5 Myths About Oversized Prescription Glasses That Cost Me $200

I purchased a pair of what were advertised as ultralight glasses—similar to the Pure Titanium Glasses Frame Women Polygon Ultralight Eyeglasses Prescription Men Myopia Optical Frame Eyewear DD1537 Black. I was hunting for a bargain on stylish oversized prescription glasses. I used to assume all online retailers were upfront and honest. I couldn't have been more mistaken.

I fell victim to the typical tactics employed by dubious online eyewear stores. This error cost me time, money, and no small amount of frustration. If you're shopping for affordable glasses, you need to know the reality. Here's what they won't tell you.

• You'll learn how to identify bait-and-switch pricing tactics.
• You'll discover why 'Next Day Delivery' promises are often empty.
• You'll understand why quality customer service is worth the investment.

Myth 1: The Price On The Homepage Is The Price You Will Pay.

Many discount sellers use artificially low prices to lure you into starting an order. This is a classic bait-and-switch. They advertise frames at a steal, but the price mysteriously increases once you reach checkout.

The Lie: One shopper saw a frame listed for $40.60. At checkout, the price suddenly jumped to $58.00.

“The website showed $40.60, so I built my order. At checkout, the price was $58.00! I was about to take a screenshot as proof, and they raised the price again! Shady!!”

The customer service agent then blamed the increase on lens costs or frame color—details that should have been transparent from the beginning. They alter the price right before your eyes.

The Truth: Reputable companies display the total cost clearly, including standard lens packages. Dishonest sites hide fees or sneak in automatic upsells. If the price changes by more than a few dollars during checkout, consider it a major red flag.

Verdict: Always take a screenshot of the price shown on the product page. If it increases at checkout, cancel your order immediately.

Myth 2: Customer Service Will Help You Fix Problems Quickly.

When you buy cheap oversized prescription glasses, you often get cheap support. Discount retailers rely on bots and automated systems to handle most issues. They do this because hiring real people costs money, and they'd rather not spend it.

The Lie: Buyers wasted days trying to reach an actual person. They were trapped in endless phone menus and faced useless chat bots.

“I've been trying for two days to TALK TO A HUMAN to resolve an issue…with no luck. I will NOT be buying from them again. [...] I call their toll-free line…it's automated…no human option. I try their 'live chat'…it's an automated bot.”

The company designs its system to frustrate you into giving up on your refund or order correction.

The Truth: Customer service is part of the product's price. If you pay very little for the frame, the company has no budget for proper support. Look for a working phone number and email address *before* you order. Test the chat feature—is it a real person or a bot? Many customers described this company as "nothing more than an automated operation that doesn't care about its customers."

Verdict: If you can't easily find legitimate customer service contact information, assume you'll be completely on your own if anything goes wrong.

Myth 3: 'Next Day Delivery' Means Your Glasses Will Arrive Next Day.

This is one of the biggest deceptions used by online retailers. They charge extra for rush shipping, but then hold your order for days during "processing" or "production."

The Lie: One customer paid $19.95 for guaranteed Next Day Delivery. Hours later, he received an email stating the order would take three business days. It ultimately took six days to arrive.

“Order placed 02-18 [...] Item delivered 02-24. That is not 'next day delivery' as their site clearly promised.”

The buyer even noted the lenses were "Plano lenses" (non-prescription), meaning there was no legitimate reason for a production delay. They simply lied about the shipping time to collect the extra $19.95 fee.

The Truth: A shipping fee only covers the carrier's transit time (like UPS or FedEx). It does not include the time the store takes to prepare your order, insert lenses, and hand it off to the carrier. Never pay for rush shipping unless the site guarantees *when* the item will ship from their warehouse, not just an estimated delivery date.

Verdict: Do not pay for expedited shipping from a company known for delays. You're paying extra for a promise they won't keep.

Myth 4: If Your Glasses Arrive Scratched, Returns Are Simple.

Even frames like the Pure Titanium Polygon model can arrive damaged if quality control is lacking. But the real challenge is trying to send them back.

The Lie: A buyer received scratched glasses and attempted to initiate a return. The company sent incorrect return instructions, and a bot kept emailing a return label to an address that never received it.

“Spent $372 on SCRATCHED glasses and tried to start a return/exchange. Never received the return label. The 'bot' just keeps sending it to my email, which I never get! Lawyers will be contacted...”

Another customer finally reached a human, who then provided the wrong return information. This goes beyond a simple mistake; it's "ineptitude at its finest."

The Truth: For cheap, high-volume sellers, complicating returns is a business strategy. If the return process is confusing or lengthy, most customers give up. The company profits by keeping both the frame and your payment.

Action Step: Before buying prescription glasses, read the return policy carefully. If it mentions needing approval, interacting with a bot, or dealing with multiple departments, assume it will be a nightmare.

Myth 5: A Professional Website Means The Company Is Honest.

Budget online sellers invest heavily to make their websites look sleek and legitimate. They use high-quality photos and offer tempting deals. But beneath the surface, their business model is often built on deception and automation.

The Lie: Customers discovered the company was "a fraud, ripping customers off for services they charge for but do NOT provide." The entire operation focuses on making sales and ignoring problems.

“Horrible business. Horrible customer service. Everything is automated and forces you to interact with a live chat bot or an endless phone system designed to make you give up out of pure frustration.”

The polished website hides the fact that the company operates without ethics or accountability.

The Truth: Look beyond the website's design. Check independent review sites (Google, Trustpilot, BBB) for reports on customer service and order fulfillment. If you see repeated complaints about pricing scams, delivery delays, or a complete lack of human support, avoid the company.

Verdict: Don't trust appearances. Trust reviews that detail what happens when problems arise.

The Real Deal: Buying Smart for Your Next Frames

You can still find excellent deals on quality eyewear, but you need to be savvy. You must look beyond the price tag.

When searching for oversized prescription glasses, be sure to follow this guide:

1. Verify the Material: Confirm that the frame material (like pure titanium) is explicitly stated. Cheap sellers often misrepresent materials.
2. Read Bad Reviews First: Skip the glowing five-star reviews. Go directly to the one-star reviews. See if complaints are about product quality or, more seriously, customer service fraud. Reports of fraud are a much stronger warning.
3. Confirm Customer Service: Test the chat function or try calling the listed phone number before placing an order. If you can't reach a real person, don't buy.

Do your homework. Don't let low prices trick you into buying from a business that treats its customers poorly. If you're looking for a trustworthy starting point, consulting a reliable directory like this homepage can help you filter out the automated scams.

Don't Believe the Lies

The myths surrounding cheap online glasses are persuasive because they appeal to our desire for a bargain. But remember: a great price means nothing if the service is awful, the delivery is a sham, and you can't return damaged goods.

Don't let these businesses take advantage of you. Demand transparent pricing, responsive service, and ethical practices.