Online retailing (prescription glasses)

In My Humble Opinion
1

Okay, I’ve worn prescription glasses all my life (since I was 7) and am fed up with the ripoff that is the retail optical shop. Since there are now online glasses available, I thought I would give them a try. After checking several, I can find none that allow entry of a not-uncommon correction called “Prism”. Looked all through the sites and it’s never mentioned. except for some that say “sorry, we don’t do prisms”. Well, I thought I would inquire with one in particular through their live chat function. Here is the transcript:

flex727:
My prescription includes an entry for “Prism”. Can you make glasses with a prism correction?
Welcome flex727! Your request has been directed to the Prescription & PD questions department. Please wait for our operator to answer your call.
Call accepted by operator Tara. Currently in room: Tara, flex727.
Tara:
Hi flex how are you?
flex727:
I’m well, thank you
Tara:
We do prisms yes it is an additional $19.95.
flex727:
That’s great. How do I indicate that when I purchase?
Tara:
You can place the order online…put your prism in the comments. Then contact us with your order number…then we will manually add the prisms to your order.
flex727:
I must place it in the comments AND contact you afterward?
Tara:
yes
flex727:
Seems redundant
Tara:
Online there is no option to enter prisms.
flex727:
What method of contact?
Tara:
If you choose to contact us via live chat you would have to enter your Credit card information on here. You can contact us via phone @ 1-800-672-6304
flex727:
How about email?
flex727:
Also, isn’t the credit card entered when I place the online order?
Tara:
You can enter your CC information in an email also…we don’t save that for security reasons.
Tara:
Is there anything else I can help you with?
flex727:
Okay, though I’m a little confused. The procedure is:

  1. place order online
  2. followup with email, chat or phone call
    Tara:
    Yes
    flex727:
    Do you know why there is no option to enter prism online?
    Tara:
    We are working on adding that option.
    flex727:
    Okay, thank you.
    Tara:
    Thank you for contacting us and have a wonderful day.
    flex727:
    Bye
    Tara:
    Bye

Okay, I understand why they have blithering idiots working there to keep prices low, but why do they have such stupid procedures? What was she trying to tell me about the credit card stuff, and why does a 10 minute change to some web code takes months to accomplish?

2

I don’t see how they can get your glasses just right without seeing the frames on your face. When I get glasses the lady measures the space between my eyes and the vertical position of my pupils in that frame which I would think would be a different height on each person.

Are you getting all those measurements and then online ordering? (I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 5)

3

Yes, the measurement for PD (pupillary distance) is on the prescription and is entered in the online form, along with SPH, CYL, AXIS. & ADD, but not PRISM!