Shopping for prescription eyeglasses can be a long, painful experience. Endlessly swapping glasses while a salesperson stands by, occasionally looking at their watch, is no fun and it’s the sort of experience that could make you just grab the first pair of glasses you try on! Rushing through the glasses buying process will leave you with a pair you don’t like and a price tag considerably higher than you expected. There is a better way.
It’s 2020 and many people are buying eyeglasses online. This is an easy experience that will save you dozens — possibly hundreds — of dollars per pair. Not only will you save your hard-earned money, but the buying process will be quick and painless. There will be no hidden fees or pushy sales people.
Advantages to Buying Glasses Online
There are a few advantages to purchasing glasses online, but the top ones are very simple. Foremost, there are clear price advantages to online shopping. Retailers on the internet have no store to support and no salespeople to pay, rather they work in bulk with more buyers than could ever enter a physical location.
Second, online glasses stores have infinite shelf space so their selection is usually excellent. This makes comparison shopping extremely easy, especially then the retailer has technology like “virtual fitting” where you can picture yourself wearing your new glasses.
Third, there is no pressure. When shopping online you can shop whenever you want and take as long as you want. You don’t need a person offering their opinion or telling you what fits and what doesn’t.
Lastly, many online retailers off excellent guarantees. Many will let you buy multiple pairs at once, and then allow you to return the ones that you don’t like. With your satisfaction guaranteed you are free to experiment and find a pair of glasses that is the best for you, not simply one that is cheap or safe.
Where to Shop For Glasses Online
The downside of the internet is that it is a very big place. How do you know where to buy glasses and who is a trusted name? Here are for top retailers who are respected across the industry.
1. Warby Parker
Known for their low prices and fashionable frames, Warby Parker is one of the top names in online prescription eyeglasses. This company pioneered the “try at home” purchase experience and is the most widely recognized name in online eyeglasses in the United States.
Warby Parker has free shipping, free returns, and will send you five pairs of eyeglasses to try on for five days. What could be easier than that?
2. EyeBuyDirect
While not as hip as Warby Parker with a much less cool website, EyeBuyDirect has sold glasses to millions of people and has a tremendous selection of over 1200 pairs of eyeglasses for sale. This retailer is known for its classic designs and low prices. Where Warby Parker’s glasses start at around $95, EyeBuyDirect has glasses selling for half that.
EyeBuyDirect has a 365-day “Product Guarantee” for the quality of their glasses as well as a 14-day guarantee for the fit and style of the glasses, so buyers are protected and will end up with a pair of glasses they are happy with.
One bonus of EyeBuyDirect: they sell eyeglasses for kids. Many online retailers only cater to adults.
3. Zenni Optical
Another major player in the online prescription eyeglasses market is Zenni Optical. Zenni frames start at an incredible $6 but the company also has premium glasses made of high-tech materials like carbon fiber and titanium, the same materials race cars are made from.
With Zenni’s Frame Fit tool you can take a picture of yourself, upload it to their website and virtually try on as many eyeglasses as you’d like. This is a fast and accurate way to try glasses without ever having to leave your home, or take your credit card out of your wallet and wait for glasses to be delivered.
4. Coastal
Coastal might be a name you associate with a surf shop or fishing store, but it’s a major destination for prescription eyeglasses. Coastal has free shipping, free returns, and prices that start at around $20. They also have personalized customer service, with a free to call 1-800 number where you can contact a person to get help if you have any issues with the online experience.
Coastal does not have virtual try-ons like Zenni, but they will send you a pair of glasses for a 14-day trial if you find something you like. If you aren’t happy with the glasses you can send them back for free and get your money back, guaranteed.