We include products we think will be useful to our readers.We may earn a small commission if you purchase through a link on this page.This is our process.
As a nearsighted millennial who is vehemently opposed to paying retail prices, I have a long history of ordering contact lenses by mail.
I think it’s been almost 20 years since I first put my glasses-wearing self into the optometrist’s chair and asked for a contact lens prescription.
About 10 years after ordering contact lenses through my ophthalmologist at the mall, I started leaving the office with a copy of my prescription.
I would go home and immediately plug my prescription into whatever optical supply google came up that day to order my lenses.What I really care about is their cost and how fast they ship.
All along, I thought many mail order prescription optics sites, including 1-800 Contacts, were pretty much the same.As it turns out, I was wrong.
I took another look at what 1-800 Contacts has to offer, what other customers have to say, and what you should know if you’re considering becoming a customer too.
In terms of the telehealth boom we’re seeing right now, 1-800 Contacts is way ahead.The company was founded in 1995, making them the oldest mail-in prescription optics company still in operation.
Before ordering online was a way of life, 1-800 Contacts allowed you to make a phone call with a supplier and create an order, which was delivered directly to your home.
Dailies Colored Contacts
If you want your contacts to arrive earlier, you can pay for one of their faster shipping options.You will get a delivery estimate immediately after placing your order.However, in my experience, contact may even be a day or two earlier than expected.
If you do need a set of contacts as soon as possible, you can contact your ophthalmologist’s office and ask if they have it in stock.You can also pay an extra $15 for 1-800 contacts for overnight shipping.
1-800 Contacts is not an optometrist or ophthalmologist service, but under US law the products they sell require a prescription.
You can get a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor and send it to 1-800 Contacts.If you do not have an official copy of this information, you can simply share your doctor’s contact information with Contact 1-800 and they will take care of it for you.
If you don’t have a current prescription and need to renew, you can try an online eye exam at 1-800 Contacts.The fee for this service is $20.Experts say this type of exam is not a substitute for an in-office exam.
She noted, “Contacts arrived quickly and they sent follow-up messages when a new pair was needed. They also offered to work with my ophthalmologist to get my latest prescription information, and given the COVID-19 option for me to do Virtual exams. Virtual exams are so easy, which means I don’t have to wait for the ophthalmologist to reopen to get new contacts. I’m so thankful they found a solution.”
The ordering process itself is very simple.You will select your usual brand of contact lenses and enter the prescription number listed as your OS (left eye) and OD (right eye).If you have astigmatism, you may also need to state this on your order.
You will then enter your doctor’s information and place an order.After ordering, the 1-800 contact will confirm your prescription and process your shipping order.If you have a copy of your prescription, you can submit a photo of it with your order using the site’s automated system.
If you have vision insurance, you will also need to enter this information.1-800 Contacts accepts most major forms of vision insurance.
If you are submitting reimbursement to a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), be sure to print a copy of your receipt.
Says Severs: “Ordering is simple. Assuming your prescription is still valid, you either need a copy of it or give them your eye doctor’s information so they can get it back, but if you don’t have a medical exam, they will contact you with Your doctor cooperates to get a copy.”
To initiate a return, you can use the 1-800 Contacts live chat application or call their customer service line.A representative will guide you through the return process.
On Trustpilot, 1-800 contacts have over 200 reviews with an average of 3 stars.The rating is fairly average between poor and good, giving it 2.6 out of 5 stars.The brand reputation is certainly not as good as it could be.
1-800 Contacts is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited company.Based on their commitment to customer service, they have an A+ rating from the BBB.There are about 30 customer complaints on the BBB website and 1-800 contacts have responded.
In 2016, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against the company, alleging that its anticompetitive practices reduced the ability of competitors to bid online or win ad space for similar products and services.
In 2018, the FTC ordered 1-800 Contacts to stop the unfair practices outlined in the complaint, according to the BBB.
1-800 Contacts is best for people with recent eye exams, up-to-date prescriptions, and looking for affordable contacts shipped directly to their door.
You can also order contact lenses through an ophthalmologist when you get a prescription.These contacts can often be mailed to you as well.
Ordering online is a great option, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the eye doctor. If you wear contact lenses, you should see an optometrist once a year.
1-800 Contacts is a legitimate, direct-to-consumer online retailer founded in 1995.It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has hundreds of reviews on consumer experience sites.If you order from the 1-800 contact and have a problem, there will be a customer service representative to assist you.
1-800 contacts do not belong to Walmart.In 2008, 1-800 Contacts began working with Walmart, combining on-site eye exams at Walmart and Sam’s Club with 1-800 Contacts phone and online ordering models.The partnership ended in 2013 and was not renewed.
The cost of 1-800 contacts depends on your prescription and the product you use.The 1-800 Contacts price matches the lowest price you can find online for the same product.Ordering from them may cost about the same or slightly less than ordering from your optometrist’s office.
If needed, the 1-800 contact will call your ophthalmologist to verify your contact lens prescription, and they will only do so with your express permission.This step is not necessary if you included an up-to-date copy of your contact lens prescription with your order.
If the 1-800 contact cannot verify your prescription, it will “bounce” and the order will be cancelled.A 1-800 contact will contact you to let you know that your order cannot be processed.Your prescription will not be filled and you will not be charged for the order.
1-800 Contacts is one of several direct-to-consumer retailers that mail contacts directly to your home.Since most of these online retailers offer essentially the same products, companies can only stand out by offering the best prices and top-notch customer service.
Overall, 1-800 Contacts provides responsive customer service and convenience, and has done so for over 20 years.
However, if you are new to wearing contact lenses, you might consider ordering them through your doctor the first few times.You can also discuss with them any contacts you use to make sure everything goes smoothly.
In general, if you are an experienced contact lens wearer, ordering from 1-800 contacts may be worth the money.
In some cases, that means having our writers and editors test products to see how they perform in real life.In other cases, we rely on crowdsourced reviewer feedback from retail and consumer websites.
In this review, our author relies on her years of experience as a Contacts wearer and shopper, including her experience as a 1-800 Contacts client.She also analyzed online customer feedback on the company’s services.
Dailies Colored Contacts
How do you know if Coastal is right for your contact lenses and glasses?Let’s take a look at the direct-to-consumer eyewear company.
If you’re looking to buy contact lenses online, the sites on this list have a consistent track record for customer satisfaction and carrying quality contact lenses…
We look at bifocal contacts, from everyday items to long-wearing, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about multifocal contacts.
Post time: May-19-2022
