“We have democratized glasses”: choosing low-cost glasses, a good idea for our wallet and our eyesight?

In Belgium, a pair of glasses is worth on average 300 euros, but it is possible to find some at a bargain price. More and more brands are promising glasses and frames from 10 euros. How can this price difference be explained? How are these low-cost glasses made, and above all, are they of good quality?

Beige and round glasses for reading or red squares for fun. In each circumstance, a pair or almost. “I was looking for an extra pair, at a lower price, so as not to damage my more expensive glasses..”, explains Émilie, a customer who came to look for glasses at the leader of low-cost pairs. In this inexpensive shop: trendy frames sold from 5 to 80 euros. And more and more Belgians are being seduced by the concept.

It’s good for my wallet and for me

Cost reduction

For inexpensive glasses, the leader in this sector has his technique: remove all intermediaries from the design of a pair of glasses. “We are recipient, designer, producer and glassmaker. We have no subcontractor or external actor.“, explains the manager. In this store, it is enough to go there with a prescription or to carry out an examination on the spot. But it is only possible to try the glasses and to order them online. ‘have a reduced stock and reduce handling, as well as the price.

We have completely democratized the pair of glasses

In a second low-cost store, pairs of glasses are available from 5 euros. The other promise, to make it in less than 10 minutes. To serve customers so quickly, the glasses are mass-produced in a laboratory. 100 pairs are produced every day, 7,000 lenses are in stock. The pairs are therefore already available in stores, transport costs are reduced. The brand relies on volumes. “An optician bets on higher margins, we bet on a large sales volume with a smaller margin.“, explains a salesman.

Is the quality there?

For Marry Bartik, ophthalmologist, these glasses do not meet all needs. “For progressive lenses, the technology will not be as advanced. This will affect the comfort of the person wearing them.“. However, if your vision problem is only low myopia, “Why not“, concludes the doctor.

On average, glasses cost 300 euros. A price that can also be explained by the support. “Our faces are not the same and therefore, we are not going to center glasses in the same way on everyone. And it needs someone to mount“, says Thierry Segaert, optician. This advice is not delivered in these low-cost stores.

In Belgium, there are more than 2000 points of sale. In this ultra-competitive market, opticians will have to rely on these customer services.

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