Lenscrafters canada - good or bad??

et3rn1ty wrote: ↑Has anyone had any experience with lenscrafters? How are the quality of their frames and lenses?
When I searched online, there are plenty of bad reviews but most of them are US stores.
I would appreciate some feedback from you guys
Thanks

That's funny.. I just did a search on them too and noticed the same thing.

I have been using Lenscrafters for a long time, maybe about 10 years or so (I don't purchase glasses too often though). It's a bit pricey, but the quality is pretty good...

On a bit of a side note, I was searching Lenscrafters because I wanted to know if they replace lenses... my lenses right now are a bit too weak for me now, but I don't want to purchase new frames. Anyone know about this?

I've had many good experiences with Lenscrafters, but unless you have a lot of visioncare insurance, or even if you do, it's hard to justify paying 10 times what clearlycontacts.ca charge, especially if you know what works on you.

I've gone into LensCrafters a couple of times and I was knocked off my feet by their very expensive prices.

Very expensive and when I came back to cancel order, they offered a "discount" for people without insurance...WTF. You're better off going to Costco or even better, online.

houng wrote: ↑On a bit of a side note, I was searching Lenscrafters because I wanted to know if they replace lenses... my lenses right now are a bit too weak for me now, but I don't want to purchase new frames. Anyone know about this?

Any optical store should be able to replace lenses on an existing frame.

Well depends on "what" ur looking for.

I've been purchasing glasses and contact almost every 6 months for the past 10-12 year (I'm scared of Lasik surgery! lol).

I purchase my everyday frames from pacific mall for very cheap but I buy my "special occasions" frames from Lenscrafters.

The quality of the lens that u order from lenscrafters or anywhere else is ONLY dependent on how you use them. If u order plastic with coating, the coating's from lenscrafter is "more" durable than the ones I purchase from pacific mall but then the price difference is ... (... means not worthed for "me"). Also since I wash my glasses with soap that kills the coating anyways, so I'd rather get the cheaper lenses.

I only recommend lenscrafters if u use ur glasses occasionaly and you think u don't want to change it for the next 5 years. Otherwise I recommend working with other opticals.

My understanding (& others will correct if I"m wrong) is Lenscrafters is a manufacturer as well as a retailer; as a result, their profit margin is big on the lens part. If you want lens from Nikon or Essilor or other high end lens brands, you'll have to go elsewhere.

Tacoma wrote: ↑My understanding (& others will correct if I"m wrong) is Lenscrafters is a manufacturer as well as a retailer; as a result, their profit margin is big on the lens part. If you want lens from Nikon or Essilor or other high end lens brands, you'll have to go elsewhere.

Lenscrafters does sell other brands of lenses, like the ones you cite. But like the Lenscrafters ones, they cost a fortune.

But I've always had quality stuff from there. They get my insurance $$$, then clearlycontacts gets the rest.

They are overpriced, but I have bought from then once because they had a set of frames I really liked.

Basically I go to a bunch of stores and buy the pair of frames I like the most. Fit and look is more important then price (within reason) when it comes to frames for me.

Lenscrafters does offer a discount if you have a CAA membership card...I think its 30%

http://caaneo.ca/savings/partners/lenscrafters.jsp

I actually went to a local lenscrafters yesterday and asked about their pricing on lenses.
I was quoted $300+ for high index lenses and an even higher price for the higher index. I think it was around $600. I don't remember exactly the index number.
The frames that I like are mostly 300+ but I don't know if I want to spend like 600+ total.

clearlycontacts.ca is much cheaper

Your Eyes can have it all at Hakim Optical!

I go there and the prices are reasonable.

2 weeks ago:

1. got eyes tested
2. went to Lenscrafters, got a quote for just under $600
3. asked for CAA discount, got quote for $369 for 1 pair of glasses
4. went to Pearle Vision, was ignored for 15 mins and left
5. went to Walmart, was quoted $369 as straight price, no discount
6. went to Hakim, got 2 pairs for $369!!

Coincidence in the price? I don't know ... but none of the above wanted to sell me lenses without new frames. Like "we won't have the parts if it breaks", "the frame is already weak", "the discounts/promotions are only for frame plus lenses", "we will charge you the same for using your old frames".

Odd since I bought my frames from Lenscrafters and Hakim previously! I found Lenscrafters at Fairview and STC really arrogant, but Hakim very helpful.

I have purchased from LensCrafters several times, same results as everyone else; pretty expensive for frames that are really nothing special.

My wife and I both wear glasses and we buy online from Goggles4u now. Frames and lens for $30 a pair works way better than $400 for one pair in-store. If you don't care about brand names frames, I think this is the way to go. There is another website, Zenni Optical that I am going to order from this weekend as well.

I decided to buy my glasses somewhere else.
At the end, I find that the price at lenscrafters are unjustifiable. There was another optical in the mall that I went to that had a clearance sale, half off for frames and lenses. Got myself a pair of designer frame and essilor 1.67 lenses for 379 total and my company insurance will pay me back 300 so it's not a bad deal i guess

cooolway wrote: ↑Your Eyes can have it all at Hakim Optical!

I go there and the prices are reasonable.

I have to agree with those who "slam" Hakim's. Many years ago, fed up with the ridiculously high pricesfor eyeglasses, I started buying mine at Hakims. The price was better, and the after sale service was good. But then I noticed a gradual change. The quality of the frames and lenses I got was poor.
Metal frames quickly corroded. Lenses, in spite of "anti-scratch" coatings, quickly became scratched!
And whereas previously, if there was a problem - bent frame, loose screw, lens came out - they would fix it free, suddenly it was a $5 charge just to tighten a loose screw on the frame hinge!
For personal reasons, I went several years without getting new glasses. My Hakim glasses literally fell apart, and I was left using one pair - ten year old computer glasses purchased from the Bay optical.
No anti scratch coating. Yet, despite years of daily use, they haven't scratched! Looking at the lens fit in the frames, it reflects excellent workmanship, compared to the Hakim crude and roughly ground edges of lens, poorly fitted into the frames, and prone to falling out!
Oh, and did I mention the huge sign at my local Hakim's - "Glasses in ONE HOUR"? Barefaced LIARS!
They even have an old lens grinding machine on display in the premises to support that fake claim!
I have NEVER gotten glasses there in less than a WEEK! They DON'T gbrind lenses on the premises. And, as I mentioned, judging by the durability of their lenses, they must use real crap plastic for their lens material!
Personally, I think you are MUCH better off buying eyeglasses at Sears or the Bay when they have
a 2pairs for price of one sale, or a free frames sale. I haven't tried the online services - given my Hakim experience, I suspec t it will also be cheap frames, cheap, cheap, crappy lenses, although I could be wrong.

mefromparadise wrote: ↑
The quality of the lens that u order from lenscrafters or anywhere else is ONLY dependent on how you use them. If u order plastic with coating, the coating's from lenscrafter is "more" durable than the ones I purchase from pacific mall but then the price difference is ...

Ask the store where they source their lenses from - if they're willing to give you a brand name, then it's a decent lens.

If you're still skeptical, you can always order Nikon lenses, consistent quality, but $$$.

For anyone living in London Ontario, avoiding the Lenscrafters in White Oaks Mall would be a wise decision. The owners incredibly rude and obnoxious, and gave me the impression that he just wanted to get the order over with and collect his cash. I was going to buy frames from there, and the man pulled the display copy off the shelve and tried to sell them to me. I politely asked if they had anymore in the back, and the owner got ridiculously defensive and said that he couldn't order 100 copies of every frame and keep them in the back. I guess he was trying to make me think my question was stupid? Anyways my bull**** tolerance is low so I whipped back at the idiot. I ended up leaving and went to the Masonville store instead. Never encountered the owner there but my experience there was much much better. I just hope the greedy SOB doesn't own both the establishments.