F.A.Q.: Real Answers to Real Questions

Our parent company has been in the Eyewear Manufacturing and Laboratory business for almost 7 decades. We manufacture approximately 65% of the eyewear we sell and have wholesale distribution arrangements with the other 35%. So, good news for the consumer, our pricing is near or at the wholesale level for very high quality products. We manufacture eyewear using only the finest materials: Stainless steel, Titanium, Premium Acetate, etc. In order to have survived 70+ years in the Optical Industry, in both eyewear manufacturing and lens fabrication, we have to be doing something right! Actually, many things right. Our laboratories are considered premium laboratories and our eyewear is manufactured to the highest quality standards. When dealing with your eyes, there really is no compromise.

The EyeWearHouse offers monthly sales discounts on high quality eyewear and lenses. Savings of 30-50% are typical of Designer Fashion brands, and as much as 60% off standard and traditional brands of eyewear.

Regarding Laboratory Services – The EyeWearHouse is not a self user of laboratory services, such as Penny’s , Sears, Costco, Target, Lenscrafters, etc, are. Those companies have their own self-use laboratories who supply lenses only to their own stores (self-users).

The question to ask is, who, independently, checks the prescription (Rx) work that comes out of those self-use laboratories, NO ONE! The self-users check their own work themselves and that prescription work is not checked independently by anyone else. The amount of mistakes and lens problems is generally high in relation to those independent offices and hospitals who get their prescriptions done at independent laboratories, where finished prescription (Rx) jobs are triple checked prior to shipping. In addition, those jobs are additionally checked by independent dispensers, stores, offices, and hospitals for accuracy. The costs can be a little bit higher, but the quality is far superior.

Our Laboratories are independent and service individual independent Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Clinics, and Hospitals all over the country. The prescription (Rx) jobs that come out of our laboratories are checked and triple checked independently by those in the industry to make sure the work our laboratories produce is accurate and at a premium level of quality.

Whereas self-use laboratories and retail stores use limited lens products based upon costs, our independent laboratories carry a wide array of lenses, materials, and enhancements so as to offer a total package based upon the needs of the consumer.

Eyewear lenses are vastly complex and the offerings in the optical industry of many varieties of lens styles, types, materials, etc. are vastly different and important. Not everyone has the same prescription, nor does everyone wear the same types of frames and lenses. The cost of both eyewear and lenses is variable based upon the prescription and the individual needs of the consumer. Some consumers need Single Vision Lenses, and others need multi-focal lenses: both of which cost different amounts. In addition, there are those individuals who have very high corrections and require a specific specialty lens (Hi-Index) which makes the lenses thinner, so they look more normal and not “coke bottle” types.

Lenses designed to be thinner and clearer then than standard Polycarbonate lenses do cost more. However, cosmetically, they are more appealing and better looking for the wearer. Choices such as these are important to know about so that you have all the information and data about what different lenses are available and which ones can help you look better. Costs, again, are relative to what your needs are and what options are available.

For example: Those of you who now wear Progressive (multi-focal) lenses know that those lenses cost more than Single Vision lenses that they use to wear. In most cases, more than double the cost. Add-on enhancements such as Super Anti-reflective coatings, Transitions coatings, Polarized coatings, etc. all cost additional for those who want those options.

All these differences in needs by wanted by the consumer make prices of eyewear and lenses variable. The price is different based upon what the consumer wants or needs. However, the more variations offered by the EyeWearHouse, allows for more of the customer’s needs to be met for the best vision possible. Most “Box” stores generally do not offer choices or actually satisfy the needs of the consumer. Choices do not fit in with their “cutting corners” or “treating everyone the same” mentality.

Choices give consumers the options they need for the best vision possible. The EyeWearHouse and their laboratories offer hundreds of choices in lens design, style, enhancements, etc., in order to give the consumer the very best visual experience they require. for example: there are over 300 different designs of Progressive lenses available today, yet “Box” stores and many retail practices and stores offer only 1 choice.

At the EyeWearHouse, we offer many, many choices of Progressive Lenses based upon your life style and what you require in your daily activities and prescription. We have customers like, accountants, Script or book writers, that require progressives with more “reading” area than intermediate or distance. So we supply the right progressive with an extended reading area for those consumers needs.

Those customers who are on their computers all day require another type of progressive lens that has a larger intermediate area or one that has only an intermediate area and a reading area because they don’t use those glasses for distance. So we make them a lens that fits their personal needs. Yes there are hundreds of different progressives made and they all do something different for the wearer. At the EyeWearHouse, we pride ourselves on providing choices in all lens styles, materials and, for example, Progressive lenses, that fit the needs and life style of the wearer. So you will find a variety of progressive lenses available to suit your specific and personal needs.

At “big box” stores everyone who needs progressive lenses get the same exact one! No choices, no options…a “cookie cutter” approach to vision. Even in private optical practices, the Doctor’s give everyone the same lens because they get extra “spiffs” commissions, or bonus’s for selling specific brands.

At the Eyewear House, there are no commissions, no bonus’s, no spiffs for specifying specific brands/company’s eyewear or lenses. At the EyeWearHouse – Eyewear and lenses don’t fit in with a “one size fits all” mentality.

The average dispensory, whether in a doctor’s office or “brick & mortor” store displays between 200 to 500 pairs of eyewear for sale. Alot of the styles will be the same or similar with the same 3 basic colors.

At the EyeWearHouse, we believe in choices not only for lenses but for eyewear as well. You will find over 2,000 pairs of eyeglass frames on display. Split between Metals and Plastic/Acetate frames. In addition, we display over 800 different “Styles” (shapes) of eyewear. Something for everyone.

The EyeWearHouse displays a vast frame assortment for all tastes. On display you will find frame styles from 1) Basic & Traditional, thru 2) Retro Styles, thru 3) Designer Fashion Eyewear Brands, thru 4) Sunglass brands, thru 5) Original Vintage Eyewear, thru 6) Unique & exclusive “Handmade & Hand Painted” – German Eyewear designs and products. Every type of Plastic or metal frames styles & designs are available among the choices.

We believe in giving consumers lots of choices in their eyewear selections. Some think it’s confusing to give so many choices, but we would rather have too many choices than not enough as is usually the case. In addition, our staff is trained in “fashion fitting” of eyewear, so you will never be left alone to make that important decision. Our staff is very flexible in terms of your individual needs. You can feel free to browse the displays by yourself, or ask for advice and help in choosing your new eyeglasses. We are there to serve your needs. Our staff is well trained, objective, and is available to help you through the process in narrowing down your choices.

Although many believe that buying on the Internet offers convenience and better prices, this is not always the case in buying eyewear and/or prescription lenses.

Eyewear must be fit properly to be comfortable and the independent practitioner or dispenser is trained in fitting eyewear properly. Without actually have a physical product on your face, you can only guess at whether it will fit or not. It has nothing to do with the writing on the inside of the temple (arm) despite what a lot of internet sellers will tell you. Proper fit in eyewear is critical to your comfort. Consumers are not trained in what actually makes for a proper and perfect fit. So all you can do is guess at buying eyewear online.

About 4-6 individuals a week, who have purchased eyewear online, come into our showroom and ask if we can adjust or (fit?) the glasses they bought online. For these individuals, it is near impossible to make eyewear that doesn’t fit them, fit them. We can’t emphasize this enough. We aren’t talking price here as that is a relative term. What we are talking about is the 1,000’s+ of individuals who buy eyewear on the internet that doesn’t fit or feel comfortable….yet the price was cheap!

Quality control is also a problem online. We hear this all the time. The same with lenses. It all depends on “where in the world” your lenses are sent for fabrication. In the case of Single Vision lenses, options are not available on the internet as they all take a “cookie cutter” approach as in “one size fits all”. That may work for 45% of the population, but what about the other 55%. You can’t control whether your lenses are made from “blemished”, 2nds, or factory defects, instead of 1st quality, premium lenses.

You will always be better off actually being fitted in your eyeglass frames then guessing. It is always better to hear what Lens options and choices you have available to you as well, from a reputable “brick & mortor” store.

We don’t know who was first to use the line…”everything is relative”, but we like to think that consumers keep their eyes open and their options available and that they “don’t believe everything you read”. In some cases, pricing on the internet can be very good and be lower than the prices at your neighborhood Eyecare Provider. However, keep in mind: “apples & apples”, not “apples & lemons”, everything is relative.

A lot of designer fashion eyewear on the internet is “bogus” or fake products of all kinds. So much “pirated” Designer Eyewear comes out of China. It is a great place for unethical and nasty suppliers to sell unauthentic products without recourse by the consumer.

Now that’s one part of it, here’s the other. At showrooms like the EyeWearHouse you can often get even better deals than online because the EyeWearHouse manufactures eyewear to the industry, so the pricing is always better at the source then elsewhere.

At the same time, the EyeWearHouse has, about 8 times out of 10, either matched or beaten Internet prices and you get actual live staff people helping and fitting you properly. Also, your glasses are made in the United States of America instead of China or India. It almost always takes a shorter time for you to receive your finished Eyeglasses when made at the EyeWearHouse laboratories, then Online.

In addition, you know they fit, you know you will be receiving the best personal customer service with premium lenses and products available. If price is your only guide then you are probably a candidate to make a “fast food” purchase online. But if you actually care about your vision, go to a reputable office or store to give your eyes the proper respect and products.

Our laboratories only stock current products and technological innovations. As independent laboratories to the industry, we are expected to be on the “cutting edge” of technology and innovation. Our wholesale accounts expect our staff to guide them and educated them on the latest in Lens “state of the art” technological breakthroughs.

For example, Photochromatic or (commonly called Transitions) color changing lenses (light indoors/dark outdoors) introduced the latest generation of lenses in the fall of the year. Our laboratories revamped their inventories to supply only the latest Generation 8 Transitions lenses. They get darker and darker faster and clearer faster indoors than the previous generation.

When you buy lenses from the EyeWearHouse, you will always get the latest “state of the art” in lens technology. Even if you know nothing about what’s new in lenses or the optical industry, the EyeWearHouse will always “have your back” by fabricating and supplying you with the “newest” in Lens industry standards and technology.

We bring in approximately 300 new Frame products/items per month. It isn’t unusual for us to add 200 New Designer Frame Products every other month as well, at discounted prices. Typical pricing for Designer label Eyewear is between 30% and 50% discounts. We can “meet or beat” almost anyone’s prices.

In addition, we also offer specials and reduced pricing on both designer and standard products in our showroom. You will find specials and monthly 50% off discount pricing. The EyeWearHouse has prices to fit any budget or need. You should always check out the EyeWearHouse before buying online as many Eyewear Products are offered at Great Savings, at or below Internet Online prices.