Intro: Buying Designer Prescription Glasses Online
If you wear glasses, you don’t need anyone else to tell you how expensive it can be to have more than one pair.
After taking an eye exam, finding the right frames, and choosing between an array of lens finishes and coatings, many shoppers find themselves spending much more than they planned.
Even generic prescription glasses can be pricey—in fact, the average cost for one pair of eyeglasses is currently $196.
Designer prescription glasses, on the other hand, can easily be two or three times that much.
Unfortunately, for times where contacts are not possible—or for those who simply prefer not to wear them—glasses are not something that you can go without.
Where can you find reputable, designer prescription glasses without emptying your entire wallet? Even better—where can you buy cheap designer glasses without the hassle of going to the optometrist?
Buy Prescription Glasses Online
FramesDirect.com is a popular choice for online prescription glasses, advertising a wide range of designer eyeglass frames at discounted prices.
But before you start ordering discount prescription glasses through FramesDirect, how do you know if these designer eyeglass frames are the best choice for you?
In our Frames Direct review, we’ll cover all the basics of the company to help you decide whether cheap designer glasses through Frames Direct will be the right fit.
While looking at Frames Direct reviews from actual customers, our FramesDirect review will answer common questions like:
- What is FramesDirect.com?
- Is Frames Direct legit?
- What do Frames Direct reviews say about the company?
- Is it worth it to buy prescription glasses online through Frames Direct?
If you’re considering purchasing designer eyeglass frames online, but aren’t sure where to go, stay tuned—after reading our Frames Direct review, you may discover that their online prescription glasses are the perfect fit for you!
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Frames Direct Review | What is FramesDirect.com? Is Frames Direct Legit?
Launched in 1996, Frames Direct was the first company to offer online prescription glasses. Based in Austin, Texas, each employee is a licensed optician, with a combined experience spanning over 300 years.
As a provider of online prescription glasses, they offer over 200 brands of designer eyeglass frames.
For those looking for cheap designer glasses, FramesDirect.com is a popular choice, since they offer top-name brands like Ray-Ban, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Michael Kors, Oakley, and more at 30 percent off MSRP.
Because Frames Direct employs licensed opticians, shoppers have the benefit of having their prescription reviewed by an expert before their discount prescription glasses are made.
Is Frames Direct Legit?
Part of answering the question “Is Frames Direct legit?” comes from finding out where they get their designer eyeglass frames. Are designer prescription glasses from Frames Direct the real deal?
As an authorized dealer of designer brands, Frames Direct orders designer eyeglass frames directly from the manufacturer. This means that shoppers can trust that all designer prescription glasses are brand-new and covered under manufacturer warranty.
Additionally, online prescription glasses offered through Frames Direct also come with the original brand packaging, which is not something that many discount prescription glasses offer.
Our Frames Direct review also found that the company has shopper-friendly policies for returns, exchanges, and warranties, which speaks to an experienced and customer-oriented business.
These policies include:
- 30-Day Exchange Policy: One-time free exchange per item for online prescription glasses
- 30-Day Return Policy: Full purchase price refund minus 50 percent of the lens price
- Free replacements for inaccurate prescription lens
- Free replacements for incorrect or damaged orders
- 1-year warranty for lens and frame defects
With a clear focus on customer service and a wide range of industry-standard policies, shoppers can rest assured that FramesDirect.com is indeed legit.
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Frames Direct Review | Frames Direct Reviews on TrustPilot
There are over 14,000 FramesDirect reviews on TrustPilot, giving the online retailer a total rating of 9.0 out of 10.
Positive Frames Direct Reviews
Most of the Frames Direct reviews are positive, with a total of 75 percent of FramesDirect reviewers rating their experience as “Excellent.”
According to FramesDirect reviews, shoppers who order online prescription glasses receive excellent customer service, with representatives often going above and beyond to ensure that customers are completely satisfied with their designer prescription glasses.
Frames Direct Reviews
For example, one Frames Direct reviewer says:
Excellent customer service! I had an issue with a pair of glasses and Jennifer went above and beyond to help me. I Love the Ray Bans I purchased from them and the price could not be beat!
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Another recent Frames Direct review says:
The glasses I received from Frames Direct are quite simply, the best glasses I’ve ever owned. They were delivered ahead of schedule and the service provided by Alan E was excellent. I will definitely be using frames direct again when I’m in the market for a new pair.
While reading through positive comments, our FramesDirect review found that shoppers commonly praise quick shipping and the high quality of their designer eyeglass frames.
Negative Frames Direct Reviews
Although there are plenty of shoppers with positive experiences purchasing designer prescription glasses online, there are still some negative Frames Direct reviews to consider.
Currently, 14 percent of Frames Direct reviewers have rated their experience as “Average,” “Poor,” or “Bad.”
Negative Frames Direct reviews on TrustPilot tend to comment on poor experiences with customer service and difficulties with either measurements or prescriptions for designer eyeglass frames.
For example, one FramesDirect reviewer that received an incorrect measurement says:
…Now I am stuck with an expensive but beautiful piece of eyewear that makes me nauseous if I wear it. Plus it’s a Saturday and their customer service is not open. So I’m stuck for a weekend and probably longer with glasses that make me feel like I’m drunk. But hey, at least their EXPERT OPTICIANS can read and got the prescription my doctor wrote correct.
A few critical reviews of online prescription glasses also note waiting prolonged periods of time for their delivery due to out of stock items.
One point to note is that our Frames Direct review found that a customer service representative consistently responds to customer complaints and seems to be providing proactive, helpful solutions.
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Frames Direct Review | Frames Direct Reviews on Better Business Bureau
Frames Direct has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2011, and has an overall ‘A’ rating.
Positive Frames Direct Reviews
28 percent of Frames Direct reviewers report positive experiences with their designer prescription glasses.
Many praise the company for providing high quality designer eyeglass frames with quick shipping, great customer service, and a convenient shopping experience.
Designer Eyeglasses Online
One Frames Direct review from user John L. says:
Great Business Transaction. I dealt with Ashley H. By email and she was very prompt and professional. She gave me her direct number if I needed further assistance. I got the glasses in about 1 week. Perfect! Thank You Frames Direct you saved me 300 dollars.
Frames Direct reviews also mention the importance of having the correct measurements and up-to-date prescriptions before ordering cheap prescription glasses to ensure a positive shopping experience.
Negative Frames Direct Reviews
72 percent of FramesDirect reviews on Better Business Bureau are negative, with many shoppers expressing frustration with their return policy and extended shipping times.
One recent Frames Direct review says:
I ordered some sport shades and was told it would take 4-5 business days to get them shipped, not delivered, just out their door. I called with 2 days left to go and was told they had not shipped so chances are good they hadn’t even pulled them off the shelf.
I cancelled because I bought them locally and was told I would incur a 10% restocking charge. That’s about $20. Highway robbery and just taking advantage of customers. If you’re looking for fast shipping and easy returns don’t go with these people.
In fact, many negative Frames Direct reviews suggest that restocking fees are an issue, especially for returns made long before the designer eyeglass frames have been shipped.
Although restocking fees are a focal point of critical Frames Direct reviews, it is part of a clearly stated company policy.
As explained on their website, all online prescription glasses are custom made, which incurs a restocking fee and/or partial refunds for lenses or designer eyeglass frames that cannot be repurposed.
Frames Direct Complaints
Along with negative Frames Direct reviews, potential customers may want to consider the complaints filed against Frames Direct through the Better Business Bureau.
Currently, there are over 60 complaints filed against the company, with over half of Frames Direct reviewers stating significant issues with the product or the service.
Our Frames Direct review found that the following issues are most common among complaints on the Better Business Bureau:
- Shoppers do not feel as though restocking fees or partial refunds for custom lenses are fair
- Some shoppers have had to wait much longer than expected for their online prescription glasses (30 days or more)
- Shoppers receive a prescription that is different than what they submit
- Lens warranties only cover manufacturer defects
Despite the positive Frames Direct reviews, the complaints listed above suggest that shoppers could run into significant issues when ordering designer eyeglasses online.
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Frames Direct Review | Overview of Positive & Negative Frames Direct Reviews
Reading positive and negative Frames Direct reviews is a great way to see exactly what you are getting into if you want to buy prescription glasses online.
Based on Frames Direct reviews from popular consumer review sites, the most common positive comments include:
- Wide selection of designer eyeglass frames
- High-quality online prescription glasses
- Helpful customer service department
- Quick, reliable shipping
While most Frames Direct reviewers speak highly of the website, there are plenty of shoppers who have had significant issues ordering designer eyeglasses online. The most common criticisms of FramesDirect.com include:
- Restocking fees for returns of designer prescription glasses
- Longer shipping times due to items being out of stock
- Difficulty finding correct measurements and prescriptions
- High prices for designer eyeglass frames
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Conclusion: Is it Worth it to Buy Prescription Glasses Online with FramesDirect.com?
After looking through consumer reviews of FramesDirect.com, there are plenty of shoppers who would highly recommend buying designer eyeglass frames and lenses through Frames Direct.
In fact, most Frames Direct reviews praise the company for its customer service, vast selection, and convenient shopping setup for those who want to order designer eyeglasses online.
With a wide selection of high-end cheap designer glasses and a customer service team of vision professionals, Frames Direct appears to be a solid choice for shoppers who need online prescription glasses.
Based on critical Frames Direct reviews, however, there are some precautions that shoppers need to take. All measurements and prescription evaluations should be up-to-date and taken by an optometrist to ensure that you get the best possible fit from online prescription glasses.
Time could also potentially be an issue when ordering designer eyeglasses online. If you need designer eyeglass frames to be shipped quickly, there are enough negative Frames Direct reviews to suggest that you may have to wait a few extra weeks.
Lastly, it’s important to understand their policies for returns and exchanges. Returns through Frames Direct can be tricky, since designer eyeglass frames contain custom-made lenses. If you don’t agree with the restocking fees, you may be better off going to your local optometrist.
If, however, the deals and convenience of Frames Direct are too good to pass up—and if you’re willing to take a little extra time to get the right measurements—Frames Direct could be a great site for your next purchase of designer prescription glasses.
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