I wanted to follow up publicly to a comment I received on the Warby Parker post. Here's the comment:
You had me until they said to take the glasses to a local place for adjustment. Maybe it would be different at your local chain store, but it would be a really bold move to go to a locally owned and operated business for help with something you bought from their online competition. I'd expect to pay for the adjustment and offer to if they refused. I like the concept and I'm considering using the service. Just remember what you look like to your neighbor when you get those adjustments made.
First I just want to clarify that I meant "local" in the sense of an eye care place that is in driving distance of my house, as opposed to one of the Warby Parker locations in New York or LA. Not necessarily "local" in the locally owned and operated sense.
But the reader has a point about patronizing your locally owned eye care provider. I tout shopping locally a lot on this blog, so I feel some further clarification is warranted.
As many people do, I pay for eye care services out of pocket, not through insurance. I went to my friendly local eye doctor for my exam, for which I paid $120. I found their glasses selection to be lacking and the few pair I did like were almost $300. Hence the search for another alternative.
When I found Warby Parker I felt that their ethics (buy one, give one) and great price point really fit what I was looking for. If my money isn't going to support my own community, I'm glad it's going towards helping people in need.
And as a side note, I do plan to go to a chain for the adjustment. The one at the mall does them for $15. (So I'm still saving almost $200.) The local doc doesn't provide that service for glasses he doesn't sell, which is understandable.
So that's how I was able to walk the buy local, keep it affordable tight rope on this occasion.
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