It's been my lens depot for the past 2 years and counting.
Written: Apr 10 '03
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When I began wearing contact lenses I started to realize that I was being very overcharged by my opthalmologist. This is a common problem. When you order direct from your doctor, (s)he might take the opportunity to significantly hike up the prices in order to make a buck. Also, I found I had to wait at least 6 weeks to recieve my lenses. The doctor would have to order the contacts and then ship them to me. Altogether it was a very expensive, messy, and confusing process.
Then I discovered 1800Contacts.com, a sleek intuitive site that allowed me to order my contact lenses on the Internet. They carry all major brands as well as a wide selection of more minor ones. I recently switched to an unusual aspheric lens, and, happily, 1800-Contacts carried it. They also carry your basic basics like Acuvue, Focus and Biomedics. The selection includes daily disposables, 1- and 2-week disposables, and "permanents" which will last you at least one year. The selection is very good and 1-800 Contacts boasts that this is the greatest selection you can find anywhere. However, if you are looking for cosmetic contacts (such as those colored or tinted to enhance your eyes), you will do better looking elsewhere. I have noticed that 1-800 Contacts's selection of these is far narrower, and they are not as up to date when it comes to stocking the very newest brands and styles.
I was impressed by the site. It is very organized and user-friendly. Registering at first will take a little while, as you will need to have on hand the full contact information of your eye doctor. They are required by law to call your doctor to confirm your prescription, so you will need to see an optometrist and obtain an eye care prescription before you can order from 1-800 Contacts or 1800Contacts.com. When registering and ordering, I suggest you have either your full prescription, or a box of your specific type of contacts, on hand, as they will ask you for figures like your magnification and base curve. All in all, very focused and precise. They really "know" eyes--you can be sure you're not ordering from some run-of-the-mill store managed in someone's basement.
The more boxes you order, the better your deal will be. The site will help you decide how much to purchase, and they sometimes offer little promos such as a free bottle of rewetting solution, etc. The site, I repeat, is lovely. It is definitely one of the tidiest and best online stores I have ever seen, and I have ordered from it for about 2 years now.
However, when I was placing my most recent order, the site was "down" and I couldn't get my order through. At first I was a bit disappointed, as the online site ordering has many added benefits such as free shipping. So I dialed the toll-free number (1-800 CONTACTS , of course) and spoke to a rep.
A main 1800Contacts graphic is a picture of a smiling blonde ordering operator giving you the thumbs-up. The woman I spoke with was just like this--kind, helpul, knowledgeable and eager to please. She quickly told me that, because the site was down, she would give me the free shipping anyway. My contacts were out of stock, and because of this she told me she would upgrade me to 2-day shipping for free. My contacts arrived in a week, packaged nicely in a compact little box, with a reorder form that would give me free shipping if I used it. They also enclosed a free contact lens case, as they do with every order. On my first order, I actually recieved two.
1-800 Contacts is not a discount contacts store, and it is not dirt-cheap. It is approximately retail price or possibly a little less, though there are often slight discounts and good promotions. Remember, though, that ordering through 1-800 Contacts might in fact save you a lot of money, because your doctor could be (and probably is) overcharging you. Because of this, I highly recommend ordering contacts from a source other than your doctor. As far as I know, 1-800 Contacts is the most reputable, reliable, convenient and quick of these sources. It throws other contacts stores in the dust. I rely on it!
Recommended:
Yes
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perfectprep
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Reviews written: 81
Trusted by: 8 members
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