Date: 27 Aug 1987 09:39-EST
From: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
To: bovik@faraday.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: Purchasing Eyeglasses
Message-Id: <557069949/sak@andromeda>

Here are the results of my 1987 bboard poll of where to buy
glasses:


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Date: Fri, 14 Aug 87 09:41:25 edt
From: mp1w+@andrew.cmu.edu (Marc Russell Pawliger)
To: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: Buying Eyeglasses

I recently went to the Eyeworks and was very satisfied.  I was in and out in
an hour and a half, which is surprising since I need oversize blanks.  Their
frame prices are a bit high (80-120 for metal, ~60 for plastic), but they
were helpful and fast.  I had first gone to the one in Monroeville mall, but
they did not have the frame I wanted, so I went to Ross Park Mall.  Both were
fine.  They also managed to reasonably solder the nosepiece on my old frames
which was the main reason I was going for new ones.  Total cost for oversize
blanks, tinted lenses, frame with spring loaded hinges and scratch resistant
coating was $200.  They also give free eye exams, but I had my perscription
with me.

BTW none of the eye boutiques I visited in Oakland and SqHill (and I tried to
hit them all) would do on-site repair work.  All of them also had higher
prices than Eyeworks with none less than 5 day turnaround.  I don't remember
names, but both places along Forbes in SqHill tried to convince me to just
buy new frames instead of getting mine fixed.

			Marc Pawliger
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Date: 14 Aug 1987 13:02-EDT 
From: Harry.Printz@ius1.cs.cmu.edu
To: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: Buying Eyeglasses

I recently purchased eyeglasses from Perlman Optical, on Forbes in
Squirrel Hill.  I dealt with them once before, in 1984.  Though they
were expensive, they did a good job then.  In particular, when the
eyeglass frame broke several months later due to a nasty blow to the
head, they replaced it absolutely free of charge.

On this visit, I had new lenses fitted to my frames.  However, the
lenses cost almost twice what they did in 1984.  Moreover, the shop
seemed to have changed hands.  I was waited on by a woman whose manner
was extremely autocratic.  To be fair, they did seem to do a good job
with my glasses again.

To sum up:
- they're expensive
- they do good work
- the woman who runs the place is obnoxious
- I don't know what their repair policy now is; it was once generous, I
suspect it's now less so.

Incidentally, I recommend that for the prescription you have your eyes
examined by an opthamologist at the Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Institute.
They do excellent work, and the charge is $35.

Good luck,
Harry

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Date: 14 Aug 1987 16:35-EDT 
From: Spencer.Star@h.gp.cs.cmu.edu
To: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: Buying Eyeglasses

I just bought glasses.  There are three prices you should be aware of:
1. the initial exam ($28-30)
2. grinding a single prescription lens ($30 to $80)
3. frames ($25-$100)

Pearlman optical, on Forbes just a little past Murray, on the same side
of the street as Baskin Robbins seems to have the lowest prices and
good service.  They are giving 20% off on frames and grinding during
the summer.  The chain store places (Eyeworks, Pearl, etc) had the
highest prices on the lens.

			Spencer Star

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Date: Fri 14 Aug 87 15:01:40-EDT
From: Oren.Etzioni@C.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: glasses.
To: saul.kravitz@ANDROMEDA.ECE.CMU.EDU

Saul,

I went to Smith on MUrray. You must know who
I mean. (they  mention him in the CSD guide). He was
obnoxious, pushy, and annoying. But he did a good job ( I hope)
and seemed to really care. The price was about the same at most
places I called. If you go to him, don't let him sell you anything
except the glasses--he'll try.

oren
-------

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Date: Friday, 14 August 1987 13:42:22 EDT
From: Rachel.Levine@h.gp.cs.cmu.edu
To: saul.kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: eyeglasses

Hello.

The Squirrel Hill Eyetique is good. Lenses were ~$36, the frames were
~$30. However, I got the frames from the sale rack because non-sale frames
started at ~$65. For $10, they will spray your plastic lenses with
scratch-resistor (a wise move). They have same day service unless you come
in really late in the day in which case the glasses will be ready the next
day. I went to them because I could get to them on foot or by bus. They
were very helpful over the phone and are pleasant in person. If your
glasses need to be readjusted, they will do that for free.

The receptionist at the eye doctor recommended America's Best (downtown,
Monroeville) because they have a two-for-one deal. The drawback is you
have to wait 1-2 weeks for your glasses. I also called Pearle Vision
center but they only give you a break on the lenses of the second pair (so
you'll get nailed on the frames because that's where the profit is).

Hope this helps,
Rachel

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Date: 15 Aug 1987 19:29-EDT 
From: David.Maynard@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
To: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: Buying Eyeglasses

Saul,

Based on my recent experience with Tuckerman Optical in Monroeville
Mall, I would suggest that you stay away from them.  I bought a contact
lens and a pair of glasses there.  I was supposedly supposed to get
free lenses for the glasses since I bought contacts there.  However,
they said that since I only wear one contact lens I didn't qualify.
They told me this after I bought the contact.  Then when i did buy
glasses, they made the left lens wrong.  When I took them back (already
my 4th trip to Monroeville about the stuff), they said "they are only
one prescription off--you shouldn't be able to tell the
difference."!!!!  (The new glasses made my vision worse in my right eye
than wearing no glasses at all.) They made me come back the 5th time to
see the doctor.  Luckily, he finally agreed that I could tell the
difference, so they agreed to redo them.  On my 6th visit I picked up
the corrected glasses.  The one good thinkg I can say is that the glass
appear to be done very well now.

-David

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Date: Sunday, 16 August 1987 12:11:44 EDT
From: Cam.Miller@gauss.ece.cmu.edu
To: kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
Subject: specs

Saul -- i just went thru the traumatic experience of buying eyeglasses.
it's traumatic for me because I have a heavy correction in my right eye
and I can't really choose any spiffy frames or have glasses made in an
hour.

At any rate, I ended up at the Squirrel Hill Eyetique on Murray Avenue --
it's almost at the bottom of the hill on the right going towards the Parkway
entrance.  The guy who owns it, Norman Childs, is a young guy who wants to
make a good business and the people who work there are all professionals.
They have a great selection of frames - and IF your correction is a 'normal'
one, they will have your glasses the same day - they have their own lab but
they don't have an assembly line business like some of the places advertized
on TV.  Everybody charges about the same these days -- standard plastic
lenses are about $55/pair plus the price of the frame, of course, which
Can be as high as $125 or as low as $50.  If you
have a heavy correction and they don't stock the lens, they can get it from
their optical house in a day or two.  They have delivery service instead of
relying on the mail like some do.

Lynn Philibin just got a pair of glasses there about a month ago and Pete
Levin came in one time I was there.  

Whatever you do, DO NOT go to McClements Optical in Shadyside.  There should
be a message in bovik from me about that turkey.


********************
>Date: 14 Aug 1987 13:18-EDT 
>From: Randy.Bryant@vlsi.cs.cmu.edu
>To: Saul.Kravitz@andromeda.ece.cmu.edu
>Subject: Re: Buying Eyeglasses

I've had very good experience at the Squirrel Hill Eyetique on Murray.
They have discount coupons in the Yellow Pages and provide fast and
good quality service.

Around $80 +- $20.  I always have to pay extra for my lenses, due
to high astigmatism.