I wear glasses every day, so they're a big part of my life. I started with the cheapest options I could find. But over time, I learned that quality matters. This is my story of upgrading from cheap designer frames prescription glasses to something much better.
My first pair of glasses were incredibly cheap. I thought I was being smart, saving money. But it turns out, you get what you pay for. The frames felt flimsy, and the lenses scratched easily. I bought them online for about $20, including the prescription. It seemed like a steal at the time.
The glasses lasted maybe a few weeks before they started falling apart. The screws came loose constantly, and the plastic felt brittle. I even tried fixing them myself, but it was no use. They were destined for the trash. It was a total waste of money.
Here is a review that sums up the cheap experience: "These are terrible. The lenses are blurry, and the frame broke after a month."
Another person said: "I ordered these because they were cheap, but I regret it. They look and feel cheap. Don't waste your money."
Verdict: Avoid super cheap glasses. They're not worth the hassle.
After my cheap experiment failed, I decided to upgrade. I spent a bit more money, around $75, and got a pair of glasses from a more established online retailer. They were still considered cheap designer frames prescription glasses, but a step up from my first purchase.
The quality was better. The frames felt sturdier, and the lenses seemed clearer. They lasted longer than my first pair. However, there were still issues. The frames were uncomfortable after wearing them for a few hours. I would often get headaches. Plus, the customer service wasn’t great.
Here's a 3-star review that echoes my experience: "The glasses are okay. They're not amazing, but they're not terrible either. The fit isn't perfect, and they sometimes slide down my nose."
Someone else wrote: "I upgraded to something mid-range. It was... okay. Nothing special, but decent for the price. I ordered two pair of glasses from glasses USA when they had there but one get one sale. They have a decent choice of designer glasses. I placed my order February 13th and still don’t have my glasses. There were multiple issues first they sold glasses that were not in stock so they notified me to pick another style. Since I was unconvinced they promised me expedited shipping plus an extra 25 towards my order. I replied back with an update and never got a response back. I had to call them so I can replace my order. After I updated my order I was told that they would let me know that my order was in process, once again I didn’t hear back and had to contact them to check that the order went through. It had not. After about a week my order says it was shipped but not expedited so I called to check and was told it was expedited then I received an email that it will take 5-7 business days and that it was rush shipping. Since when is rush shipping 5-7 days. I have ordered from Zenni, warby Parker eye buy direct and have never experienced this tile of poor customer service. I recommend them to about 10 people and had to turn right back around to tell them not to buy from here. I see this place has almost 5 stars sooo I’m not sure if that’s real or they just pick and choose when to have good customer service. I am highly disappointed with them and their service."
Verdict: Mid-range glasses are a decent option, but be prepared for some compromises. Check customer reviews for delivery issues.
Finally, I decided to invest in a really good pair of glasses. After doing some research, I discovered Cinily Net. I decided to try the MERRYS DESIGN Men Titanium Alloy Glasses Frame TR90 Legs Prescription Eyeglasses Optical Frame Business Style S2216 1.56 Anti Blue Ray from their Cinily Summer Collection. WOW! The difference was night and day.