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Thread: I need "insurance frames"

  1. #1
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    I need "insurance frames"

    OK, I think I need to get some low-end frames.

    I really do not want to do it, but people with low-end plans are just leaving benefits on the table when they don't want to pay overages.

    On these low-end plans, I make so little that it's frustrating, so I need to have a super-basic collection that they can choose from (in a sales rep's frame display tray, that we bring out when needed).

    I need maybe three styles for the guys and maybe six for the girls.

    Who do I source it through?

    Danke!

  2. #2
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Try Modern Optical.

  3. #3
    Bad address email on file Lawman Nick's Avatar
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    If you wanna go really, really.... low, Europa may be a choice. Go for Element maybe?
    Last edited by Lawman Nick; 03-19-2021 at 05:23 PM.

  4. #4
    OptiWizard
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    A&A New Globes should fit the bill.

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    New York Eye Enhance line.

  6. #6
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter
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    capri, zimco

  7. #7
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lawman Nick View Post
    If you wanna go really, really.... low, Europa may be a choice.
    You consider that brand really, really low? Which line(s)?

  8. #8
    Bad address email on file Lawman Nick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jefe View Post
    You consider that brand really, really low? Which line(s)?
    Should've emphasized. I'm thinking the Elements brand.

  9. #9
    Rising Star
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    Why bother? Not worth time in exam chair, dispensing or servicing

  10. #10
    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Bronze Supporter
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    Modern Optical and I-deal Optics are our go to insurance frames. I think they both offer lifetime warranties as well.

  11. #11
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Quote Originally Posted by morinput View Post
    Why bother? Not worth time in exam chair, dispensing or servicing
    I'm fairly certain that DrK is viewing this as a "community service" venture for the greater good rather than as a profit engine.

  12. #12
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Here's why I'm thinking this: there's an annoying subset of vision care plan patients who simply turn their noses up at utilizing their annual glasses benefits.

    "Can't you use another pair of reading glasses? I have kids to feed!"

    "Nope, these OTC readers are just fine and dandy."


    "How about a pair of FT28 sunglasses?"

    "Love my current sunglasses."

    "For your other car?"

    "Not interested."

    "How about a pair for your desktop computer? It will be really nice to look at your America Online and Facebook with the grandkids..."

    "Oh, maybe. How much is it going to cost?"

    "TEN DOLLAR COPAY! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MAKE THIS SUPER-LOW-REIMBURSING VISIT BECOME MERELY A LOW-REIMBURSING VISIT! "

    "Ok, let's see it."

  13. #13
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Just curious... would you be putting these frames on your board for all to see or just bringing them out for certain insurance situations?

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Modern Optical. Alternately, you can talk to your reps about buying closeouts. We do a lot of insurance business with recently-discontinued frames from Marchon.
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

  15. #15
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Quote Originally Posted by AngeHamm View Post
    We do a lot of insurance business with recently-discontinued frames from Marchon.
    How do you handle warranties with a discontinued frame or are they sold without warranties?

  16. #16
    OptiBoardaholic IIxIPariahIxII's Avatar
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    Europa for the Elements line would be a good option. As is I-Deal Optics for Focus and Casino. I would even go as far as to suggest using them for some packages as well. That can help out for less expensive second pairs for kids and for lower income families.

  17. #17
    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mervinek View Post
    How do you handle warranties with a discontinued frame or are they sold without warranties?
    Depends on the manufacturer. Marchon is very good about substituting a current frame for a discontinued warranty item.
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

  18. #18
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Good question about warranties.

    I think I'd sell these as "30-day warranty" and they could buy a new frame if/when it breaks.

    I suppose I could devise an optional frame warranty for, say, $20...

    I would display them "under the counter".

  19. #19
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post
    Good question about warranties.

    I think I'd sell these as "30-day warranty" and they could buy a new frame if/when it breaks.

    I suppose I could devise an optional frame warranty for, say, $20...

    I would display them "under the counter".
    IF we bring in a certain medical assistance insurance, I was thinking of carrying special frames just for those plans. Not sure yet, but yes, I would do "under the counter" as well. I would have to do something as far as warranty because let's face it... you get what you pay for and the quality isn't the best. I really don't want to have to shell out money for the lenses if the frame breaks and I can't get another one. The "$20" warranty idea is a good idea, but 1) can you do that with the insurance plans you take? and 2) Is that going to cover you if you need to grind new lenses to fit the new frame because the disc frame is not avail. I was thinking of not using discontinued frame but just low cost frame for insurance needs. Our office does a lot of surgeries and sometimes patients need a temporary pair of glasses. We use the discontinued frames for those and do special package prices. CR39 (or poly if necessary) FT and SV only. Most of those patients are in those glasses for a month at most so we don't have any warranty worries.

  20. #20
    OptiBoardaholic Optical Roy's Avatar
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    Modern
    Last edited by Optical Roy; 03-22-2021 at 01:30 PM.
    Roy W. Jackson, Sr. ABOC

  21. #21
    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post
    Good question about warranties.

    I think I'd sell these as "30-day warranty" and they could buy a new frame if/when it breaks.

    I suppose I could devise an optional frame warranty for, say, $20...

    I would display them "under the counter".
    You can also warranty them once with another frame from the same collection.
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

  22. #22
    OptiBoard Professional Excel-Lentes's Avatar
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    After 20 years in a low income area and dealing with Medicaid and various Medicare plans I have sampled most of the popular budget companies. Every company selling budget frames has a few lemons that quickly fall apart (sometimes upon assembly!). Live and learn.
    The companies I rely heavily on at the moment are;

    New York Eye (Mostly the Enhance line but there are several excellent Jubilee models) This company frequently has overstock sales
    Value Eyewear (Soho and Metro) Soho has a number of good plastic styles without spring hinges. I always lock tite the hinges because
    screws always loosen up/ their hinge screws are huge too so stock up on replacement screws
    Capri: 4U & Millennial lines are ok but they ooze cheapness. Dicaprio line is quite good but a bit more pricey.

    I would suggest ordering a couple dozen of the most commonly popular shapes for your location and try them out. Once you settle into your budget stash, it will be best to have 5 of each style on hand for back up. A 30 day warranty is not a bad idea. I will only warranty these types of frames if it is a true defect. I do sell replacements for a very reasonable price and keep plenty of parts around for quick fixes for folks that have no means to pay.

    Another avenue for budget I learned from Optiboard was OpticiansClub.com. You can import frames from factories in China directly. The even offer private branding for certain quantities. I have gotten a couple of batches from them without the branding to try. For the most part the quality is what you would expect from any major manufacturer’s medium level brand product.

    I have gotten hundreds of frames from Clear Vision overstocks. Slim pickings as of late though. They usually have all their brands in there to pick from and some aren’t even discontinued.

  23. #23
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    I got me some frames. I'm liking them. I got them from my lab's value package collection that they've scouted out for me. (Eight to Eighty, if anyone is interested.)

    Moving on to the harder part:

    Mervinek, you said "FT and SV only" and I am inclined that way as well. Although there are some pretty "affordable" in-house PAL designs, these days, and the "lab packages" include PALs, I wonder if it's too much "service" for such a low price? I don't want to trouble shoot/adjust/hear complaints.

    EyeMud and VSPee are really into doing "standard progressives" these days, but despite even Shamir and Zeiss entering good products into this niche (which I think is a mistake, personally) I try to avoid dispensing "PALs for Peanuts" TM (I may use them for a lower-end computer application though).

    What does everyone think of that approach?

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alex Camblor View Post
    Modern Optical and I-deal Optics are our go to insurance frames. I think they both offer lifetime warranties as well.
    "Lifetime warranty" The cost to ship the frame back to I-Deal Optics costs more than what they charge you for the frame lol.

  25. #25
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Here's more jaw-flapping:

    You know how "they" say something like "present the best product and work down from there"? By that, I mean when presenting an optical solution to a problem, you don't usually start at the bottom and work your way up:

    Example: "Do you want multifocals? OK, do you want progressive multifocals? OK, do you want thinner, lighter progressive multifocals? OK, do you want reflection-free, thinner, lighter progressive multifocals? OK, do you want light-adapting, reflection-free, thinner, lighter progressive lenses?

    Vs.

    "These are light-adapting, reflection-free, thinner, lighter progressive lenses. Awesome, right?" And if you have unwanted features, you remove them.


    Remember that guy who said that?




    Well, the opposite approach should probably be used with "budget-y" glasses. If you can get people to "say yes" to buying glasses, you kind of break their resistance, and then you can offer ad-ons. It's a "sell from the bottom" technique, like "do you want fries with that?".

    So, you could add features ala carte to the budget glasses that would resonate.

    My top contender would be to upgrade to polycarbonate.
    Then maybe AR.
    I doubt we'd get to photochromic.

    But should we allow an "upgrade" to PALs? I'm thinking "no" because adding something like poly (or even photochromic) makes it easier for us, but adding AR or PALs make life more difficult.

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