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Contacts Direct Review
Saturday, May 18th
2024 Contact Lens Store Reviews
Contacts Direct
- 17 brands of contact lenses
- Accepts many different insurance carriers
- Free shipping and returns
- Can pay with FSA/HSA
- 6-month refund policy on unopened boxes of contacts
- Price matching available
Contacts Direct is connected with a lot of in-person stores you probably know from the mall - like Sunglass Hut. They offer 17 brands of contacts, including all of the more popular names like Acuvue and Air Optix, plus some lesser-known ones like MyDay and Clariti.
Easy to shop but prices won't impress
It's pretty straightforward to find your contact lenses here: the most popular brands are featured at the top of the site, and there's another dozen or so under the "More Brands" dropdown. We had no trouble finding our comparison contacts: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism. The pricing at Contacts Direct wasn't that competitive with other stores on our list: the 30-pack was "as low as $51.86 per box" , and the 90-pack was "as low as $133.49 per box" . But, there was a discount code to save 15% featured at the top of the site, so that made the final cost a bit more in the ballpark - and shipping is free too.
Price matching and 6 months on exchanges
Contacts Direct has a lot of customer-friendly policies that we like. For example, you can return any unopened boxes of contacts for a full refund - not just an exchange - within six months of receipt. Given that some contact lens stores don't let you make exchanges or returns beyond the first 30 days, that's pretty generous. This store also offers price matching if you think you've found your contacts for less somewhere else. Given that their prices weren't all that competitive, you might need to take advantage of that.
Not hard to use with insurance benefits
And insurance? Contacts Direct is in-network for quite a few insurers, including EyeMed, Superior Vision, Aetna Vision Preferred, Anthem Blue Vision, Humana Vision, and many others. You can also get details on how to be reimbursed if your contacts purchase here is out of network for your vision insurance; just click on the link in the Insurance FAQ.
Parent company has a "D" with the BBB
However, Contacts Direct isn't doing as well as we'd like to see when it comes to reputation. They're one of several contact lens stores on our list that are part of the Luxottica group, which unfortunately has a "D" rating from the Better Business Bureau with over 750 complaints in the last three years, Granted, there are a lot of brands under that umbrella, including some big names like Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut, even Target Optical and Ray-Ban, so that might not mean anything for Contacts Direct specifically.
Love-hate reputation here
But, when you look at feedback for just this brand, it's not all that impressive either: on Trustpilot alone, out of nearly 2300 ratings, almost 30% gave Contacts Direct three stars or less. It seems like you'll either think your contact-ordering experience here is awesome or awful, without too much in-between. Some people get excellent customer service and their lenses arrive right on time, while others struggle to get the right lenses delivered at all.
Might be a contact lens store to avoid
You have a lot of options for buying your contacts online, and a store that offers a 6-month exchange window would usually wind up near the top of the ones we'd recommend to you. But, in the case of Contacts Direct, that's not enough to compensate for the higher-than-average prices, the poor grade from the BBB, and the very mixed feedback from customers. This might be a contacts retailer you want to skip in favor of a higher-ranking option on our list.
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Where's the Best Place to Buy Contact Lenses?
Buying contact lenses online offers several advantages that make it a convenient and cost-effective option for many people. You might feel pressured to buy them at the same time as your annual eye exam, but there's something your optometrist might not want you to know: you can probably buy the very same lenses online for up to 70% less than retail when shopping online.
Online retailers often provide a wider selection of contact lens brands, types, and prescription options compared to physical stores. This variety allows customers to find the lenses that best suit their specific needs, whether they require daily disposables, toric lenses for astigmatism, or multifocal options. Plus, you'll enjoy the convenience of doorstep delivery, all from the comfort of your home.
Contact Lens Store FAQ
Continued from above...
Purchasing contact lenses online can also save you both time and money. Online retailers frequently offer competitive pricing and discounts, making it possible to find lenses at lower prices than in brick-and-mortar stores. Additionally, online shopping eliminates the need for trips to physical stores, saving you time and reducing the hassle of scheduling appointments or waiting in long lines.
The convenience of online shopping also allows customers to reorder their contact lenses with ease. Many online retailers offer subscription services, ensuring that you will receive your lenses regularly without having to remember to reorder. This helps maintain good eye health by reducing the risk of running out of lenses or wearing them for too long.
Want to know which contact lenses are best? Online retailers often provide detailed product information and customer reviews, helping you make an informed decision about which contact lenses to choose. This information helps you find the best fit and comfort for their eyes, as well as to learn about the latest lens technologies and innovations.
Curious if contact lenses suit you? Perhaps your previous attempt several years ago wasn't a comfortable fit, but fear not. Technological advancements now allow many people who need vision correction to wear contacts comfortably, even after past setbacks. Soft lenses for astigmatism and presbyopia are even available, surpassing the days of rigid or gas permeable options for corrective measures.
You can easily discover the wide array of options you have online. Are multifocal contacts as a substitute for glasses? Absolutely. Daily lenses for single-use convenience? You bet. It might take some experimentation to find your ideal prescription and lens type, but the perks of contacts can far outweigh traditional eyeglasses. There's no getting caught in the rain and feeling like you need mini windshield wipers or going blind into the ocean because you left your prescription glasses up by your towel.
If you're considering buying your contact lenses online, you'll need to decide which contact lens store to use. There are a bunch of them out there, some with more name recognition than others. Here are a few criteria you can use to evaluate both the big-name retailers and the lesser-known ones:
- Selection. Opt for stores with an extensive range of brands and lens types, especially if your prescription is complicated.
- Ease of use. Can you quickly locate your specific contacts (by brand or by style)? The best contact lens stores make it easy to verify if your selection matches your prescription.
- Price. Calculate the cost per box and look for discounts when ordering multiple boxes at once. Beware of sneaky "processing/handling" fees during checkout.
- Benefits. Some retailers go above and beyond to enhance your buying experience. Explore options like online prescription verification exams or automatic refill schedules for discounts, so you never run out of lenses.
- Returns and refunds. What if you order a year's supply of contacts and your prescription changes? The best contact lens retailers give you an ample window to return unopened boxes for an exchange or refund.
- Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings from the Better Business Bureau and elsewhere to gauge the retailer's track record for customer service, on-time delivery, in-stock inventory, and so on.
For a comprehensive review of top-notch online contact lens retailers, check out our research here at Top Consumer Reviews. We're sure this evaluation will help you to get your contacts quickly and cost-effectively, ensuring crystal-clear and comfortable vision for the long haul!
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