Chains and progressive lenses

[LENNY]

I am trying to start a tread on progressive lens designs:D !

Like we dont have enough of them!

My question is what Progressive designs are used by the chains?
Do they stick to the same manufacturer no mater what or they would also choose the best lens for a patient.?
What does Pearle or Lenscrafters or Walmart or... dispense?
How about the privately owned franchise? Do they get the deeper discount on certain products or from certain labs than the independents?

[Cindy Hamlin]

I work for NVI (leased from Wal-mart) and the majority of our progressives are Sola products.

[Jedi]

In Canada we have a chain called Shopper's/Shorney's Optical, the use predominately Shamir lenses, Insight, Genesis, Piccolo, Office. Contrary to what was stated in another thread I didn't particularly like the Genesis lens. I use to manage one of these locations and since I've been with a private OD using Life2 i've been much happier when the patient adaptation rate. On the other hand maybe it's because I don't have to fight with an inhouse lab that does crappy work anymore.

[chm2023]

Chains will negotiate the best price with preferred vendor. They will limit the options to simplify inventory, processing etc. Pearle franchises typically can purchase outside the mother ship in which case they would negotiate with local suppliers (labs) and presumably would get the discount their volume dictates.

[Lee Prewitt]

Jedi said:
... Contrary to what was stated in another thread I didn't particularly like the Genesis lens. I use to manage one of these locations and since I've been with a private OD using Life2 i've been much happier when the patient adaptation rate. On the other hand maybe it's because I don't have to fight with an inhouse lab that does crappy work anymore.

Jedi, perhaps it was this in house lab and not the Genesis lens. Give it another try and see if there is any appreciable difference. When I was at Sears, we used AO lenses. This was before they merged with SOLA.

[Chris Ryser]

Suppliers or better manufacturers have a very difficult task to sell to chains:

Play politics in order to even be able to talk to a purchasing executive.

Dine and Wine during large trade shows.

Large discounts (larger than to distributors) and larger than the discount they get or got from the company you want to replace.

And .............. it is not alway's quality related. Price and personal favours play the most important role.

[edKENdance]

Hey Jedi, do you think that shoppers/shorneys has messed themselves up with the whole 2 4 1 image? Can you buy just one pair from them?

[Jedi]

The problem that I found with Shopper's/Shorney's is that the power that be could never make their minds up. Prices with lenses/without lenses, 2 pair/1pair, No sharing 2nd pair/sharing second pair. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! If I was frustrated as a manager imagine how the customers felt. I like encouraging multiple pairs for all patients now, so with my background it is very easy to do without discounting.

I think if the ever decided to stop the 2 for 1 they would have to close their doors, because their customers rely on that deal, at that type off customer is usually not loyal in the first place.

[mjh]

I'm with a chain and we use Essilor Naturals.

[jediron]

I m at a chain and we have no limit on what we can order.
From Varilux to Sola and everything in between.




"It was the best of times it was the worst of times"
Charles Dickens: Tale of two cities

:D :bbg:

[Chris Ryser]

jediron said:
I m at a chain and we have no limit on what we can order.
From Varilux to Sola and everything in between.
:D :bbg:

As a supplier I do sell some products to individual stores of some chains.

When the order gets paid, payment is made on personal cheques or with a money order and not company issued cheques

[jediron]

Chris what's to explain? We can order almost anthing we want. I don't see the problem.

[Chris Ryser]

jediron said:
Chris what's to explain? We can order almost anthing we want. I don't see the problem.

Was just wondering out loud. Must be different standards in different places and companies

[jediron]

Chris said:
Was just wondering out loud. Must be different standards in different places and companies.

It may be so. But I also worked for an MD who has 4 centers each with an optical shop. His head lab man worked out a deal with Sola for VIP lenses, so we could purchase unsurfaced lenses <wholesale price removed - Steve>.
The MD wanted us to sell only Sola lenses, but he did say we could order others, but Sola was preferred. So it's not only the chains.

:bbg: