cheap specs?

Author
Discussion

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
Lost me driving specs, bought from Boots in Bristol about 3 yrs ago, they were the cheapest in the shop, Benny Hill Chinaman style but did the job. Are Boots still the cheapest place to get a test and basic specs? I'm not a skinflint honest but the prices High St outlets charge for bits of plastic wind me right up.

Stitch

933 posts

224 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
Look out for free eye test vouchers for D&A - the current M&S magazine has one in.

Get the free test, get them to write out the results and walk over to specsavers with your prescription.

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for that tip, glassesdirect.co.uk seem cheap source for specs and the geezer who set it up did so because he was fed up with the 1000% profit High St retailers were making

Stitch

933 posts

224 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
My only concern with buying on line is in relation to measurements. The lens effectively has a "sweet spot" and an optician will measure the centre of your eyes (either with a funny looking ruler or a machine that looks a bit like a pair of binoculars) to make sure that when the lens is ground down to fit the frame that sweet spot is in the right place.

I don't know how the on line bods get around that.

Have checked out your employers policy on specs? They may cover a proportion of the cost of glasses (in your case if you need to drive for work) and will almost certainly provide a voucher for a free eye test.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

216 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
Big Asda stores can be good if they have an opticians.

Tuscanless Ali

2,187 posts

216 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
I'm sure I've had an email recently from Martin@moneysavingexpert, there was some deal on with Glasses direct, 2 pairs for about £13

Found it:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/groupon-che...

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Stitch said:
Have checked out your employers policy on specs?
Sadly that's me, and my policy is quite unenlightened in regards to concessionary deals to myself

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Tuscanless Ali said:
I'm sure I've had an email recently from Martin@moneysavingexpert, there was some deal on with Glasses direct, 2 pairs for about £13

Found it:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/groupon-che...
Thanks for this, checked it out but it appears to have expired last week, drat

Tuscanless Ali

2,187 posts

216 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
tonym911 said:
Tuscanless Ali said:
I'm sure I've had an email recently from Martin@moneysavingexpert, there was some deal on with Glasses direct, 2 pairs for about £13

Found it:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/groupon-che...
Thanks for this, checked it out but it appears to have expired last week, drat
Oh sorry, I only read the bit that extended the 2 4 1 offer until August 5th, still makes them cheap if you go for the £39 range.

Odie

4,187 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Ive used these before.

http://www.speckyfoureyes.com/

Ive also managed to haggle a big highstreet opticians down by a good 50% before too. (from £500 to £250)

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Hmm, I'm more in the 29 quid range. Just been round 3 opticians in my home town, Vision Express, Specsavers and some outfit I've never heard of. For eye test Specsavers want £21.95 with cheapest specs at £25. V/Exp want £25 for test, but online voucher brings that down to £12.50, then their cheapest specs are £44. The other lot were £29 for test and £70 for cheapest specs.

Odie

4,187 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
tonym911 said:
Hmm, I'm more in the 29 quid range. Just been round 3 opticians in my home town, Vision Express, Specsavers and some outfit I've never heard of. For eye test Specsavers want £21.95 with cheapest specs at £25. V/Exp want £25 for test, but online voucher brings that down to £12.50, then their cheapest specs are £44. The other lot were £29 for test and £70 for cheapest specs.
I didnt think you had to pay for eye tests anymore, I never do.. Maybe ive just been walking out without paying, they have never said anything..

tonym911

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Odie said:
tonym911 said:
Hmm, I'm more in the 29 quid range. Just been round 3 opticians in my home town, Vision Express, Specsavers and some outfit I've never heard of. For eye test Specsavers want £21.95 with cheapest specs at £25. V/Exp want £25 for test, but online voucher brings that down to £12.50, then their cheapest specs are £44. The other lot were £29 for test and £70 for cheapest specs.
I didnt think you had to pay for eye tests anymore, I never do.. Maybe ive just been walking out without paying, they have never said anything..
Like your style! I think they might remember me when I go in on Sat morn as I went in and said how much for a test and for your cheapest specs ever.