It is pretty easy to get non-Luxottica frames.

Not too surprisingly, independent small batch production runs of frames end up costing a lot of money.

There are also artisan frame makers who hand make the frames. If you are going to pay $300 for some frames, mine as well get an actual work of craftsmanship.

At the end of the day, most Luxottica frames are actually far cheaper than the high end independent frames you can buy. Exceptions are the fancy branded frames, but at that point the $ is for the Gucci logo.

Online bare bones frames also exist, or just go to Costco.

A 3x-4x markup at retail is normal. For low traffic businesses, an even higher markup is needed to stay in business.

Those online stores do a lot of volume, and don't have to pay leases or for nearly as many opticians to be on staff.

> that the prices we pay for eyewear in no way reflect the actual cost of making frames and lenses.

Of course it doesn't. The price we pay for eyewear is the price we value it at. Just like literally everything else that is sold in stores that isn't a commodity good.

Doesn't help that insurance is involved. $200 a year eyeglasses allowance. Eyeglasses end up costing $200. Is anyone surprised?

Yeah, I buy Bellinger Blac carbon-fiber frames. Hand-made in Denmark. Not cheap, but as a guy, it's about the only accessory I own.

My view is that if you're using it every day it's worth spending extra money on it for the best.

This is how I excuse spending $250 on a mech keyboard and using high-end smartphones/laptops.

Not buying super expensive new cars, or any cars, is probably the best place to not do this. Unless you commute daily.

ok, how can i acquire this?

Find a local retailer using their website.

In reality, it's pretty hard, because very few stores have much selection at all to look at. After a number of years of buying their frames every once in awhile, I found an optometrist who invited me to "meet the sales rep" so I jumped at the chance; turned out it was a co-owner and also a model for the company's materials, he brought basically every frame they owned to the meeting, told me great stories, made great recommendations. It was the amazing experience I had been looking for but not finding. Just gotta get lucky, I guess, with smaller companies.

it turns out a different eyeglasses place in the same mall as my current one sells them. huh, easy enough.

I remembered this as well. This bothers me, as I just had to get a new set and they are ridiculously expensive. I originally opened the article hoping that this was some kind of "I 3d printed my own frames" or something to that effect. I am hoping someone will figure out how to disrupt this industry.

Zenni Optical [1], EyeBuyDirect [2], VisionPros[3] among others let you buy online as long as you know the numbers.

[1] https://www.zennioptical.com/

[2] https://www.eyebuydirect.com/

[3] https://www.visionpros.com/

I was hoping for the same. Still an interesting enough read to keep me until the end, though.

Agreed and I wish this was exposed more, so people might spend their cash or insurance credits on alternatives that can be more innovative and cheaper.

I supported Frameri through their crowdfunding and beyond for this reason. I bought several sets of interchangeable frames and lenses from them and am pretty satisfied. But then they closed up shop and left me hanging with a never-fulfilled final order. :-(

Yeah, I was surprised that he bought his final pair of glasses online for such a high price. Maybe the frames were expensive? I've used zenni optical for many pairs of glasses, and they're much cheaper.

When you have a prescription that strong the lenses get expensive quick. Even from Coastal.com I end up paying $200+ for high-index photochromatic lenses, because my left eye is -4.75.

The article mentions a +7 in one eye, we’re in the 1.67 index range (mine are 1.6) with a script like that. €208 is a deal.

I just checked with zenni optical, and with his prescription it did recommend the 1.67 lenses. The total was $59.

Not to say that $200 isn't a great deal compared to Luxottica, and he did say that he was very particular about his frames, but $200 still seemed high.