Cost of child's glasses

[TheInterceptor]

Can anyone decipher this receipt for me? My husband took our 6 year old son into a high street opticians today and it ended up costing us £185, even after the NHS voucher was applied!

We usually pay extra to have the lenses narrowed so they're not as heavy, but I don't remember it costing this much last time.

He chose a frame from the teen range (has a wide head!), which had a sticker on saying 'FREE with NHS voucher'.

Does it seem right?

Last time I took my DD, she had one pair of glasses free on the NHS (we picked from the free range, no extra to pay) and then we paid £55 to have them thinned.

I don't know if children's NHS vouchers work the same way. But I was told (in specsavers) that the NHS is worth £x (I can't remember the exact value) but if you use the 'buy 1 get 1 half price' the value of the voucher is less.

They've also charged you for UCSC, which isn't the thinning is it? (That was free by the looks of things)

Specsavers distinguish between pricing levels for NHS free glasses for kids and teens

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/great-offers-for-kids

We always get a second pair as my dd cannot manger without them either and they do break or get lost and it takes weeks for new ones. We got 2 teen pairs and the coating for reflection yesterday. It was £40 for the second pair half price and £20 each for the coating each so £80 all together.
Looks like you have been overcharged for the thinning. Go back and ask them to explain.

Even if money is tight I always spend on dc glasses. It was £100 6 months ago too. I think it’s really important to get the best you can possibly afford including all the coating etc his eyesight might improve and you want to give him that chance.

It's late and I'm rubbish at maths. Can anyone tell me how they arrived at the £343 total figure?

I can't make it make sense.

Did he go to Vision Express? Some bizarre pricing going on there,for my astigmatism and -7 glasses thinned,coated would cost there..400 one set.

I go to Asda I pay 120 for 2 pairs-super thinned,coated,scratch proofed.

It's Specsavers. Their website says the UCSC is included in the price of the thinner lenses. I just can't make head nor tail of it.

2 x frames at £89 each
UCSC on one pair £110
UCSC on 2nd pair £55
Total = £343

One of the frames was half price, so they took off £44.50
The 'thin and light lenses' were free (worth 50) which is why it then says you saved £94.50)

343 - 94.50 = 248.50

Then they took off the NHS voucher worth 63.20

248.50 - 63.20 = 185.30

The website says the ucsc cannot be used with other offers.

You're a star, thank you.

They've applied 2 separate offers and then taken the voucher off at face value.

On the first pair they've deducted £50 from the cost of a 1.74 lens making it £60. Then your frame on top of that is £89 so the first pair in total is £149.00

On the second pair they've applied a 50% discount to both the frame and the lenses so the total for that pair is £99.50.

So both pairs together comes to £248.50, then once the NHS voucher is deducted you reach the final amount.
It's rare to dispense 1.74s to children unless the Rx is very high, as often with good frame selection you can minimise lens thickness. Might be worth querying it with them.

So I could have paid:

£89 (1st) + £44.50 (2nd) + £50 (thinning)

• £63.20 (voucher)

= £120.30

(or £170.30 if thinning is £50 per pair)

Instead I paid £185.30 for the above plus UCSC.

Finally got it straight in my head, thank you all.

The thinking was free
So, if I've understand correctly, you could have paid

89+44.50

• 63.20

But tbh they make it so confusing I nearly cried getting DS' last glasses.

Thinning, not thinking. Although thinking is also free!

As I said, we paid for thinner lenses before but I'm sure it wasn't this much.

Asda opticians do free thinning for the lenses. DS is +6.5 and they are really good.

I'm very grateful for your thinking! I think my husband has been not quite as discerning as I would have been in the circumstances. Hey ho. I'll take DS next time

Thank you, that's good to know for next time.

You're welcome. I wish my brain was so switched on when I was actually in there getting glasses

Pair 1:
Frame = £89
1.74 index lenses which include Ultraclear Superclean coating = £110
Total = £199
Free Thin & Light promotion applied=

• £50 NHS B Voucher applied =

• £63.20

First pair £85.80

Pair 2:
Frame £89
1.74index lenses which include Ultraclear Superclean coating = £110
Total = £199
Kids 2nd Pair Half Price Promotion applied =
-£99.50
Second Pair £99.50

Total for 2 pairs =£185.30

It's actually good value but without seeing the prescription I couldn't be sure if 1.74 lenses are necessary. A frame for a 6 year old is going to be fairly small although these are from the teen range. Small frames, small lenses therefore less weight and edge thickness if minus prescription so perhaps a 1.67 index (£80) might be thin/light enough.

If you're not completely sure about the order, please ask the store, they will be really happy to go through all the available options with you.
Also, ask about Myopia Management if this wasn't discussed.

Specsavers are the kings of upselling as is demonstrated here.

I don't go anymore as their pricing and upselling mean I'm never sure of final cost.
I now get my prescription, and pupillary distance and order from zenni. Can spend anything from 20 dollars to 60 a pair, including coating and thinning.

Hilariously, you've got the name spot on!