#HowTo: Get a complete pair of glasses for $139

Like all good nerds out there, I've been in glasses for my entire life. In fact I can't ever remember a day that I was able to see in an unassisted manner. Blind. As. A. Bat. for my entire life.

Normally, not a problem - I had glasses, and contacts ... operative word in that sentence being HAD. 

Last year, while en route to a conference in Vegas, I lost my glasses on a Greyhound. 

I wish I could say that I lost them in some amazingly awesome way like while I was bungee jumping from the top of the Stratosphere ... but no, again, it was on a bus ... and they just happened to slip out of my bag. 

::SMF:: 

Either way, I have now spent one FULL YEAR without glasses and it has been a miserable existence. I've basically been wearing my contacts almost every day, and taking a day of rest only when I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO because my eyes are blood shot as all nilly willy. 

It's horrible, but the consequences of starting a business and hustling hard; you're always the last mouth fed. 

That being said though, my buddy @JennHoffman knows the peeps over at @Cinziadesigns who graciously hooked me up with a pair of frames which I just got in the mail today. 

I was SO FREAKING EXCITED opening the box and oh oh oh! look at how pretty the case is!! 

So, now I had frames which was great because that saved me $200, but what about the lenses? The people at Cinzia had suggested a doctor in my area but when I called I literally started choking on my coffee when I found out that for both the lenses and the exam it would run me over $500. 

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND?!?!?! I thought. 

I then hung up the phone and called Lenscrafters, surely they would be cheaper I thought ... 

Me: Hi, do you have time for an appointment today? I was looking to get new lenses and an eye glasses exam. 

Her: Sure! We can squeeze you in. 

Me: Great! Just out of curiosity, how much do you charge for your lenses? 

Her: Single or double vision? 

Me: Eh?

Her: How old are you? 

Me: 27. 

Her: Okay, you're a single. 

Me: OOHHHH you mean like bifocals. Ah, I get it now. 

Her: Yes. 

Me: So, how much?

Her: Depending on what kind of coating you are looking at, but it's approximately $200 for the lenses and the eye exam will run you ... 

Me: WAIT, WHAT?!?! You guys are Lenscrafters - are you friggen kidding me??

I had allocated about $150 for both the lenses and exam, but had NO IDEA just how high these prices were. (Again, the last time I bought glasses I was using my parent's credit card, so price didn't really matter. Sorry Mom and Dad!!) 

I then cancelled the appointment, and googled "LA glasses coupon" and this was one of the first results ... 

Okay, I thought. This seems only 5% sketchy, but lemme just give them a call and see what's up. 

I then called the Drs. office and to my surprise, they could get me the exam AND the lenses (no fancy pants coating) all for $139 because of the coupon that I had found. Had I not had this discount, the exam alone would have cost me $115 plus whatever the lenses were (I didn't even WANT to look). 

I couldn't believe it! It was easy peasy - I called at 10, and by 11 was sitting in the Dr's chair telling him all about how awesome his SEO is and that the nerd deserved a raise. 

He laughed, asked me what I did - he then pulled up this site and we talked shop. Super random, but CRAZY SUPER AWESOME ... which is the story of my life. 

So now, I have a pair of frames with lenses, and today got the eye exam all in all costing me only $139. 

How can you do something like this? 

1. Start a blog.

2. Actually write on it.

3. Reach out to eye wear places and ask if you can talk about their product in exchange for a pair. 

Today I not only saved almost $200 on the frames, but got a WICKED RAD deal on my exam and lenses thanks to the google. 

Oh, and if you want to get a pair for even LESS there is a site called Warby Parker that I just heard about last week (but apparently has been around for longer obvi) that offers glasses for $99. Pretty neat-o if you ask me! 

Thank you SO SO SO MUCH Cinzia Designs!!

I can't wait to have my vision back!! 
Keep on keeping on, nerds!! 

#love

Comments

[Kevin]

another suggestion. $99 for single vision glasses at Warby Parker. Plus about $40 for an exam at Costco, you don't need a membership to get an exam. that's how i did it in a pinch in Dec.