Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site clyde.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!dnc From: dnc@clyde.UUCP (Don Corey) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: Eyeglasses why so expensive Message-ID: <797@clyde.UUCP> Date: Sat, 9-Feb-85 14:22:05 EST Article-I.D.: clyde.797 Posted: Sat Feb 9 14:22:05 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Feb-85 05:36:49 EST References: <777@u1100a.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany NJ Lines: 18 > While the unit cost for a pair of frames are low, there is a > fair amount of overhead (rent/lights, the kilobucks for the lens > grinder and other opthalmic equipment). > ... the optician must be licensed by the state (at least > in NJ), so this makes the optician "skilled labor". You missed the start of this discussion. The complaint was not over the price of lenses, which require the equipment and skilled labor you describe, but over the price of frames which do not. We also recognize that the retailer has to have a mark up ( I have found that 100% mark up is not uncommon), but this does not alter fact that eyeglass frames seemed to be priced out of proportion to their complexity. The poster of the original article stated that one could by an electric drill for less than the price of many frames. -- Don Corey AT&T Bell Laboratories WH 2A-140 (201) 386-2349 ihnp4!clyde!dnc