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Original poster

Teenagers glasses too expensive

36 replies

mightybrunhilde · 18/02/2019 20:55

My 15 year old DD needs new glasses but have been told I have to pay £90 (Specsavers) for 1 pair of glasses for her although less than 2 years ago we got free 2 for 1 child's glasses (she was a teen size then)and they still advertise on their website that children get a 2 for 1 on glasses
No explanation has been given for this by the branch but they really put on the hard sell!
We left the shop with my DD in a teenage strop. I cant afford to pay that amount for one pair and try to replace my own cracked pair that i need for driving (I always go for the cheapest pair for myself)
The only reason I can think of a reason of the price is that she has a large head and needs adult frames (Like all my children she is now taller than me & I am 5'7")
Has anyone else had this problem? and how did they get round it?
I looked online but all the websites state that it is illegal to sell glasses online to under 16s

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 18/02/2019 20:59

My DD is 15 and has just got two pairs of glasses free from Specsavers. The fitter said that next year she would get one pair, free from the £49 range, or £30 ish pounds off from higher price ranges. Did she want a designer range frame?

dementedpixie · 18/02/2019 21:01

Normally depends on the frames you choose too as some are cheaper than others e.g. when I got my new glasses I chose free frames so just had to pay for the lenses. Dd's price also varies each time depending which frames she goes for. We use an independent optician.

You do realise you can take the prescription and get glasses from a different place?

mellicauli · 18/02/2019 21:06

I just got 2 pairs of glasses for my 14 year old son from spec savers. 1 is NHS, 1 is specsavers 2 for 1. He is as big as a fully grown man so had adult frames. Did she get her eyes tested there ? Get the optician to help.

CrackersDontMatter · 18/02/2019 21:06

My dds are 12 and 14. Both got two free pairs of adult frames last week from specsavers. I think you should definitely question it as she's still a child so should get them free. Unless they are designer and you've been charged the excess. Last year I paid an excess for both dds, this year they both chose cheaper frames.

NicoAndTheNiners · 18/02/2019 21:06

They should still do free glasses for 15yo even if they need adult size frames I think.

But the voucher is for a certain amount, so if you choose more expensive frames then you have to make up the difference.

However I find that if you decline the second free pair in the bogof offer you can usually negotiate money off the pair you're buying.

TurtleEyes · 18/02/2019 21:07

It depends on the frames she wants, usually can go up to £89 and still get 2 pairs (but can depend on individual store policy) or one pair of designer with a top up fee. from that price it sounds like it's either designer frames (balmain?) or lense options, does she want them thinned?
If you're not happy get her GOS3 and go to a different store, even a different speccys (they're sort of franchises so you can get different policies between stores)

Chloemol · 18/02/2019 21:08

Go somewhere else. Or use the internet which is cheaper

tilly1989 · 18/02/2019 21:09

Have a look at ordering glasses online instead, once you have the prescription you can buy from any opticians, vision express have some reasonable priced ones and offer their own insurance at a small extra cost which could be helpful if prone to breakages

ChippyMinton · 18/02/2019 21:13

DS2 got some recently in Specasvers. He could’ve had 2 of the lower price pairs, or pay extra over for a single more expensive pair. IIRC we were told the free glasses were only available every 2 years, so that’s why you were told you would have to pay. Wait until 2 years have elapsed and go back?

  • I think it was 2 years, but I didn’t take much notice as DS was about to turn 16, so it wasn’t relevant to us.
Redken24 · 18/02/2019 21:13

Are you paying for the lenses to be thinned?

Blueemeraldagain · 18/02/2019 21:14

I definitely recommend Asda opticians. I have a very strong and complex prescription (thanks dad) and my lenses alone were about £200 elsewhere so I always has the cheapest cheap frames. I tried Asda for the current pair and got them and prescription sunglasses for around £100.

HaventGotAllDay · 18/02/2019 21:14

I am British but not resident in the UK though spend 2 mths of the year there. When I took dd there for an eye test I explained I wasn't probably eligible for her to have NHS glasses free as we weren't uk resident and the manager told me that unless she chose the designer frames, then their actual tills have no way of making me pay - kids get free glasses, end of. Unless they choose designer frames.

HaventGotAllDay · 18/02/2019 21:15

I go every year with her, Specsavers actually call to remind me, so unless their policy has changed since last September, it's not every 2 years.

BoringPerson · 18/02/2019 21:16

I second the ASDA suggestion. I've had great service there and they are great value.

dementedpixie · 18/02/2019 21:16

Kids tend to be every year and adults every 2 years. My 2 (age 12 and 15) get annual eye tests

BackforGood · 18/02/2019 21:21

I would check before she chose, which frames were included in the free glasses. Tehy usually show you the 'designer' frames, but it has always been clear which ones will cost you and which ones won't.

Hoppybunny · 18/02/2019 21:35

You cannot purchase glasses for her online if she is under 16. It must be appropriately supervised by a qualified optometrist or Dispensing optician. Her voucher has a financial value of at least £39 so you should be able to get her a basic adult frame for the value of the voucher but it will not cover the full cost of designer ones.

Hunter037 · 18/02/2019 21:46

Try an independent shop. My husband gets glasses for £20 from a local independent.

But yes she should be getting them free if she is still under 16 (18?)

dementedpixie · 18/02/2019 21:48

There will be a selection of free frames but if you choose from the designer frames then there will be a charge.

youngestisapsycho · 18/02/2019 21:54

My Dd has a new pair each year... NHS and then you pay a bit extra if you want the nicer frames. I also have to pay £50 for the lenses to be thinned. Last year in Specsavers she got a second pair free, they were prescription sunglasses so that was a bonus.

goldengummybear · 18/02/2019 22:00

Are you sure that she didn't pick a pair that costs the NHS voucher plus £90 hence the £90 bill? My 15yo dd wears the cheapest glasses which are free but I pay for them to be thinned and have the anti-glare coating so paid £25

goldengummybear · 18/02/2019 22:01

I'm not sure it was £25 but if they weren't thinned then they would be free.

anniehm · 18/02/2019 22:17

Dd got 2 free pairs at 15 and 1 at 16, going next week for final free pair!

Original poster
mightybrunhilde · 18/02/2019 22:17

She didn't even look at the frames as that was the price was quoted before we looked
They used to give us a frame price range and told up to what price frame we could go for I always make my children look at the lower priced ones as they can buy designer for themselves when they earn their own money (I know it sounds harsh but have always been taught the value of money and how they will always have to work for rewards etc)
They just kept with the hard sell

OP posts:
Original poster
mightybrunhilde · 18/02/2019 22:20

We went into boots on the way back to the car but there was no one in store to help us
Apart from Body;s and an extremely over priced independent optician that's all we have in the area

OP posts:
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