Eye-wear price gouge

Thought I was gouged at 275 for two pair,

You should check out Zenni Optical. I just bought 5 pairs for less than $100 and that included shipping. They were for myself and 4 other people. We all had different prescriptions (one fairly complicated) and everyone is happy. They may not be name brand, but they have 1000s to choose from and so long as you measure correctly, you shouldn't have any issues. My advice is to take a pair of glasses or sunglasses that you like and measure those, then base your selection off those measurements. The pupil distance isn't so hard to measure, get someone to help you if you need it, or if you have prescription, call them and ask them what it is. Totally worth it and my insurance even covered the cost when all was said and done!!!!

This is not an option for many people yet for this cost, we still get only $200 back from insurance, no matter the prescription. Now insurance must cover the cost of the exam - where else do you pay to get diagnosed? Ridiculous.

Yes probably.Our retailers pay big rents-insurance-and other overhead.The bottom line is the consumer pays.One must look behind the scenes to understand the prices of goods. Often the governments want to raise taxes onto the corporations-end result consumer pays.
To understand so called gouging one must try to run a business and then you can see why prices are where they are.It is easy to when one does no know all the facts. Many retailers -small businesses make little profits.

You should check out Zenni Optical. I just bought 5 pairs for less than $100 and that included shipping. They were for myself and 4 other people. We all had different prescriptions (one fairly complicated) and everyone is happy. They may not be name brand, but they have 1000s to choose from and so long as you measure correctly, you shouldn't have any issues. My advice is to take a pair of glasses or sunglasses that you like and measure those, then base your selection off those measurements. The pupil distance isn't so hard to measure, get someone to help you if you need it, or if you have prescription, call them and ask them what it is. Totally worth it and my insurance even covered the cost when all was said and done!!!!

NO KIDDING!!! Bad enough the taxes....the HST was simply an add on as prices never DID drop...we simply paid an extra 7 or 8 percent MORE....and then it was added to FOOD....and to SERVICES....and purchases of HOUSES.....and then gas....and then our dollar is par with the USA and still no reprieve....just more and more taxes, higher cost of living....no jobs and no raises.

You should check out Zenni Optical. I just bought 5 pairs for less than $100 and that included shipping. They were for myself and 4 other people. We all had different prescriptions (one fairly complicated) and everyone is happy. They may not be name brand, but they have 1000s to choose from and so long as you measure correctly, you shouldn't have any issues. My advice is to take a pair of glasses or sunglasses that you like and measure those, then base your selection off those measurements. The pupil distance isn't so hard to measure, get someone to help you if you need it, or if you have prescription, call them and ask them what it is. Totally worth it and my insurance even covered the cost when all was said and done!!!!

Thanks Fayetted. I will do it on monday. I actually need new pairs. Thanks again . you take care.

@Imam - you are heading for another eyeglasses disaster. Don't you have and independent optician in your city to go to?

I do it when I visit my family in Ukraine. So far so good.

me too except I do mine in the Philippines the last time I did it, cost me 5% of what it would have cost me here

Did you know in Denmark all your health services including dental and braces etc. is paid for and covered so long as you are in school....a friend who came from there told me they have dentists right in the school and even in university. Nice huh? I think it was Norway or another of these Nordic countries that if you got injured and became a paraplegic etc. the government paid for everything you needed....EVERYTHING....even a special car for you if you were able to drive without the use of your legs....imagine that??

That's becuase for some reason we can't build an oil refinery in Canada or near the US border. Instead we have to have it refined in Mexico (or a State in America that has low taxes) so corporations can dodge taxes.

Worked on numerous oil refineries, they're here in Canada hun :)