The Spectacles Thread. - Part 2

[thegardens3b]

Hello all,

Would like to seek help on this topic. I have always been a Zeiss lens user. Recently visited my regular optician to get a new pair of specs, as my previous one got damaged.

I went for Zeiss Single Vision Individual 1.6 with no BlueProtect. My degrees as follow: R -125 Astig -75, L -325 Astig -125.

When I picked up my specs for the first time, I noticed there was a noticeable and significant yellow tinge to the lenses. As I work in an industry that requires absolute colour accuracy and true colour, I couldn't have any yellow tinge to my lens. The optician was helpful and help me remake the specs as there could be a mistake with BlueProtect added to it.

The specs came back for a second time and still, there was the same yellow tinge to the lenses. The optician then explains to me that due to the UV protection Zeiss employed (400 and above), they no longer make clear lenses. I would like to find out from the experienced folks here if this is really the case?

If Zeiss no longer make lenses without a yellow tinge, what other brands of lenses would you recommend? Superb clarity and durability are my top priorities. I pair the lenses with a frameless frame.

Many thanks for reading and helping in advance!

From what i know, different companies might not use the same materials for different index lenses. I'm not too sure on the specifics itself but i do know that sometimes, different indexes might have slight color differences.
If you really need a really clear lens that doesn't distort your color perception and still maintain good vision, you can try nikon/hoya/shamir.

I'm very satisfied with my tokai 1.76 go lens and planning to make another pair. Do the industry insiders here know if the tokai 1.76 cvf is now available locally?

this one got to wait for the most appropriate person to answer.

just discard the anti blue light len
get a zeiss normal len

hi, he clearly stated it is not a blue control lens and has already addressed it to you once again..

 

[thegardens3b]

Just received my Zeiss lenses with I.Scription, I think kena chop carrot.
Paid about 1200SGD for the lense only. Here is the prescription:

You got the best lenses possible and with i.scription = very customised to that particular frame and your visual habits. whether or not it is worth it, it is for the user to judge and not us.

side note: just curious, this was not done locally right?

should have gone for lasik

would have rolled more but they dont allow me to..

 

[thegardens3b]

@thegardens3b, @GANGSTERKIA, @EyezoneOpticalSG

All of you have been fab contributors to this thread. I have a question for all of you.

At the end of the day, any optical shop is about making money. Given that companies like EyezoneOpticalSG based their shops around the HDB area, GANGSTERKIA have shops in malls, does the high rental in the shops indirectly affects the final price of a pair of spectacles? Will one shop be more expensive than another because of their higher operational cost?

I am sure any one of you, can get similar brands of lens and all the permutations for your customers, so your bottom line must be based on volume . Am I right? I think your business is tough but you guys are amazing in helping and sharing.

*Amen*

Thank you for understanding this.
In any business, it is about profit. But in this industry, we focus on eyecare, personal relationships and also fashion eyewear.
for your question on location, very simple.
compare a soft drink in a coffee shop and the very same drink in a food court/restaurant. - i dont have to say more, you guys know the answer yourself.
However, WHETHER is it worth paying more for the food court price is very subjective.
Some people have more money to spend and willing to even pay 10x more in a bar for the same can of soft drink - Who are we to judge. We can say they are silly or crazy all we want. - Won't change the fact that they have money to spend and want better service/treatment and to us it may be a large sum of money to part with, but in their case might be just loose change.

At the end of the day, to each his own. Each business operate differently.. Consumers have their own right and can choose where to spend their money on. - Be it paying more in the mall for better services and branded frame and lenses along with all the eye health checks or just simply go into a shop asking for just the frame and lenses at the cheapest price possible.
This is every retail industry stripped down for you.. Just that in our industry, we incorporate eye health examinations as well.

 

[thegardens3b]

I spend abt $100 per Oakley with free prescription 1.61 lenses.. U all so Rich paying 1k plus for lenses only? It just a pc of polycarbonate.. Or so call a pc of plastic only..

definitely not in singapore.
the cost price we pay the agent for the stocks is more than what you pay for the lenses and frame added together...

You cannot say like that.

Given that you have a Patek logo as you avatar, it is like asking someone why buy a Patek just to tell time where a cheap Casio will do the same job. In glasses, you pay for what you get. There is no cheap glasses.

i kind of agree with the first part, but 2nd part is untrue.
many other places to get cheap glasses but not everyone wants to go there just like how patek users wont want to wear casio
but i get your point.

I agree with you. unless it's glass! ha ha

lol. glass = doesnt mean expensive.
Sent from Samsung SM-G975F using GAGT

Why no cheap glasses.. Is u know where to buy.. Or u want to be Robert kana chop by optical shop. What kind of plastic lenses deserve 1k plus? I am a pro photographer using prim nikkor lenses.. Even inside use glasses and super coating also not so expensive..

And yes I paid 2xk for a patek watch.. U know now it worth how much? Close to 40k now.. U tell me yr that ******* pair of 1k plus lenses is worth what price after u walk out of optical shop. Lol

Hi pro photographer, i understand and agree with your point. But using the word chop is a very negative term.. Lets say 2 photographers are offering the same services - e.g album of 10 photos, along with editing and sending the hard copies to the client. One offers it at $500, while the other is charging $3000. Many questions would be asked - why is one significantly more than the other? Most people know the answer if they do more thinking or if they see it from different perspectives.

 

[thegardens3b]

optical shop is like sls & lucky plaza, money come 1st

Sent from Samsung SM-G975F using GAGT

Not just optical shops... money always comes first. I apologise for the negative past experiences you may have with optical shops but i assure you, there are people who genuinely wish to have good relations, give good service while still helping the company make money even though it might be lesser just to maintain the good relationship.

Many people always say why can't we give more discounts etc.

Switch your point of view - If you were in our shoes, you provide the best possible service, trying to please the customer. You already budged down on the price but the customer insists on it being lower. How would you feel.
I heard this from a boss of a business " if you made the decision to walk into my shop, it means you trust me and my products, but if you ask for a discount, it either shows otherwise or that you feel my product and service are not worth the price"

Which i feel is very true.
Respect goes both ways. If you find the price too high, politely excuse yourself and go somewhere else.
There is always some place cheaper and also some place which charges higher. Choosing where to go and part with your money is a very personal choice.

 

[antisole]

You got the best lenses possible and with i.scription = very customised to that particular frame and your visual habits. whether or not it is worth it, it is for the user to judge and not us.

side note: just curious, this was not done locally right?





would have rolled more but they dont allow me to..

not locally because I am not based in Singapore...how much do you think it would cost back in Singapore?

lol

 

[thegardens3b]

not locally because I am not based in Singapore...how much do you think it would cost back in Singapore?

lol

i just checked the RRP. and.... i think you really kena chopped big time cos the price you paid is just for lenses.... woah.

 

[antisole]

i just checked the RRP. and.... i think you really kena chopped big time cos the price you paid is just for lenses.... woah.

Figured as much. Haha

 

[thegardens3b]

Figured as much. Haha

quite curious as to why didn't you ask for the price list/figure before paying. Or did you already know it was expensive but just went ahead with it because you thought it would be roughly about the same price elsewhere?

that being said, i personally feel it is up to you to feel justified for the price you paid.
If they gave you excellent service while doing your eye examination, and will provide excellent aftercare services, then to some people they wouldn't mind paying higher.
we will always have different opinions so just be happy with your own actions and choices

 

[angy]

@thegardens3b

thanks for the reply.

 

[antisole]

quite curious as to why didn't you ask for the price list/figure before paying. Or did you already know it was expensive but just went ahead with it because you thought it would be roughly about the same price elsewhere?

that being said, i personally feel it is up to you to feel justified for the price you paid.
If they gave you excellent service while doing your eye examination, and will provide excellent aftercare services, then to some people they wouldn't mind paying higher.
we will always have different opinions so just be happy with your own actions and choices

Part of the reason was, I could reimburse most of it with companys' flexi cash benefit. I did not end up paying that much . Was curious to how much it would cost for the same lenses back in Singapore.

 

[Nakedtoes]

definitely not in singapore.
the cost price we pay the agent for the stocks is more than what you pay for the lenses and frame added together...



i kind of agree with the first part, but 2nd part is untrue.
many other places to get cheap glasses but not everyone wants to go there just like how patek users wont want to wear casio
but i get your point.






Hi pro photographer, i understand and agree with your point. But using the word chop is a very negative term.. Lets say 2 photographers are offering the same services - e.g album of 10 photos, along with editing and sending the hard copies to the client. One offers it at $500, while the other is charging $3000. Many questions would be asked - why is one significantly more than the other? Most people know the answer if they do more thinking or if they see it from different perspectives.

Yes I understand u all got high rent to pay and no choice need to charge higher price.. Think the optician industries need a major revamp.. Make it cheaper and so ppl will make more pairs.. Like me since I got the cheaper lobang I made average 1 specs per year and rotate them to use or depend on what I wear..

Think optician needs to tell customers what's different between other not so known brand vs branded lenses. And u know many of Them will ask u go for higher index lenses even if yr prescription is not that high.. Means the differences 1.56 to 1.71 is only very minor depend on frame size. There is a guide online somewhere.. Thus I know for mine case 1.61 is more then enough. 1.56 is abit thicker only

 

[ahthere]

Shamir Autograph Intelligence

Anyone else tried Shamir Autograph Intelligence. Recently made a pair, cost 2k+ just for the lens. I went in expecting some distortion but don't see anything at all. Is something wrong with this PAL?

 

[whatme]

Nowadays it’s so competitive to sustain in this drowning optical industry with many large eyewear companies coming into Singapore.

I have to admit I’m in this industry too.

Forget it man.. So demoralising to see the general public think of us as the carrot chopper when some of us are really genuine

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Anyone else tried Shamir Autograph Intelligence. Recently made a pair, cost 2k+ just for the lens. I went in expecting some distortion but don't see anything at all. Is something wrong with this PAL?

Nothing is wrong with it. It is marketed as one of the best lens in the market. Claims to be on PAR with Essilor Xclusive(best lens for them) and Zeiss individual 2. I have a customer using it and so far no issues(thankfully).

For it to cost 2k. You are using high index lenses too?

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Yes I understand u all got high rent to pay and no choice need to charge higher price.. Think the optician industries need a major revamp.. Make it cheaper and so ppl will make more pairs.. Like me since I got the cheaper lobang I made average 1 specs per year and rotate them to use or depend on what I wear..

Think optician needs to tell customers what's different between other not so known brand vs branded lenses. And u know many of Them will ask u go for higher index lenses even if yr prescription is not that high.. Means the differences 1.56 to 1.71 is only very minor depend on frame size. There is a guide online somewhere.. Thus I know for mine case 1.61 is more then enough. 1.56 is abit thicker only

To be honest, whatever we charge, you can see for yourself, it's all from the brand pricelist and then we give further additional discount to it. We will surely make some profit out of it but still most of the markup is still done from the lens supplier side not us. We cant overcharge you as long as you look at the pricelist to make sure you are paying for the right product.

Nothing has to have a major revamp. I am sorry to be harsh here but i feel the consumers need to have their mindset changed. Yes, thankfully you have no issues with your glasses and lens that you are using now but there are many others out there who requires a better lens with better optical clarity to suit their needs. Consumers at my end does not require so many pairs of progressive lenses. Just 1-2 pairs(max) will do fine for any normal person. If you are using progressives which i am sure you are not based on the price you are getting for your spectacles, you will realize that you do not need so many pairs unless for reasons e.g. fashion etc.. Not sure about the others but from my POV, you do not need so many glasses(progressives) but just one that can suit you well enough.

Yes it is great that you get it at a good lobang, but if your optical shop is located in Singapore,then he must probably have a really large base of customer to be able to carry on selling at this price.

base on this quote ''Think optician needs to tell customers what's different between other not so known brand vs branded lenses. And u know many of Them will ask u go for higher index lenses even if yr prescription is not that high.. Means the differences 1.56 to 1.71 is only very minor depend on frame size. There is a guide online somewhere.. Thus I know for mine case 1.61 is more then enough. 1.56 is abit thicker only''.

I Believe that you can choose to not patronize those shops that does this kind of service as we all know that it is wrong. And that is why some of us are here to try and give as much advice as we can to you. I post here with the intention to educate and try to prevent as much of this to happen as much as possible. For the elder generation, i guess it's really up to the conscience of salesperson to deal with them.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

optical shop is like sls & lucky plaza, money come 1st

Sent from Samsung SM-G975F using GAGT

I believe this is a sweeping statement. Yes , Shops are open to generate income and of course to earn more money but doesnt that apply to almost everywhere else?

I'm not sure if there are any negative experiences that you encountered in the past , but not all shops are out here to chop carrot head.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Lastly, just to clarify, i do not own any optical shop and just working in a small practice.

Just a small peasant working hard to earn a living.




Annnnd to prevent others from getting chop carrot head.

 

[kitsura]

Went down to my favourite JP optician and she recommended Lindberg frames as they can customise everything from frame, bridge, temple, color, etc. But I saw the gold frame costs more than 8k without lenses. Also their titanium range costs $700 excluding lenses too. Any thoughts?

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Went down to my favourite JP optician and she recommended Lindberg frames as they can customise everything from frame, bridge, temple, color, etc. But I saw the gold frame costs more than 8k without lenses. Also their titanium range costs $700 excluding lenses too. Any thoughts?

Lindberg are one of the better premium quality spectacle frame. They are really light and comfortable.

The customizing one is also very interesting. I have 2 models which are able to customize and one buffalo horn.

The one in my DP is one of the customized one.