I tell them it's a bad joke...............................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
drk
If they specifically ask my opinion of it, I tell them it's a bad joke. If they ask for P.Ds or whatever I refuse and tell them that's the responsibility of the optician that makes the glasses. If they come back with problems, I tell them we don't trouble shoot someone else's glasses, and we'd be happy to make a pair for them ourselves.
So easy.
How can it be a bad joke if the on-line optical industry sold ca 27 million pairs of glasses ? .....and probably more this year.
How can you blame the consumer of going for it, by bundling everything including services into your selling price while the on-liners only advertise their lab prices plus the frame.
I just paid $ 180.00 to have a switch replaced in my air conditioner, of which a $ 100.00 was for the service call and $ 80.00 for the switch. I can not get that on-line.
However I ordered a medical Rx for my Nitro Spray, on-line for $ 39.95, where the pharmacies here in SW Florida wanted between $ 300.00 and $ 350.00. (back home in Montreal it costs me between $6.00 and $12.00 in a pharmacy).
Above examples are that a service provider can still charge a fair price, by charging the items separately, while just passing on goods with a markup included, will loose out to the on-line advertisers.
Office Max (belongs to Walmart) bought Office Depot a couple of weeks ago and now is closing the Office Max stores because of the fierce competition of o-line commerce.
If we do not change our attitude many optical retailers will be gone in a few years with the exception of the high end and top class optician artisans as the survivors.
Essilor and Luxottica together have become the largest retailers ....................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dirk
Your patients are consumers, you provide them with services and products that they need. Consumers compare prices, service and the quality of their purchases, regardless if it`s an eye exam, glasses, a car or a mortgage.
Healthcare (or eyecare) is just another market, and whether you like it or not, it will become more subject to market rules. It is already in my country, medical specialists are competing to attract patients/consumers. The state has privatized our healthcare system in order to encourage competition and hopefully improve the quality and lower the cost.
I understand that you don`t see yourself as a retailer, but it may be the best way to face the future.
Good advise.......................
On this continent the optical trade is regulated in some of the States in the USA and the Provinces in Canada.
A large part is not in the USA and in Canada "British Columbia" got deregulated by their Government and has become a free for all.
The economy is not the best in North America and commercial activities are shifting to the web continuously more and more.
Essilor and Luxottica together have become the largest retailers in the optical field in North America either on the web and in actual B&M stores.
Survival of the fittest...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
COMEINPEACE
just adjusted a 39mm eye sized frame for a walk in
aprox +6.00 ou....they were cut from a 80mm stock lens...
i asked them where they were purchased(because i wanted to know if any of my local competitors could sleep at night dispensing these to a child)
they were purchased on line
13-14mm edge thk
The site that made them will sooner rather than later be out of business. The better sites are or will quickly adjust so this lens is not used. I imagine if they used a stock 60 blank the consumer would be happy.
Que the theme from Jaws...
Did you charge for your services?