# Eye Doc misquoted me the price for my new contact. Am I obligated to pay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587 "2009-07-01T16:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/1 "2009-07-01T16:22:41Z")
So I went to the eye doctor last week to get refitted for contacts. My eyes have gotten measurably worse since my last fitting over two years ago. I asked how much the contacts would cost and he said 140 for a six month supple. I said, “Okay, my insurance pays up to 120.” He says “Okay, that’s not too bad. We’ll call when they come in.” So I get the call that the new contacts are in, I go to the office and they hand me a bill for 140. I say, “my insurance should have covered most of that.” The receptionist checks and says “Yes, with the insurance it is 140.” I tell her I’m not getting these today and walk out. Am I obligated to pay for the contacts? I certainly would not have ordered them from the eye doctor if I knew I’d be paying that much out of pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/2 "2009-07-01T16:40:20Z")
Of course not. They offered a product, and you turned it down. No retail transaction has taken place yet. FWIW, most optometrists’ offices make you pay for the contacts before ordering them, to avoid this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/3 "2009-07-01T16:49:36Z")
$260 for a six month supply? Do these contacts come with a heads-up display and Bluetooth? And no, you’re not obligated. They’re not Darth Vader, if they altered the deal you don’t have to take it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/4 "2009-07-01T17:01:09Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > $260 for a six month supply? Do these contacts come with a heads-up display and Bluetooth? > > And no, you’re not obligated. They’re not Darth Vader, if they altered the deal you don’t have to take it. My contacts cost this much, too - though my insurance covers a lot of it. Very expensive. However I’d call my insurance company just to be sure, and I’d talk to the doctor. I dunno, I really haven’t found that many doctors out to rip you off. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/5 "2009-07-01T17:47:47Z")
By law, the optometrist must now give you your prescription when asked, which you are then free to fill wherever you’d like. Costco saves us hundreds of dollars each year for contact lenses for the girls vs. buying them from the optometrist. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/6 "2009-07-02T01:00:50Z")
No, you don’t have to accept them. Unlike glasses, they are returnable to the supplier. I recommend this place, I’ve used them for years. Just send your prescription, if you’ve already paid for the exam. If you know the numbers they may let you order without seeing the prescription, just need your doctor’s phone number. [http://www.1800contacts.com/](http://www.1800contacts.com/) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/7 "2009-07-02T02:40:42Z")
Get them online. The aforementioned 1800contacts was almost identical to retail, there are much cheaper places out there. I used [discountcontactlenses.com](http://discountcontactlenses.com) on recommendation and had no hassle at all. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/8 "2009-07-02T02:56:24Z")
I bought mine online and had no problems. And they were less than half the price I paid at the optometrist office, even after shipping, handling and the CDN exchange rate. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/9 "2009-07-02T16:01:32Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Get them online. The aforementioned 1800contacts was almost identical to retail, there are much cheaper places out there. I used [discountcontactlenses.com](http://discountcontactlenses.com) on recommendation and had no hassle at all. Thanks for that link. Looks like [discountcontactlenses.com](http://discountcontactlenses.com) is a 1/3 savings on my brand over 1800contacts. When you buy at least 3 boxes, which I do. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/10 "2009-07-02T16:23:19Z")
thanks guys. ---
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/11 "2009-07-02T16:41:54Z")
A cheaper-yet site is [visiondirect.com](http://visiondirect.com). NOTE for ALL webs shopping sites: When you see a “Coupon Code” slot on the checkout screen, immediately do a google search on “coupon code _storename_” and you will find what other discounts are available, like free express shipping or $-off for quantity coupons. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/12 "2009-07-02T21:19:07Z")
[Lensdiscounters.com](http://Lensdiscounters.com) is around the same as visiondirect, and has free shipping for orders over $99. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/13 "2009-07-02T21:31:36Z")
I agree with the others. If you had had glasses cut especially for you I would suggest working something out with the office, but an “off the shelf” product like this can be sent back and the only thing the doc’s office is out is the shipping to get them back to the manufacturer. FWIW I don’t think the office was intentionally hiding the price from you. They have nothing to gain by tricking you into ordering contacts that you could not afford. I simply think it is a case of the office person not thinking it through when she quoted you and not clarifying that she meant the price after your insurance covered its part. Also, I have to echo other people - seriously, $260 for a 6 month supply??? I buy mine from the optometrist office and I pay $99 for a 6 month pack. I get Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism in -6.00 and - 5.50. Surely there is something I am missing? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-doc-misquoted-me-the-price-for-my-new-contact-am-i-obligated-to-pay/501587/14 "2009-07-03T10:54:22Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > By law, the optometrist must now give you your prescription when asked, which you are then free to fill wherever you’d like. Costco saves us hundreds of dollars each year for contact lenses for the girls vs. buying them from the optometrist. I don’t need specs, so I’m not in the know – but way to go, smart shopper. I wonder how many people don’t know this.