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GlassesUSA is one of the largest online eyewear retailers in the world. They have a huge catalog of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses from budget to name brands.
GlassesUSA has been rated a top online retailer by Good Housekeeping, cnet, Forbes, and verywellhealth. They have a virtual try-on tool and provide free shipping along with a money-back guarantee. Customer reviews are generally positive.
In this guide we’ll talk about the pros & cons of GlassesUSA.com, along with any other essential information.
GlassesUSA provides consumers with an alternative to brick-and-mortar retailers. You’ll need a prescription from your local eye doctor, but with that information, you can order prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contacts from their website.
Here are some of the biggest positive and negative aspects of the GlassesUSA experience.
GlassesUSA’s catalog is their strongest attribute. They have over 7,000 frames available. You can browse through featured categories such as New Arrivals, Bestsellers, Designer Glasses, Kids Glasses, Sports Glasses, etc.
You can also start by browsing their entire catalog and using filters to narrow your search. Their filters include:
There are a number of lens options available at an additional cost. You can add anti-scratch coating, UV coating, anti-reflective coating, transitions (light-adjusting), polarizing, or tinting to any prescription or non-prescription lenses.
While their selection of frames and lenses is vast, their selection of contact lenses isn’t quite as large. Competitors, like 1800 Contacts have a much larger selection of contacts. However, you can find most name brands at competitive prices on the GlassesUSA website.
The only thing you need before ordering is a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor. (They also sell non-prescription glasses).
The first thing you’ll need to do is choose your eyewear. If you’re ordering frames, you can use their Virtual Mirror tool to “try them on” using your webcam or an uploaded photo. This is a great way to test out different shapes and sizes, though it’s not a perfect replacement for actually trying them on in person.
Once you’ve chosen your frames or contacts, you’ll have three options for adding your prescription. The first is to skip it for now and have them ask for it later. However, you won’t be able to get an accurate price until you’ve finalized your prescription and lens options.
The next is to use their Prescription Scanner app. However, the app has some serious limitations. If your prescription is complicated or stronger than usual, it probably won’t work. The app won’t read prescriptions that contain more than one prescription, prism lenses, or extra-strong prescriptions. GlassesUSA does sell progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses, but the app won’t help you.
The third and most convenient option is to upload your prescription info yourself. First you’ll choose single vision, near vision, progressive, bifocal, or non-prescription lenses. Then you’ll enter all your prescription information.
The next step is to choose your lens type. The options are Clear, Clear - Blue Light, Photochromic (Transitions), or Sunglasses. You can also choose a Super Hydrophobic coating that helps keep water and fingerprints off your lenses. The last option is to add a One Year Enhanced Coverage Plan which covers damage from wear and tear, accidental damage, or prescriptions changes.
Once you’re finished with your selections, you can checkout using a credit card, PayPal, or Amazon Pay. You can choose from Standard (7 to 10 business days), Expedited (5 to 7 business days), or Express (3 to 5 business days).
*These shipping times are estimates. Actual shipment times may vary.
Here’s a video from GlassesUSA detailing their ordering process:
You can expect approximately 3 to 6 days of processing time to make your new pair of glasses. Multifocal or extra strong prescriptions, along with sunglasses may take longer.
Once they’re ready, then you can expect your glasses to arrive in the time expressed in your shipping choice. Standard (7 to 10 business days), Expedited (5 to 7 business days), or Express (3 to 5 business days).
Your frames will arrive in a hard case with a prescription card and some coupons.
GlassesUSA claims to provide a “hassle free” return policy. You can return your order for a full refund, 100 percent store credit, or a product exchange.
Just go to their Returns Form page and follow these four steps:
1. Enter the Order ID and Email address associated with your order.
2. Print a prepaid return shipping label
3. Place all the items you’re returning in an envelope
4. Put the shipping label on the envelope and mail it
Here’s a video from GlassesUSA detailing their return process:
GlassesUSA has 24/7 customer support. You can contact them via:
The majority of customer reviews that mention customer service say that the experience was satisfactory. However, some customers express that they had difficulty connecting to or dealing with GlassesUSA customer service.
GlassesUSA has been in business for over 10 years. Many reputable brands, including Good Housekeeping (1), cnet (2), Forbes (3), and verywellhealth (4), name them a top online vision retailer. Customer reviews are generally favorable.
The most common complaints mention difficulty with customer service and returns.
As of March 2021, GlassesUSA received the following scores on review sites:
Trustpilot: 4.5 / 5
Reseller Ratings: 4.53 / 5
Sitejabber: 4.15 / 5
Alternatives to GlassesUSA include:
GlassesUSA is a reliable site to order glasses, sunglasses, and contacts from. Their prices are competitive and the ordering process is convenient. Their 14-day return window is a bit short, but is effective. Their 100% money-back guarantee makes them a great choice for your first time ordering online.
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