A Great Product at a Great Price!
Written: Jul 19 '04 (Updated Jul 19 '04)
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It’s lucky I usually wear contact lenses, because I’m tough on eyeglasses. I have lost a pair on a Long Island beach when I left them under a lifeguard’s chair and the tide came in. I have fallen asleep wearing my specs and rolled over on them, breaking the stems..
And the last two times I broke my eyeglasses, I was told that the frames couldn’t be repaired because I’d broken the spring.
And so, when someone told me about Zenni Optical, home of the $19 eyeglasses, I decided to give them a try. To my surprise, I received the most comfortable, lightweight, sturdy pair of eyeglasses I’ve ever worn.
The Secret to Zenni’s Low Prices
Zenni’s website claims the secret to their low prices is that they sell only their own manufactured frames direct to the customer, with no middlemen and virtually no advertising budget. My friend said she thought the lenses and frames were manufactured in Asia--I’m not really sure whether they are or not. The company is located in San Rafael, California.
But when I visit a local optometrist or optician, I’m not sure whether the frames or lenses were manufactured in the United States or overseas, either. Unless it’s a 1 hour optician like LensCrafter, I’m not even sure whether the lenses are ground here or abroad.
Using the Website
The website is very easy to use, much easier than the website of two other online eyeglass stores I visited.
Frames
Part of the ease is due to the small selection. There are about a dozen $19 eyeglass models (lenses and frames are only $19.) There are stainless steel, memory titanium, and memory plastic eyeglasses available in full rim, half rim, and rimless. There are three models of magnetic sunlens frames, at $29.95. All other frames can be fitted with $2.95 clip-ons.
Plastic frames are available in five different colors, while stainless steel and memory titanium are available in two or three different shades.
All the frames have a size listed. The size has three variables, such as 44-19-136 or 48-19-140. A customer would basically have to guess which size would be best for him/her. I chose a frame size that I felt would fit well on my head, and, luckily for me, I made a good educated guess.
Lenses
Zenni’s single vision, bifocal and progressive bi-focal lenses are premium 1.56 high-index polycarbonate high impact resistance lenses with ultraviolet and anti-scratch coating included. Sunglass tinting and anti-reflective, anti-radiation coating is available for $4.95 each. Bifocal lenses are $19 extra, progressive no-line bifocals are $49 extra.
Another online optical site I visited, eyeglasses.com, charged more for anti-reflective coating ($36) than I paid for my entire pair of eyeglasses at Zenni.
My prescription is quite strong, and I found the lenses I received were extremely lightweight and thin. I was very satisfied.
Filling in the Prescription Form
The prescription information can be filled in online. I thought that Zenni would want me to fax or mail my prescription, but they accepted the information I sent them. It’s best to make sure your optometrist puts the pupillary distance down on your prescription (mine didn’t.)
If you don’t know your pupillary distance, Zenni provides an online millimeter ruler and instructions on how to measure it. I followed their directions and measured my pupillary distance. After I had ordered, I learned a better way to measure pupillary distance and e-mailed them with a change. I received a note the next day from Zenni saying that the order hadn’t been filled yet and they would put my change on right away.
I was very impressed with their customer service.
The best way to measure pupillary distance if it’s not listed on your prescription form is to wear your eyeglasses. Look straight into a mirror and put a small magic marker dot on the exact spot where your pupil is looking through the lens. Then take a millimeter ruler and measure the distance, without that pesky nose getting in the way.
Zenni’s Guarantee
All sales are final, but dissatisfied customers can return their eyeglasses and purchase a new pair for half price plus the customary $4.95 shipping and handling fee.
Shipping and Delivery
Zenni’s shipping cost is $4.95 no matter how many pairs of eyeglasses are ordered. All eyeglasses are shipped through the US Postal Service first-class mail with tracking numbers and delivery confirmation. All eyeglasses are shipped in hard plastic cases with cleaning cloths, in a plastic mailer with built-in bubble wrap.
My total bill came to $41. for memory titanium frames, single-vision thin polycarbonate lenses with optional anti-reflective coating, a pair of sunlens clip-ons, and shipping. Purchases can be paid for with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. I received my eyeglasses in two weeks and three days.
Had I ordered similar glasses at a local dealer, I would have paid over $25 just for sales tax (which is collected on eyeglasses and non-prescription drugs in my state.)
Recommendation
I would definitely use Zenni Optical again and have recommended it to friends. Most of my friends feel that ordering eyeglasses online isn’t within their comfort zone, so none of them have tried it.
These are the most lightweight, comfortable lenses I’ve ever worn.
Recommended:
Yes
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