Frames Direct
Is This Your Business?Author: Kaitlyn Short
FramesDirect is an online retailer of quality, luxury brand eyeglasses and sunglasses. An industry leader for nearly three decades, the company caters to a higher-end customer, but also provides opportunities for discounted rates, and is known to respond effectively and in a supportive manner to customer needs.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Authentic Products
- Frequent Sales or Discounts
- Fast Shipping
- Good Customer Service
Authentic Products
As the parent company of FramesDirect owns the license to produce the eyeglasses and sunwear for most of the brands they carry, you can be assured that they are “real” and not knock-offs. These brands include Oakley, Ray-Ban, Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Prada, Coach, and others.
Frequent Sales or Discounts
FramesDirect has a pop-up allowing you to enter your email for a discount as soon as you enter the site. The company often offers a buy one, get one free or 50 percent discount off glasses. Make sure to look for these discount opportunities and wait to purchase until you are getting a discount.
Fast Shipping
As long as the item is not a custom item, the glasses or sunglasses are typically shipped within a week. As for lead times on custom items, which includes prescription lenses, an email is sent giving the shipping date.
Good Customer Service
FramesDirect has a very thorough FAQ section on its website that covers a lot of topics and concerns. There are also additional ways to contact customer service representatives and a company promise that requests will be answered within 24 hours.
The Bad
- Prescription Lenses Considered Custom Orders
- Strict Return Policy
- Not Always the Lowest Price
Prescription Lenses Considered Custom Orders
Unfortunately, prescription lenses are not eligible for a refund without a 50 percent restocking fee. There have been complaints of issues with the lenses being incorrect and difficulty getting a refund or replacement.
Strict Return Policy
The return/exchange policy is listed on the company’s website, so make sure to read through it before purchasing. The company offers a one-time exchange within 30 days, but a restocking fee of 10 percent is charged with any refund (within 30 days).
Not Always the Lowest Price
While FramesDirect does have frequent sales, there are other sites who often have the same or lower prices, especially if brand is not a priority. The site offers certain luxury brands that could be knock offs from other sites, so caution with buying is recommended. On the other hand, sites like Zenni Optical offer extremely low rates for basic glasses and sunglasses, although shipping lead times are quite lengthy, usually a minimum of two to three weeks, unless premium paid shipping is selected.
The Bottom Line
FramesDirect is a great option for customers looking for a luxury or name brand pair of sunglasses or eyeglasses. Make sure to purchase during a promotion or get a discount. However, if you are looking for a pair of glasses or sunglasses, but don’t care about the brand, then an option like Warby Parker or Zenni Optical may be your best bet, and potentially easier on the wallet.
