Return-Path: <@maxwell.ECE.CMU.EDU:trick@welsh.ECE.CMU.EDU> Received: from maxwell.ece.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa10982; 23 Oct 89 21:43:33 EDT Received: by maxwell.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA05496; Mon, 23 Oct 89 21:43:29 EDT Received: by welsh.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA23232; Mon, 23 Oct 89 21:43:26 EDT Date: Mon, 23 Oct 89 21:43:26 EDT From: Mike Trick Message-Id: <8910240143.AA23232@welsh.ece.cmu.edu> To: bovik@maxwell.ece.cmu.edu Subject: Eyeglasses After spending the last few weeks shopping around for glasses, I thought you might be interested in my impressions of various optical shops. Eyetique (Murray Ave. Squill): exam: $30 frames: $70 and up lenses: $38 + $10 for scratch resistant coating Large selection of high-end frames. Friendly salesman. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 20/20 Opticians (Murray Ave. Greenfield) exam: $35 frames: $60 and up* lenses: ~$40* *20% off of glasses and lenses for: (a) 1st time customers (b) CMU people (c) Donnelly directory coupon Nice salesman, low pressure. A little offended when I told him the exams were too expensive. He warned me about the "chain stores" with their bad service, low quality, and impersonal attention. At 20/20 you always see the same doctor. Mediocre selection of frames. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dalmo (Forbes Ave. Oakland): eye exam: $30 frames: $70 and up lenses: ~$40 small selection, inexperienced staff ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenscrafters behind Monroeville Mall exam: $?? frames: $60 and up lenses: $40 + $10 for scratch resist Huge selection of frames. Nice, helpful sales staff. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sterling Optical (Century III) 655-4920 exam: $25 frames: $25 and up (I got lucky and found $32 frames I liked) lenses: $35 + $20 for scratch resistant coating One man was crabby and condescending, several others were very helpful and friendly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If I was going to be in Pgh for a long time and wanted a steady, dependable eyewear shop, it would be a tossup between Eyetique and 20/20. Eyetique would be a little closer and more convenient, the frames were nicer, and eye exams were a little cheaper, but if I could find good frames at 20/20, I think they would be less expensive overall, and the guy in the shop seemed more intent on doing the glasses right than making a sale. In the Eyetique, I felt like I was paying extra for ambience and sales staff. Since I am not concerned about convenient regular checkups, I went with Sterling Optical. The exam was $25, and Doctor Monroe was very thorough and patient. He spent time explaining everything to me. The frames were $32, and the lenses $35. Total cost was $92 for exam, frames, and lenses. Anywhere else I would have paid about $130.