What brand to go for during covid-19? Focus on Warby Parker
Picking out the perfect brand can be a serious decision and especially during the times of coronavirus we live in. Every brand is now increasing its online presence. When buying online, how can you make sure it is the right fit for you? Warby Parker is tackling this issue and seemed to be ready for this even before the crisis. This all-online glasses brand has been steadily picking up popularity over the last few years.
Before we go into the details of Warby Parker’s strategy, Generation Eyewear would like to define what is traditional eyewear. Eyewear is intended to wear over the eyes for protection against environmental factors or for improving vision impairment. Eyeglasses or spectacles, sunglasses, goggles, and contact lenses are common types of eyewear. Eyewear is also used as a fashion statement due to a rising sense of fashion among people and people are adopting trendy and designer sunglasses due to the latest trend emerging in the market.
With this being said, we understand that choosing the right pair of glasses is a crucial decision not only to protect your eyes and improve your vision impairment but also to socially look good.
The Strategy, a try at home option
One of the best parts of going to an optometrist office or eyewear shop is trying on all the glasses and Warby Parker clearly gives your that option from the comfort of your home. The first step in finding a pair of Warby Parker frames is picking out five options to try on at home.
Once you've selected your five styles and submitted your order, you should receive a box of frames in the mail shortly. The home try-on service is free. They only need your credit card information in case the glasses get damaged or you did not return them.
When your frames are delivered, you'll have five days to decide which frames are the best fit for you before sending your five picks back to Warby Parker with an included prepaid return label. Once you've made your decision, you can submit your prescription information and make your purchase online. Warby Parker will then send you a brand new pair of glasses with your prescription.
If none of the first five try-on pairs you choose make the cut, you can send them all back and pick five more to try for another five days until you settle on the perfect set of frames to fit your aesthetic.
How much is it?
All Warby Parker glasses start at $95 (including basic prescription lenses). Popular add-ons, like blue-light-filtering and 1.67 high-index lenses for stronger prescriptions, cost extra. We have seen that Warby Parker was less expensive than purchasing glasses through an optometrist's office. Even with vision insurance, he was able to save more money with Warby Parker.
Pros
Trying on frames at home, as opposed to in a store is a stress-free process and overall very easy. It allows you to find the pair of frames that worked best with his look and lifestyle. While Warby Parker has brick-and-mortar stores in some locations, we highly recommend the home try-on service. It's a great way for busy people or just people that cannot go out due to the stay at home measures to find a pair of frames on their own schedule without ever leaving home.
Also, most of the frames come in a variety of colors and frame widths. Warby Parker even lets you try on multiple versions of the same frame so that you can decide between a couple of colors and frame widths. Warby Parker makes it super easy to order multiple frames. Once you've uploaded your prescription, Warby Parker will keep the document on file for your next purchase.
Cons
While Warby Parker offers a variety of frame styles, all of the styles have a certain "Warby Parker look." This is not a bad look in itself, however, If you're hoping for a more understated frame or something really unique, Warby Parker may not be for you. The brand also requires a relatively recent eye prescription, within the last four years.
This might be frustrating for people whose eyesight rarely changes or who need new glasses but don't have the time to make a visit to the eye doctor.
What about the lenses?
Warby Parker offers single-vision, progressives, readers, and non-prescription lenses for both its eyeglasses and sunglasses. Progressive lenses correct for multiple fields of vision in one lens so you don't have to switch between different pairs of specs. These are the most expensive option and will set you back $295 for eyeglasses and $375 for sunglasses. The other prescription types are all $95 for eyeglasses and range from $95 to $175 for sunglasses.
Once you've selected your prescription type, you can select your lens material. Warby Parker offers some great lens types to fit your lifestyle. All eyeglasses come with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective lens that blocks 100% of UV rays for no extra charge.
Warby Parker also offers a blue-light-filtering and light-responsive option. They're $50 more however you get all of the perks of the standard Warby Parker lens plus an added filter to prevent blue light from digital screens or the sun from tiring out your eyes.
One of the reasons we like Warby Parker's blue-light-filtering lens over other options is that the lens appears clear, unlike many options from other brands that have a noticeable tint. They're even a great alternative for people who don't need prescription glasses.
Conclusions
If you're looking for a stylish, cost-effective pair of spectacles, Warby Parker is worth it. By cutting out the middleman and getting into your house, Warby Parker is able to offer a high-quality, stylish product at a reasonable price.
This brand is also a great option for those who don't have time to stop by a brick-and-mortar eyewear shop or those who are not able to go out due to a handicap or a coronavirus situation.
Written by S.B.