I've not been to the UK for a zillion years.

 

We have family coming over in April, of course they are asking all sorts of questions, one which I can't answer is simply "are specs here cheaper than the UK?".

 

I'm assuming a simple lens prescription.

 

Anyone have any thoughts, best places to go (I'm assuming Top Charoen isn't on the list of "best").

 

If you go to a Thai opticians shop they will be about same price more or less I found for prescription lens, I guess the same for simple mag glasses.

I buy my glasses of need in Big'C' as I only need 1 pair reading glasses, 1 pair for driving, 1 pair watching TV.

Price range 49 baht to 199 baht.

If they are here awhile, I highly recommend getting from Zenni Optical, (made in Hong Kong), saved me around 75% over the typical specsavers. (subject to prescription)

@CharlieH They are here 2.5 weeks (over Songkran) enough time?

Erm.....

 

UK much cheaper.

 

https://www.selectspecs.com

 

https://www.selectspecs.com/cheap-glasses/

 

From £6 per pair including lenses.

 

I'm wearing mine now. Though I upgraded the lenses. So paid £18(725 baht) including delivery of around £6.

 

You'll never find that in Thailand. They all wanna get rich quick.

Mine took 7 days, they quote 14, but they trade and give the impression of being US, in fact its Chinese and produced in Hong Kong. I would say yes enough time, worse case scenario you could post them on. Worth it for the saving, get them to browse the website, they could even have them shipped directly to the UK anytime.

 

Just now, CharlieH said:

Worth it for the saving, get them to browse the website, they could even have them shipped directly to the UK anytime.

Yeah, found the website, UK shipping would be the same as here, I'll suggest they check out the website. 

It all depends on what quality you are after. Most of the high street opticians in UK fit their own standard lenses. But if you want Premium quality like Hoya or Rodenstock or others, you will pay. I was quoted £600 for titanium frames with progressive Hoya lenses in UK. Got the same at KT Optic in Central for the same price. Absolutely PERFECT. You get what you pay for. 

1 minute ago, wgdanson said:

You get what you pay for. 

Indeed, I strongly suspect they won't be going for premium anything, they are flying Ukraine International!

 

Unless they'll be needed for use while here, then why not check out the price of a pair they like in the UK before leaving, check out the price of a similar pair while here, and either buy them, if cheaper, or wait till they go back, if not?

@ballpoint indeed, this is a bit of advance research, if it looks like same or more expensive we won't waste time shopping.

 

On a related topic, any recommendations for where to get your eyes tested In Bangkok or should I wait till I’m visiting UK next month?

9 minutes ago, Crossy said:

@ballpoint indeed, this is a bit of advance research, if it looks like same or more expensive we won't waste time shopping.

 

 

Don't bother. Take a look at post #5. Cheaper than Zenni and cheaper postage too.

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

Anyone have any thoughts, best places to go

Cheapest is Zenni Optical mail order, unless you want to take a trip to Vietnam.

Glasses aren't cheap in Thailand, but maybe cheaper than the UK by a little.

Thanks, good info for spec' es, me too.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

51 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cheapest is Zenni Optical mail order, unless you want to take a trip to Vietnam.

Glasses aren't cheap in Thailand, but maybe cheaper than the UK by a little.

 

Nope...SelectSpecs is cheaper or much the same as Zenni and therefore glasses are much cheaper in the U.K. than from Thailand.

2 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

On a related topic, any recommendations for where to get your eyes tested In Bangkok or should I wait till I’m visiting UK next month?

Personally I would wait until visiting the UK.

I used to get my glasses made in Hong Kong but the price differential is just not there any more.

 

The one time I was forced to get some replacement frames in Thailand, I got a pair of metal ones. I admit they were cheap, but after a short period of time, the metal corroded and turned the bridge of my nose green.

I got a nice pair of specs in MBK. Folding frames. Couldnt find them anywhere in the west so for $90 total I took a chance.

Tuk Com...39 Bt....ground floor.

Your friends may have a language barrier problem. I can speak Thai but my vocabulary is limited when talking about lens prescriptions etc, so I tried to use English and found theirs to be very limited. That’s just my experience. 

I think it's interesting how many people here want cheap and cheaper.

Personally I want a quality frame, quality lenses and a good optician who knows what he is doing.

I go to Opticland in Sukhumvit near the corner of Soi 29

https://www.facebook.com/Opticland29

Not cheap, but very good!

 

I have found that using a "Special Offer" such as Buy one get Two, in the UK from a company similar to Specsavers etc. To be more economical. Also, if you know your prescription Glasses Direct are good value especially when combined with some of the offers from the Money Saving Expert.

I pay only 300 Baht here for new lenses in Ban Bung.

I bought 2 pair in Phnom Penh last week. I took my prescription from my home country optometrist.

1 pair for reading was $25.00.

1 pair for outdoor and TV viewing had lenses that darkened in bright sunlight was $45.00.

Ordered and collected in one hour.

Was told by the shop that the frames were from Italy and the lenses from Singapore.

 

Almost impossible to compare prices as every frame/lens is different. I haven't bought glasses in the UK for 15 years but i remember them being very expensive. I bought a good quality Hoya lens and frame from Euro Optics and paid 6000 baht which i thought was OK. Recently i bought a pair for my tgf from another opticians in Jomtien and paid 1500. But you can buy a pair for 50 baht !!

 

I don't know how you can buy mail order without knowing if the glasses fit (or look OK).

I paid 14.000 for progessive/bi focal Ray  ban that acted as sun glasses also.  Frames lasted no more than 18. Months before pitting  and lenses scrached at the slightest touch.  Similar in UK was £249 so cheaper there on my account. Get a quote before coming and then compare  when here.  On a side note,  I bought the very same/similar in Philippines for 9.000 baht and are still perfect condition 

19 hours ago, CharlieH said:

If they are here awhile, I highly recommend getting from Zenni Optical, (made in Hong Kong), saved me around 75% over the typical specsavers. (subject to prescription)

I get mine there, Zenni online too. There great. Just need your script and follow the steps.

15 hours ago, SheungWan said:

I used to get my glasses made in Hong Kong but the price differential is just not there any more.

 

Zenni online, cheap and great price and good quality.