Teenagers glasses too expensive

[mightybrunhilde]

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

My DD has just had 2 pairs of £89 adult sized frames with single vision lenses with UV coating free from specsavers. I think I'd actually challenge them telling you they were £90 minimum. As an under 16 she is entitled to free glasses - yes they can sell the add ons, designer frames etc, but they have to have a free option available. Can you phone and ask to speak to store manager? Explain to them and ask why you were not offered free ones?

You need to go to ASDA. Many optical prices are simply massively inflated. My specs lenses are complex and i still got a pair from ASDA for £80 and thats for adult metal frames.

I would ring specsavers tomorrow and query it because unless you were having the lenses thinned that doesn't sound right.

Get copy of the prescription and buy them from goggles4u. They'll give you a copy free. You can order glasses with all the measurements for as low as £9. I've been using them for years.

If that's were they started and didn't inform/show you the free ones then you really do need to query it, if she's been given a voucher then she's entitled to the free ones with standard lenses and uv coating. If she hasn't been issued a voucher (eg no change and old specs in good condition) then even if you bought privately she can get £25 ones as long as they fit properly.
Give them a call tomorrow and just ask to clarify what she's entitled to, ask to speak to a dispensing optician or a manager.

I don't know how close she is to 16 but they need to be ordered before her birthday to get the 2 pairs, once she's 16 it's one pair

Asda - I've spent a few hundred on several pairs of Specsavers glasses in last couple of years. But my current favourites are my £45 Asda bargains. Thinning and varifocal included.

Superdrug do frames online now, really cheap, good choice of frames. You just type in the prescription, no need to scan the hardcopy one, so they won't know her age.

Definitely NOT right u less you’re having something special done. All children are entitled to a free eye test once a yr and one NHS voucher per year too. If the teens range doesn’t fit her your DD is entitled to use her voucher against frames in the adult range (just as an adult receiving an NHS voucher would do). Depending on the cost of the adult frame you then pay the difference. In spec savers that’s usually a max of £60 but there are plenty of frames that are cheaper than that and several times my kids have had free glasses (based on the voucher coving the whole cost). I have 5 children who wear glasses so definitely go back.

I've ordered my child adult frames from specsavers there £25 & 45
Also Superdrug do glasses for £20
The kids section is ridiculous she's a teen so adult glasses are fine on her

It depends why she needs new glasses.

I have a 13 year old who has worn glasses since she was 4. She had a test in January, because there was no change since her previous prescription, she was told she did not qualify for new glasses (we are in Scotland so rules may be different). However, we got her prescription on a card and were free to take that elsewhere, or order glasses online.

Specsavers have a huge range of glasses at £49, and if you choose a £69 pair, you get another free. Yes you can choose designer and pay a fortune, but you don't have to. DH has specs from Glasses Direct, think he paid £19 for two pairs and they're fine.

Mine get theirs free from the £85 and under adult ranges.

You need to pay for the "designer" frames, though.