer of complexity; we carry a nice line of frames called T2 but they require assemblage at their own lab, Belford labs. It's all too confusing.
I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or tips.
Ilan Hartstein, M.D
