About Warby Parker
Warby Parker is a premium eyewear retailer that was founded in 2010. Since then, they’ve become a leading name in the eyewear industry.
Warby Parker has made a name for itself by offering stylish designs, innovative retail options, and affordable prices. They ship their products across the U.S. and parts of Canada. The company offers:
- Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses
- Prescription and non-prescription sunglasses
- Prescription contact lenses
- Eye exams
- Eyewear accessories (cases, cleaning kits, and chains)
- Easy to use mobile app
What’s Unique About Warby Parker?
Warby Parker designs all of their frames in-house. They only use premium materials such as custom-designed cellulose acetate to ultra-lightweight titanium.
Also, they work with Verité, an independent, non-profit civil society organization to make sure their factories have fair working conditions.
But perhaps the most unique and appealing aspect of Warby Parker is their innovative online buying experience. Both their website and app are well designed and easy to use. They have a Home Try-On Program that allows you to try five different frames for free before committing.
About the App
The Warby Parker Mobile App has a 4.9 rating with over 200K customer ratings on the App Store. I gave it five stars myself. The app is very well designed, both in terms of aesthetics and user experience.
The app has several useful features that help you browse their collection of frames. We recommend starting with their frames quiz. Just answer a few quick questions, and they’ll show you a collection of frames based on your personalized results.
If you’d rather browse their entire collection, that’s easy too. Their collection is divided into Men’s and Women’s, and once you make your selection, there are some filters to help you narrow down your options, including:
- Frame width
- Shape
- Color
- Material
- Nose bridge
- Available for Home Try-On
If you see a pair of frames that you like, click the heart icon to add it to your favorites. The favorites function is super helpful when narrowing down your choices. It puts all of your top frames in one location. You can use the Virtual Try-On feature and swipe through your favorite frames to instantly compare them.
Managing your account is easy on the app. You can view your orders, manage your prescriptions, find nearby stores, and access their customer support via phone or chat.
How Does the Virtual Try-On Feature Work?
Even though the entire app works seamlessly, Warby Parker’s Virtual Try-On feature is the highlight of the app. You can swipe down on any frame to instantly try them on. Or you can go to your favorites, fire up the Virtual Try-On tool, and swipe from left to right to compare your top frames side-by-side.
Ordering on the App
Ordering a pair of glasses from Warby Parker is simple on both the app and the website. You’ll need a current glasses prescription. If you don’t have one, you can schedule an eye exam at Warby Parker or your local eye doctor.
All you have to do is upload a photo of your prescription and add your pupillary distance. (Warby Parker has a tool that automatically measures this for you). Once you’ve uploaded these, Warby Parker saves your information, so reordering is simple.
You have two options when it comes to ordering frames from Warby Parker. The first is to order one pair of glasses after using the virtual try-on tool. You’ll enter your shipping and billing information, and Warby Parker will begin to process your order.
Processing usually takes a couple of days. First, a Warby Parker team member will make sure your prescription is valid. Once that’s confirmed, it will take another day or two to cut your lenses and add them to your frames. Then they’ll ship your lenses. Standard shipping is free and takes about 7 to 10 days via USPS. Expedited shipping is also available for an additional $20.
The whole process takes about 10 to 15 days, from placing your order to receiving your glasses. Be sure to check your email or account in case Warby Parker needs any additional information (or tries to upsell you). You’ll need to respond to these emails for them to continue processing your order.
You can also use your vision insurance, FSA, or HSA to pay for your Warby Parker prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, or eye exams. Learn more about Warby Parker and insurance.
Home Try-On Program
The second option for ordering frames is to utilize Warby Parker’s Home Try-On Program. This is one of the pillars of Warby Parker’s success, and what differentiates them from many other online eyewear retailers.
You can select up to five frames and have them shipped to your house for free. You’ll have five days to try on the frames (they will have non-prescription lenses in them). This allows you to test the frames for comfort and fit and not just looks.
Once you’ve tried all the frames, you can mark which pair(s) of frames you want to keep or order them online right away. Then you’ll ship them back to Warby Parker. Then they’ll add your prescription to your order and send you your new pair of glasses.
Shipping is free both ways, even if you decide you don’t want any of the frames.
*Not all frames are available for the Home Try-On Program. However, the majority of frames on their website are. You can flip a switch while you’re browsing to add a filter so all the frames you’re looking at are available for Home Try-On.
App Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Well-designed and easy to use
- The quick online quiz helps you narrow down your options
- Easily add frames to your favorites as you browse
- Virtual Try-On feature is fun and effective
- Easy to order and navigate your account
- Customer service is friendly, communicative, and helpful
Cons:
- Only available on iPhone X or above (sorry, my fellow Android users, you’ll have to borrow a friend’s phone if you want to use the app)
- The pupillary distance measurement tool can be buggy and usually takes a few tries to get it right
Customer Reviews
App vs Website
Both the Warby Parker app and website are well-designed and easy to use. You can use the website to browse and choose frames for your Home-Try On, upload your prescription, and manage your orders.
The biggest downfall of the app is that it’s only available for iOS. This makes it inaccessible to anyone using an Android phone, which represents a huge percentage of cell phone users.
The main elements that set the app apart from the website are the Virtual Try-On and the favorites feature. Plus, you’ll be able to measure and upload your pupillary distance easier with the app.
If you’re using an iPhone X or above, I recommend using the app. However, if you’re an Android user, or prefer browsing on desktop, the website is still a great shopping experience.
Takeaways
- The Warby Parker App is a great way to shop for a new pair of glasses
- Unfortunately, it’s only available for iPhone X and above (sorry Android users)
- The Virtual Try-On feature gives you a realistic preview of what frames will look like on your face
- Their Home Try-On Program lets you try five pairs of frames
- Use the app to save a list of favorites, and swipe through them to try them on virtually
- The pupillary distance measurement tool works fine for some people, but others find it difficult to use
- You can use your vision insurance, FSA, or HSA to pay for prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, or eye exams
- The app experience is slightly better than the website, but the website also provides a great shopping experience
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