Quote:
Originally Posted by BWillie
I started going to them a couple years ago, couldn't believe the cost difference compared to my previous eye doctor. Don't know how they do it.
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Yeah, it's pretty insane. I can point to a few things:
1. It's a volume-based business. They book people every 10 minutes I believe.
2. They use entry-level techs who need no prior experience for a lot of stuff (running the automated tests, fitting you for frames, placing orders, etc.)
3. I think most of their docs are either new in their careers or on "exchange" where they have another gig but work at America's Best for some extra cash.
4. The glasses bundle is nice, but now that I'm used to Zenni, it's pretty clear that the store cost for a pair of glasses is probably like $5, so that's not a huge cost driver.
I usually go once every year. I pay for the three-year contact club exam (for $130 I think), and I get a free set of daily contacts as a "trial" that I use to ski each year. I rarely go enough to have to order more.
Then, like I said, I order glasses from Zenni for maybe $20-$30 depending on extras. I'll miss once in a while and get a pair I don't like, but they're so cheap it's hard to care.
It's great.