If you’re looking for a new pair of eyeglasses, you may be overwhelmed by the excessive prices of a basic single pair. A pair of glasses nowadays could set you back hundreds of dollars. Major retailers specializing in eyeglasses seem to be overpriced, and there isn’t much competition. There is a reason for that.
Pearle vision, along with most other well-known eyeglasses stores, is owned by a huge company that owns major brand names. This means they have a lack of competition which would usually drive prices down.
In this article, we will explore the retailer Pearle Vision. We will look at exactly why and how they keep their prices so high.
What is Pearle Vision?
Pearle Vision is one of the largest chains of eye care stores in North America. It began with its first small store in 1961 in Savannah, Georgia. Pearle Vision now has more than 500 stores across North America.
Pearle Vision offer eye exams for children and adults and will give prescriptions where necessary. Eye exams usually take around 30 to 45 minutes and offer a range of tests. They also sell contact lenses and a variety of prescription and non-prescription eyewear, including sunglasses and blue light protective glasses.
The frames they offer are made from a variety of materials, including acetate and titanium. Pearle Vision sells various frames by many major brand names such as Ray-Ban, Prada, Oakley, and many more.
When purchasing your glasses from Pearle Vision, you will first choose your frames then add your lenses, whether that be prescription or non-prescription. When you have picked the lenses you would like, you can then choose to upgrade them with anti-scratch coating or reflective coating.
Why are Pearle Vision Eyeglasses So Expensive?
There are a few factors that contribute to the high pricing of Pearle Visions eyewear. Here are a few of those reasons.
Frames And Lenses
You may think that the cost of the frames and lenses is what drives up the prices of a pair of glasses. But in fact, that isn’t true. Frames are usually made where many other products are made, in China. Having things made in China is much cheaper than anywhere else.
It turns out that frames aren’t at all expensive. Whether it’s plastic or acetate, a good set of frames should only set you back $4 to $15. But with celebrities wearing the latest expensive frames and designer brands selling well, the prices have soared.
It may also seem as though the lenses could contribute to the overwhelming prices of eyeglasses. However, in reality, the materials needed for lenses are glass or plastic. Many lenses today are made from plastic which is better for higher prescriptions because of their thickness.
They are also shatterproof, which makes them a more durable choice. However, the materials don’t cost all that much, and even with the upgrades such as a color-tint, anti-scratch coating, or reflective coating, they shouldn’t cost as much as they do.
Near-Monopoly On Stores
Luxottica is a giant Italian company that owns most major optical retailers and even major brand names. Now that Luxottica own the big stores, they can keep their prices high since there’s no competition to drive their prices down.
The fact that Luxottica own the stores and the brands they sell means they can keep their prices high across all stores and brands. This is precisely what keeps the prices high. Luxottica now own a large fraction of the world’s eyeglass market. They sell over a billion pairs of glasses every year!
Luxottica seem to own most of the eyewear market and even owns a lot of vision insurance. They own the vision insurance plan EyeMed Vision Care and even the online store EyeBuyDirect.
Here are just a few of the major eyewear stores that Luxottica owns:
- Pearle Vision
- Spectacle Hut
- Sunglass hut
- Target Optical
- Sears Optical
- LensCrafters
- John Lewis Opticians
- GMO
- OPSM
Luxottica also own designer brands such as:
- DKNY
- Ray-Ban
- Armani
- Tiffany
- Prada
- Chanel
- Coach
- Oakley
- Michael Kors
Final Thoughts
It seems unfair that the price of eyewear is so high when in actual fact, the cost of making them is so low. Luxottica own all the competition, and that’s what keeps the money coming in for them. This isn’t good when looking for reasonably priced eyewear. Some online eyewear retailers are considerably cheaper, and the quality of their eyeglasses is just as good as those sold at major stores such as Pearle Vision.