FramesDirect.com has one of the largest selection of frames online. They carry more than 500 brands of eyeglasses, sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses and goggles (swim and ski). When you combine that with the different models and colors available, this means they have more than 100,000 styles of frames to choose from. Price wise you can expect their prescription lenses and frames to cost about half the price you would pay at most retail optical chains. FramesDirect.com also sells a wide range of contact lenses from all of the popular manufacturers.
FramesDirect launch almost 20 years in 1996 and was the first online eyewear store and in 2003 they were also the first company to sell contact lenses online. They continued to innovate and by 2005 had a partnership with Oakley to sell prescription sunglasses (again another first). In that same year they also launched on their website the FrameFinder Virtual Try-On System (more about this feature later). Because of their standards in quality and the amount of selection they have FramesDirect remains one of the most popular eyeglasses online retailer today.
Frames
To find the frames you want FramesDirect has their glasses split up into easy to understand departments (or categories). From the main dropdown menu you can see the frames laid out by type, gender and styles. When you click on what you are looking for you are then brought to a gallery view of the search results. From here you can sort your results by a number of attributes including price, bestsellers and model. You can also filter your results further by Brand, Style, Frame Material, Frame Shape, Frame Color, Price, Size, and Frame Type.
When you click on the frame you like in the search results you are then brought to its details page. From here you can see what the frames look like from multiple angles and read an in-depth description about the product and what features it offers. The price is also listed (with any discounts) along with the frames measurements. You will also be able to read any reviews on the frames from other customers of FramesDirect who have bought them
Virtual Eyewear Try-On
It can be hard to buy eyeglasses without seeing them on. FramesDirect has the next best thing to a mirror and that is their Virtual Eyewear Try-On tool. On any frames you like you can click the "Try" triangle in the corner of the frames picture. This will bring up a page which shows the glasses on a male or female model. You can choose from several different models that may match your look, or you can upload your own selfie that will allow you to see what your glasses may look like on you.
Lenses
After you pick your frames and proceed to the check-out you then have to pick your lens type (you can select no lenses if required). Free UV Protection, Edge Polish and Scratch Coating is included with all lenses. Depending on the frames, you can pick from single vision, progressives, and bifocals. For tinted or polarized lenses you will need to call FramesDirect at their 1-800 phone number. Once you pick the type of lenses you then supply your prescription (you can save your prescription to your account for other frames as well). Then you select your lens material and thickness. There are 4 options which range from $45 for the basic plastic lens to $230 for the thinnest Hi Index 1.74 lens. The final lens options for you to choose from includes a premium glare-free anti-reflective coating ($75), transition light adjusting lenses (3 color options at $70), and UV protection (which is included for free).
Each lens from FramesDirect must undergo a 6-step quality assurance process and verification using high-tech digital lens technology. This ensures total accuracy of your prescription and lenses that are free of scratches, distortions and defects.
Contacts
With contact lenses FramesDirect saves you money since they get huge volume discounts on many name brand contact lenses. They pass the savings onto you with great prices and discounts towards regular eyeglasses.
Searching for contacts is easy. You can go to directly the brand you want from the main menu or filter your search results by Manufacturer, Brand, Frequency, Lens Type, Special Needs (dry eye, astigmatism, toric, etc.), and Cosmetic (eye color changing). Once you click the lens you want you are then brought to its product page which contains the details about the contacts. From here you enter your prescription and then you can add it to your cart.
Warranty
Under their quality assurance program FramesDirect.com offers a 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty on all of the frames and lenses they sell. With the warranty FramesDirect will either repair or replace your eyeglasses free of charge. Rough handling and prolonged exposure to water or exposure to excessive heat and cold is not covered. FrameDirect does ask you not to attempt to repair your eyewear yourself. They cannot accept products that have been tampered with for repair/replacement under a manufacturer's warranty.
Guarantees
30 Day Lens Guarantee
If you are not happy with your lenses for your glasses and find that they are not 100% accurate you can call FramesDirect within 30 days to receive a new pair of lenses free of charge
Also if your eye doctor makes any changes to your prescription within 30 days of getting your order FramesDirect will make new lenses for your frames and ship them to you at no cost. If your prescription changes within 90 days then you can receive your new prescription for 50% off the retail cost.
Price-Match Guarantee
For 14 days after you place your order, if you find eyeglass or sunglass frames of the same color and style number for a lower price on another US website, FramesDirect will match that price. This guarantee does not include certain brands like Oakley (7 in total) and the price being matched cannot be a promotional price or a rebate price. Prices at Amazon.com are excluded along with auction sites like Ebay.com. This guarantee is for the frames only and does not cover the lenses or contact lenses.
Vision Insurance
FramesDirect.com is an out-of-network provider for most insurance plans. This means if you wish to be reimbursed for your prescription order you will have to fill out a reimbursement form. FramesDirect offers forms for 8 different popular insurance providers along with the details of how to submit the form to them (along with your FramesDirect receipt). They have also included a generic form for other insurance providers.
Costs
You can expect lower costs than any physical retail store at FramesDirect for both eyeglasses and contacts. Their prices are one of the lowest on the internet especially for name brand frames. If you do happen to find a lower price after you place your order then you will be covered with FramesDirect price-match guarantee (see above for more info).
You can purchase your glasses and contacts in the following currencies: USD, CAD, GBP, AUD, EUR, plus others.
Military/Veteran and First Responder Discount
FramesDirect offers a sister site called AFEyeWear.com. This site offers deep discount on frames and lenses (as low as $39 for both). This site is only for U.S. Military, Veterans, Police, Firefighters and EMS Personnel (and families).
Shipping
There are plenty of shipping options with FramesDirect.com and for any of these options they require 3 business days for processing your order. Their most popular option is the free shipping which goes by the United States Postal Service and takes 4 to 5 business days (so a total of 7-8 business days with processing). Note: free shipping applies to the contiguous 48 U.S. States only.
Your next quickest option for shipping would be UPS Ground for an additional $4 USD. This takes between 5 and 7 business days in total and also allows you to track your order. Priority Shipping is an additional $9 and takes 6 business days, and finally UPS Expedited Shipping allows you to get your order in 4 business days for $15.
You can also ship your order to any country for an additional cost which will be shown when you are about to pay. International order costs do not include custom or duty fees to bring your order into your country.
Disclaimer: While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our information at Review Chatter we shall not be held responsible for any discrepancy. There is a possibility that the information provided here is outdated or wrong, please check with the companies website directly for the most recent information. As always you should read your terms of service before purchasing any product online or signing up to any online service.
