"I'm a loyal customer of Lenscrafters"

[drk]

I had a 54 yo low myope VSP patient new to the area who was wearing Persol ophthalmic frames SVDO and SVNO (why?) and we updated his lenses with 1.5 AR-coated for both pair. Good.

But he wanted new sun, so we brought in a particular wrappy aviator RayBan sunglass to Rx SVDO. BUT NO! He wants "genuine Rayban Rx lenses" and won't consider Shamir Attitude III. He is told "there's nothing at all special about Rayban Rx lenses and the lenses we use are from the same company and probably exceed the quality of Rayban-branded lenses". But nope. He mentions he's a "loyal customer of Lenscrafters" (???) and wants those lenses and will get his sunglasses elsewhere.

What an idjit. Smarter than we are, I guess.

Branding is a way to make people cult members.

[CME4SPECS]

Why didn't you just have the Ray Ban logo put on them? I'll bet that's all they wanted.

[drk]

I'm fresh out...

[Uncle Fester]

I wonder if there's a new district manager for LC?

Hmm... on second thought he's be much too old...

Watch your yelp comments;)

[Elvis Is Alive]

"genuine Rayban RX lens" = nothing more than Essilor lab produced with logo slapped on..

[NAICITPO]

"genuine Rayban RX lens" = nothing more than Essilor lab produced with logo slapped on..

I know the lenses aren't done at the local essilor labs, they are sent back to a specialty rayban lab. We actually had a rep come in and try and convince us to sell more Rayban branded sun lenses. When I asked what the difference was she had told us that it's a lab that only does the Rayban lenses with authentic Rayban frames, so they specialize in it. Like they know which base curves to use and know how to mount it better?? It wasn't really clear how that was better. There's nothing really particular about Rayban frames other than sometimes a lab breaks the glass demo lenses because they suck to get out. Of course they get the RB logo, but you could order the same product from your local essilor lab. A digital wrap lens, tinted or polarized with Crizal sun shield. Needless to say I haven't sold very many of them.

[iD]

any essilor lab should be able to do the ray-ban logo on the lenses. I know that's not the point but it beats going back and forth with him. I had a patient who bought ray-ban aviators and got her rx in them and when she came to pick them up she was like "whats this? where's the logo? I can't wear these. They look like knock-offs. I'm going to be made fun of by my friends where flea market glasses."

[Elvis Is Alive]

Maybe things are different now but I was told a few years ago that RB rx lenses were produced at the Lux lab in Dallas.

[iD]

Maybe things are different now but I was told a few years ago that RB rx lenses were produced at the Lux lab in Dallas.

Omega?

[optical24/7]

Omega?

In 79 I was escorted off their premises, and “banned “ from re-entry…(Long story…)

[Fezz]

in 79 i was escorted off their premises, and “banned “ from re-entry…(long story…)

*m*a*n*i*a*c*

[iD]

In 79 I was escorted off their premises, and “banned “ from re-entry…(Long story…)

I'm listening...

[NAICITPO]

I'm listening...

+1, sounds like a good story!

[drk]

I just called my (essilor) lab re: "how 'bout a Rayban logo" but they aren't allowed.

HOWEVER...they can send the job to "THE Rayban lab" for us.

[DanLiv]

HOWEVER...they can send the job to "THE Rayban lab" for us.

For "THE Rayban price" I'm sure.

[CME4SPECS]

For "THE Rayban price" I'm sure.

A Lenscrafter loyal is no doubt accustomed to high prices!

[IIxIPariahIxII]

When I would help out an LC lab in the area way back when I was still working for Lux, we did the Ray Ban monogramming in house.....they're just Varilux progressives and Essilor SV lenses, that's it. You pay the extra money for the monogram and have access to the Ray Ban exclusive mirrors. Or did last time I looked. I literally never do Ray Ban RX, and patients appreciate being honest about what they're getting for the price.

[Uncle Fester]

Great story!

Reminds me of my state run at the time, licensing test in 1977. It was held in Worcester MA. We were a very small (class of 19?) group who graduated from OSF with an "approved" to take the test, but not accredited, Optical Science and Dispensing" degree. The accredited degree came a couple of years later after the founders sold to Newbury Junior College.

The parking lot next to the building was also used by an Evangelical Church holding a revival in the Worcester Centrum.

Thinking ahead and knowing we were going our separate ways I brought a cooler of Michelob's, as a matter of fact, on ice.

A nice gentleman approached saying we could come with him if we wanted to have our souls saved.

I said "And where's the fun in heaven?"

[EyeManDan]

I said "And where's the fun in heaven?"

[/QUOTE]

Not to take a religious turn, be he did turn the water into wine.

[NAICITPO]

It's like Rayban executives sat around in a room and thought:

Executive 1: how can we increase sales? Oakley sells a lot of lenses, and so does Maui Jim, we should start selling "authentic" lenses!

Executive 2: Great, what's going to be authentic about them???

Executive 1: Hmmm.... What could we do? We could design a brand new product and spend a lot of money on R&D and come up with something truly unique?

Executive 3: Sounds like too much work. Let's just borrow Essilor lenses, charge more, slap a Rayban logo on it and give them a certificate of authenticity!

Executive 2: You had me at charge more!



I don't want people to think I hate the evil empire. This is coming from someone who owns no less than 10 RB frames, and Essilor is my brand of choice by a large margin.

[NAICITPO]

Found the notes from the meeting with Essilor about RB Authentic.

Going through the first page:

Integration- The software is somehow better from RB with RB lenses, not detailed out.

All are Aspheric, and so are all eyezen lenses that you can order from any Essilor lab.

All are prism-thinned with "specific parameters and precision", again so are all eyzen lenses from any Essilor lab.

They choose the ideal parameters, how does Essilux not give the ideal parameters for their frames to all Essilor labs?? If they didn't that would worry me more than anything.

Specific base pair matching of lens to frame. Again I do not understand how any lab software wouldn't do this.

2nd page:

RB stamp and same as "plano" aesthetic is true

Increased profitability, also true because the price is more

Design and geometry customized to shape of frame, I don't understand how that can be true. Are they using special lab software that at the "Rayban lab" that normal Essilor labs doesn't have access to?

Systemic Crizal and Essential blue, no different than what we would order if they wanted these products with an individual lens selection.

Aberrations reduced by 10%... again if we put the customer into a digital lens that would have the same effect.

Personalized and customized Ray Ban Authentic Eyewear (w/certificate of Authenticity), Well you got me there!

Essilor Blue brands... ie Eyezen which you can order from any essilor lab.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

And this is why I don't sell many RB Authentic lenses.

[drk]

Good work.

It's hard to not be cynical. But we're also not idiots.