Sponsor's Message

As those who have seen me know, I'm hardly a fashion guru and have been wearing the same set of glasses for well over 15 years now. This means they've not only become increasingly ineffective but are also way un-cool.

Unfortunately, it's pretty damned hard to pick up a set of new glasses (with fashionable frames) here in NZ for much short of about $400. It seems that opticians make very little money out of eye exams so tend to load up the margin on the frames by an enormous amount (several hundred percent I'm told).

As a result, those of meagre means are often forced to make do with what they've already got or mortgage the house to pay for a new pair.

Now have your say Got something to say about today's column, or want to see what others think?  Visit The Forums While you're here, why not visit the Aardvark Hall of Shame and perhaps make your own nomination.

Well guess what?

The internet has come to the rescue again!

As a result of someone's posting to The Aardvark Forums I was introduced to an amazingly price-effective service operating out of the USA.

39DollarGlasses.com offer prescription glasses with scatch-resistant polycarbonate lenses and fashion frames for a total of just US$39 -- which is about NZ$52 these days.

Yes, that's right -- just a quarter (or less) the price of those sold locally.

No, these people haven't paid me to sing their praises and I haven't yet received my glasses so don't yet have any first-hand information -- but I thought it worthy of a heads-up for other readers who are also pee'd off at the cost of such things.

After visiting this site I realised that I too could afford new eyewear, so I trotted down to my local optician to be tested and get a new prescription.

The optician was most interested in this website and, I suspect, more than a little concerned at what this could mean to their own bottom line if too many people found out about it.

After paying my $55 for the eye-test and prescription, I am now all ready to order my cool new specs and I'll keep readers informed as to the outcome.

Let's hope that my experiences mirror those of other customers.

Once again it would appear that the Net is about to force local buinesses to review their pricing and levels of service.

If people can't get the value they demand from an NZ-based supplier, there's now absolutely nothing to stop them from simply going online and buying from a supplier that can perform.

It seems that here in the 21st century, the world is both a smaller and cheaper place.

Aardvark Forums
The forums are back up at: www.aardvarkforums.co.nz/forums, have your say on today's column

If you feel that this is a good thing and/or you hold a "geniune affection" for yours truly -- then you are welcome to gift me some money using the buttons provided. In gifting this money you accept that no goods, service or other consideration is offered, provided, accepted or anticipated in return. Just click on the button to gift whatever you can afford. NOTE: PayPal bills in US dollars so don't accidentally gift more than what you were intending :-)

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