Suzy Q Homemaker

I always seem to lose or break my glasses while I’m pregnant. It’s a strange twist on Murphy’s Law, since you can’t get your eyes checked while you’re pregnant. So you spend the rest of your pregnancy squinting at road signs and hoping you don’t get a reading headache. At least that’s what I did. Thankfully, I’m not legally blind or anything so I could wait to get my eyes rechecked (it had already been more than two years since the last time).  Once Timothy was born and I got the eye exam done, I was so excited that I could try out eyebuydirect.com.

Eyebuydirect.com is a really neat website where you can “try on” and purchase eyeglass frames.  The prices are incredible!  But it’s not just the frames that are inexpensive, the lenses are, too.  I used to go to Lenscrafters in the mall to get my eyeglasses before and even if I got a good deal on frames, the lenses killed me.  I had to opt for the cheapest lenses with absolutely no glare reduction or UV coating.  That left me with an OK pair of glasses that made it hard to see at night.  So frustrating!

At eyebuydirect.com, the frames and lenses with anit-scratch, anti-reflective, UV-coating, upgraded to thin & lite were only $91.80 with shipping.  Obviously, this doesn’t include the eye exam–you must get an exam at your eye doctor.

My favorite feature was the EyeTry before you buy.  All you have to do is upload a photo, adjust it with the tools provided on the website, and then “try on” some frames.  It’s so easy!  Here are a few pics I took before deciding on my new glasses:

I finally decided on these ones:

The shipping was really fast, and I was really excited to receive my glasses.  Unfortunately, I had put my prescription in my order form wrong and my glasses didn’t work!  It was completely my fault.  But Eyebuydirect.com has an excellent return policy and I was able to send them back for a replacement pair.  I did run into a snafu, though, when they asked for a copy of the prescription the doctor gave me.  I didn’t have it!  It’s so hard for me to keep track of paperwork around here, but I remembered the numbers and put them into my account.  Customer Service and I had a few emails back and forth, finally resulting in a live support chat before I finally got my replacement pair ordered.  Here is what my chat was like:

Elizabeth: I’m anxiously awaiting a replacement pair of glasses but haven’t heard from service since I returned the first pair. The prescription I put in the system wasn’t correct, so I returned my glasses with the form I was sent and everything. I’ve contacted service to see when the replacement glasses were going to be ready, but have gotten no response after two emails. Can you please check the status of my glasses?

You are now speaking with Juanita of Customer Service.

Juanita: Hi Elizabeth.

Juanita: Please hold on, let me check the details of the order.

Elizabeth: Thank you.

Juanita: we are actually waiting for the delivery confirmation number of the returned glasses.

Juanita: Also, we need a copy of your original prescription which you may email to us as an attachment to service@eyebuydirect.com.

Elizabeth: I sent the confirmation number on June 25.

Elizabeth: And I’ve put the correct prescription into the system since then.

Elizabeth: Here is the Tracking Number: 9101128882300754741159

Juanita: Please email us the original copy f your prescription as an attachment so we can attach it to our report to the lab.

Juanita: When we receive the prescription, we will process your new pair right away.

Elizabeth: I don’t have the original.

Elizabeth: It was misplaced.

Juanita: Please advise if there is any ADD value in your prescription as it was not indicated in your order form.

Elizabeth: No, there is none.

Juanita: If we are going to reprocess the order, then the result would be the same.

Elizabeth: What do you mean result?

Juanita: That is why we need the original copy because the lab could see vital info in there which could have been missed when filling up your order form online.

Juanita: We suggest that you secure a new prescription from your eye doctor so we can be sure we are processing the right lenses for you.

Elizabeth: The prescription that is now in my account is the correct one.

Elizabeth: Sphere SPH Cylinder CYL Axis Addition (near) ADD
Right Eye(OD) -0.50 -0.75 110 (ADD) Addition
Left Eye (OS) -0.50 -0.75 40 (ADD) Addition

Juanita: That prescription is very much different from the prescription in your order form:

Right Sphere(SPH): -0.25
- Right Cylinder (CYL): -0.25
- Right Axis: 180
- Right Addition (near) ADD: (ADD) Addition
- Left Sphere(SPH): -0.25
- Left Cylinder (CYL): -0.25
- Left Axis: 180
- Left Addition (near) ADD: (ADD) Addition
- Pupillary Distance (PD): 60

Juanita: Please advise what prescription to use.

Elizabeth: Please use the prescription that is my account now.

Juanita: Ok, we will reprocess the order with the following prescription:
Sphere SPH Cylinder CYL Axis Addition (near) ADD
Right Eye(OD) -0.50 -0.75 110 (ADD) Addition
Left Eye (OS) -0.50 -0.75 40 (ADD) Addition

Elizabeth: Thank you.

Juanita: You’re welcome.

Juanita: We will now forward your info to the lab for processing

Juanita: We will notify you through email when the order is completed and shipped out so you may know when to expect the order.

Juanita: Thank you for contacting EyeBuyDirect. Should you have any further queries, please feel free to call our toll free number (1-866-439-6628) or you may send us an email : service@eyebuydirect.com Have a great day ahead.

The chat was a little frustrating, but I got my glasses and they are the right prescription this time.  They look bigger on my face than they did in the EyeTry picture because my pupillary distance is less than the lowest option available on the site (mine is 56 cm and the lowest choice at the time was 60 cm).  The EyeTry picture I guess shows what would happen if they were able to shrink the frames to my miniature face.

I do recommend Eyebuydirect.com for those of you who know how to put your prescriptions into a web form correctly and who don’t have tiny faces!

Buy it!

This week only, Eyebuydirect.com is having a BOGO sale!  Take advantage of this sale by using my special URL, and one reader will will be added to the new VIP program, awarding him or her a lifetime of discounts, promotions and special gifts.

Win it!

This is the part you’ve been waiting for, I know.  One lucky person will win a pair of prescription eyeglasses (with the exception of designer eyewear and sunglasses).

To enter: Post a comment stating the name of the eyeglass frame you would choose if you won.

For additional entries, leave a comment for each of the following:

• Post a comment with a link to your EyeTry photo
• Post your “Eye Try” photo with your favorite frame to the Wall of Frames
• Post a comment to the Wall of Frames
• Subscribe to Suzy Q Homemaker by email or in a reader (current subscribers count!)
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this post
• Tweet about this giveaway and add @terpsichore (multiple entries—leave a comment for each tweet)
• Use the “Share” button at the bottom of this post and let me know how you shared this giveaway
• Follow Suzy Q Homemaker on facebook
• Post my button on your sidebar

Good luck!

Giveaway ends August 3, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST. US only.

Tags: giveaways, product review

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