Read this before you buy another pair of reading glasses. I learned these lessons the expensive way.
I was looking for glasses that could handle everything. I needed to see my phone up close, read a menu across the table, and drive without swapping lenses. This search sent me on a long, frustrating journey of incorrect prescriptions and terrible customer service.
Last Tuesday, I was at my regular coffee spot, trying to read a new book on my e-reader. I noticed the woman beside me watching. Eventually, she leaned over and asked, “Are you alright? You keep doing this little head wiggle.”
I laughed it off, but I was embarrassed. She was right—I was doing the "head wiggle." It’s what happens with cheap progressive lenses. To find a clear view, you have to tilt and turn your head, hunting for that one tiny sweet spot.
I explained, "They're progressives, but the clear area is so narrow. If my nose isn't aimed right at the text, everything goes fuzzy."
This wasn't a new issue. It was the culmination of two years trying to find the right half reading glasses. I’d tried major online retailers and upscale mall stores. They all promised perfect vision. They all let me down.
My first attempt was with a large online company. The prices were low and the frames looked nice. But when they arrived, everything was blurry. I sent them back and tried again. Still blurry. This happened three times.
When I asked for my money back, that’s when they got me. They hadn’t mentioned it upfront, but after the first return, they pushed hard for "110% store credit." It sounds appealing, doesn’t it? More money toward another pair!
Here’s the catch:
I paid for the first pair, returned it for credit, and used that credit three more times. I was nearly $200 in, with four pairs of unwearable glasses. In the end, I took their frames to a local optician and paid another $200 just to get the correct prescription put in. Remember this: Store credit locks you in, even if they keep sending defective products.
My Advice: If a company pushes store credit over a refund, walk away. They’re betting their product will fail and you’ll be trapped.
After that online disaster, I went to a well-regarded chain store. The staff was friendly. The frames cost $550. I assumed the high price meant high quality. I was wrong.
The same problem persisted: the progressive lenses were cheaply made. The viewing corridor was tiny, forcing me to move my whole head just to read a single line on my computer screen. My neck was constantly sore.