How do you get the best deal on contact lenses?
My supply of contact lenses is running out, and my prescription ends in a couple of weeks. Time to go back to the optometrist?
Ha! My vision hasn't changed in years, and my eyes feel fine. I don't have any vision insurance right now, so I would be footing the bill for another eye exam. No, I'm going to stock up on contacts while my prescription is valid, then go in next year for an eye exam.
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU DO THE SAME AND YOUR EYES FALL OUT, IT'S YOUR FAULT. CONSULT YOUR OPTOMETRIST AND FOLLOW HIS/HER ADVICE REGARDING YOUR PRESCRIPTION!
Now that I got that out of the way...
If your optometrist sells glasses and contacts, you may simply buy from him/her after your exam. I know I used to buy my contacts that way. Some people think such arrangements (optometrists selling glasses/contacts) are a conflict of interest. And I agree.
Since I'm trying to cut expenses, I figured I would shop around for contact lenses. Lately I've been picking them up at Walmart, since that is where I got my latest prescription, and I just pick them up at the store when I need them.
But my local Walmart Vision Center seems to never have my particular prescription in stock, and the optician acts surprised every time, scratching his head, and furrowing his brow. I have to special order them, pay up front, then come back 1-2 weeks later when they are in the store. If I have to special order every time anyway, why not just do it from the convenience of my home? These are the places I searched for Acuvue 2 contact lenses:
1) Walmart: Let's start with Walmart. At $22/box, this is our baseline.
2) Ebay: Apparently you can't buy them on Ebay, or I searched incorrectly. All I see is contact lens accessories, and surgical/diagnostic equipment. If it's there, it's buried. Nicely done, Ebay. Cross that off the list.
3) Amazon: There are several vendors on Amazon, but the lost cost was about $21/box when you add in shipping.
4) 1800Contacts: If you buy a year's supply, they lower the price to $19.75/box, with free shipping.
5) Walgreens: With a coupon, the price was $17.24/box, with free shipping. Looking good...
6) WebEyeCare.com: Never heard of them, but $11.15/box?!?! That is cheap! When I tried to load up with 8 boxes (1 year supply), I could not. That is a teaser price for 1 box per eye (2 total), and it doesn't include processing charges.
When I added the other 6 boxes to the order, the average price per box (including processing) jumped to $18.29/box. The teaser price is a lie of sorts, to get you in the door. I walk away from these types of business relationships. No thank you!
And when I went to check out, boom! Another $12.95 in shipping and handling charges separate from processing charges? These guys are taking deceptive marketing practices to new lows. Shipping AND handling does not include processing? My head is about to explode! Now the price per box is $19.91, and I've wasted a lot of time.
Plus, the web site is not very professional. For example, I originally typed in a fake email address (just to get the final price), but then thought better of it, and chose "guest" instead.
The web site validated the email address anyway and stated there were invalid characters in it. If I selected "guest," why validate the email address?
A second rate web site and deceptive business practices? Goodbye.
7) Opticontacts.com: Also listed at $11.15/box. Is there a catch?
After proceeding to checkout, a mysterious "processing" charge of $23.64. And the cheapest shipping option is $9.95. Still, the price per box comes to just $15.35, which is a very good price, although not as good as their deceptive come on price would suggest.
Unfortunately, I had already placed my order with Walgreens based on my bad experience with webeyecare.com. Walgreens was straightforward and easy. They even had a database to look up my optometrist. They verified my prescription and shipped my order the same day. Seamless.
Maybe next time I will order from opticontacts.com. I despise their bait-and-switch sales tactics, although they are not as bad as webeyecare.com.
Or maybe I will finally opt for vision correction and be done with this chaos.
