Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tanklor1]

Another way of asking the same question is "Why are glasses so expensive in Canada?"

I had the day off so I decided to get an eye test done. So I found the nearest glasses shop walked in and got one done. I also decided to get a new set of frames. The total cost? 45000Won. That's a very cheap price. I remember the last pait of frames I bought in Canada. $120! Someone mind telling me why eye wear is so cheap here?

[shaunew]

If you buy Korean glasses they are cheap. I bought a pair of Modo and the frames cost 300,000. Still cheaper then in Canada

[sojourner1]

I tried a bunch on at a Homeplus optical shop a few days ago and none of the frames fit or looked right on me. They were all too small, flimsy, and lightweight for my liking.

These frames ran 100,000 to 250,000 Won which I thought was outrageous, but they are fairly trendy and modern.


I know it will cost about that much to get an exam and a pair or two of glasses at home, but they will fit and look right on me.

The contact lenses are a good deal here though so I am stocking up.

[eddie1983man]

because 80% of the population needs them.

[ramikera]

Sorry I can't answer your original question as to WHY they're so cheap... still a mystery to me.

But, I hear you when you say that they're crazy cheap here.

In my experience, they have plenty of expensive frames/lenses here, too. But for those on a budget, inexpensive glasses are very accessible, too.

In the U.S., I remember paying about $120 for a basic pair of frames, about $80 for the lenses and also paid for the eye exam, too. These were just basic metal frames, in which the coating started to peel after a couple of years. So they weren't anything special.

Here, I paid about 60,000won out the door, for the frame and lenses (there was a basic eye exam, but I consider an eye measurement to get the prescription, rather than an eyecare exam).

I was in Jejudo this past summer, and one of my friends lost his glasses at the beach. So we headed into town that night and he got fitted for a pair of glasses for 50,000 won, in 45 minutes! =)

I do think you should get your eyes checked at an optometrist, to see if they are stabilized, as these pseudo-exams at the eye glass shop aren't meant to catch any conditions you may have.

In conclusion, I think that where I'm from, glasses are overpriced. Not everyone needs brand-name glasses. And so, before I go back, I might pick up an extra pair. =)

[mindmetoo]

Yeah go to apkujeong and check out the $1,000 frames. But yeah, no name brands run about $30. I have two theories. One, labor costs. Two, many North Americans have optical coverage and it usually pays $200 every 2 years. So companies price their glasses to that figure.

[Hollywoodaction]

[tzechuk]

[Hollywoodaction]

[Major Kong]

Unlike "Lens Craftys" their overhead is not based on "extras".

[Fredbob]

Frames are frames, you get what you pay for.
But the lenses, in my experience, they are not scratch resistant and relatively thick (of course I'm almost blind). I actually had to turn a pair of Armani frames into sunglasses because they couldn't make lenses thin enough to fit into them. That could be part of the reason they are so cheap, but if you are: 1-not almost blind like me 2-are better at handling your lenses with care (and not doing things like hiking on a windy day or riding a motorcycle). They should do you fine.

[cangel]

I'm blind as a bat. I wear contacts because I hate glasses. I do however wear glasses at home late in the evenings.

How much do they charge for high-index lenses? You know, thick lenses made very thin? Any ideas?

[Fredbob]

In Namdaemun, 2 years ago, they couldn't even make them.