Lenses only

[LENNY]

Its only going to work if you pricing and service is either like Zenni or Barry E. Santini, ABOC, ABO-AC, ABOM :)

[Paul Smith LDO]

Great concept, but you would still be dispensing and cleaning glasses. It might be better to drink straight out of the bottle.

[Chris Ryser]

An optical shop that only sells lenses. People purchase their fashion frames wherever they want at the best price they can get. Do you think a shop like that could survive? Flourish? Discussion......

I believe that this might just be a novel idea and could be successful in those times where online opticals are getting stronger by the week.

Consumers would not have to be shy and come in with frames purchased from anywhere they want to and have them glazed with any type lenses they want to pay for.

By doing your own edging you could save the lab charges and buy as many uncut lenses as possible.
Having a good stock of SV would make you even a faster producer.

You could actually charge a la carte. The basic lens and then additional for every luxury item from scratch coating (there are many do yourself systems available) to tinting and AR.
So your price could start at rock bottom and increase as much as the consumer wants to spend.

Then come also the delivery which includes the adjustment. As you are now on the a larte system you can also charge for the adjustment if the customer wants it or not. However I would bet that if they refuse it at the point of delivery, they will be back for it later on if needed.

[standarduck]

Knowingly handling stolen goods may be a crime.

In the UK, handling stolen goods of any type, known or otherwise constitutes a criminal offence. Whilst the goods are normally seized and formal charges are often not followed up, this is why I was curious as to US law.

[standarduck]

By the way, I think this idea is awesome - I'd love to go to place like this if I was out of optics. I think young people often hate the process of someone standing over your shoulder as you try on and choose frames. This eliminiates that, and is a nice, simple idea!

[tx11]

Obviously this would be a non insurance office....What are some guerilla ideas as to how to advertise it?

[AngeHamm]

I guess this could work, but picking out frames with my clients is my favorite part of the job!

[optimensch]

I think it is a marketing challenge....if your shop doesn't have frames on display what will people see when they walk past? If people see frames in your windows they are more likely to walk in, no?

[tx11]

Yes. It would have to be marketed like a professional practice and not a retailer (although lenses will be sold at a lower retail price).