What's The Deal With The Optical Shops?

[SHDWFX]

Does anybody know what the deal is with all these optical shops in Hua Hin. I haven't counted them but there must be 100 of them in the town center. There is no way that the economics of this makes any sense. If half of them get two customers a day I would be surprised. Their prices are not that great. Is this some kind of tax write-off or money laundering scheme? It certainly would not surprise me. Ahh, the LOS.

[dantilley]

They're everywhere, actually, not just in Hua Hin. Have wondered the same thing myself though, why so many?

[jumnien]

You'd be suprised how many tourists and regular visitors buy their eyeglasses when in Thailand. The euro-trash buy six pairs at a time of varying coloured frames.

[PeaceBlondie]

Even ThaiVisa moderators buy their glasses in Hua Hin. I cheapened out, though, and got mine off the main drag. I bet there are only a limited number of proper opticians, though, and they make the rounds as they are called on their mobiles.

[Ollie]

The euro-trash...

Go on then, explain that one to me?

[jumnien]

The euro-trash...

Go on then, explain that one to me?

Distinguished visitors from the European Union, if you prefer!

[EastSaxCol]

Dunno what the deal is, tbh. But I know that I was offered a pair down from 7,000 to 5,000 in Charoen Prathet optiticians (or is that a road in Chiang Mai ?) in Cha-Am on the strength that I could get the same for around £70 in England. Now that I'm forced to be back in the UK for a bit, I wish that I'd taken them. The same frames, etc. costs the equivalent of 8,000+ bht, and that's with concessions.

[Netfan]

Most of the shops, franchises in HH are owned by a few individuals and its a pretty spirited turf war- the more store fronts one has, the more customers. They make an incredible profit. One shop where I know a couple of the staff routinely does 100,000 baht in daily sales in the high season, and the shop did 200,000 in one day a couple of weeks ago.

Edited March 9, 2008 by Netfan

[cheshiremusicman]

Does anybody know what the deal is with all these optical shops in Hua Hin. I haven't counted them but there must be 100 of them in the town center. There is no way that the economics of this makes any sense. If half of them get two customers a day I would be surprised. Their prices are not that great. Is this some kind of tax write-off or money laundering scheme? It certainly would not surprise me. Ahh, the LOS.

I don't profess to know much about 'the frame pushers'; but remember reading on this, or the HH forum, that a Doctor Pairat who runs an eye clinic at 88/1 88/2 Phetkasem road; on the block opposite the market Village is very ethical with regard to prescribing glasses and people have reported that he will sell for about 50% of the prices being charged in the shops in HH.

I have no personal knowledge of this man, and no connections with him, but am glad to pass on the info from other people and I shall be visiting him to get my eyes checked out in the next few weeks so will keep you posted.

As for his ethics, I remember that one poster reported that he had visited with a friend who had been prescribed glasses after 'eye tests' in numerous shops in HH and was told by Dc P that he did NOT need glasses and would be wasted his money, enough said!

[niggle]

90/10 of the 'high street' optical shops staff are only trained to use the eye testing machine and sell frames. They are NOT opticians.

Routine reading glassess / long distance glasses may be ok but any ye problem is not understood and they cannot give corrrect lenses in many cases. Use an optician not a sales shop if you have any unusual problem or one needing specialist knowledge

[Firmoo]

The eyeglasses shops everywhere in the world is of extra low efficiency, low traffic, low daily volume, but high selling prices of glasses comparing the the cost of the products.

It is normal.

[Asbestos]

THE TOURIST AND THE LOCAL'S CERTAINLY ENJOY WATCHING THE GIRLIE'S IN THEIR SHORT WHITE SKIRTS CLEANING THE WINDOW'S. A TRAFFIC STOPPER ANY TIME OF THE DAY.

[hhfarang]

The eyeglasses shops everywhere in the world is of extra low efficiency, low traffic, low daily volume, but high selling prices of glasses comparing the the cost of the products.

It is normal.

I've had several sets of lenses made here for frames that I already had and have had to go back twice because the coating wasn't done right and became spotted or "spider webbed" after a few weeks. The place fixed the problem both times with no argument and blamed the problem on a lens maker in Bangkok that supplies them.

I think the optical markup is on the order of 1000% (everywhere) so if they sell a pair of glasses a week, most shops can probably stay in business here.

[Samuian]

The eyeglasses shops everywhere in the world is of extra low efficiency, low traffic, low daily volume, but high selling prices of glasses comparing the the cost of the products.

It is normal.

I've had several sets of lenses made here for frames that I already had and have had to go back twice because the coating wasn't done right and became spotted or "spider webbed" after a few weeks. The place fixed the problem both times with no argument and blamed the problem on a lens maker in Bangkok that supplies them.

I think the optical markup is on the order of 1000% (everywhere) so if they sell a pair of glasses a week, most shops can probably stay in business here.

Comes all down to: "You get what you pay for"!

Genuine Quality comes at a price!

And some of these "El Cheapo's" aren't really cheap, it's what they try to appear to.. their Sales pitch!

If one knows or even only compares prices... and you one can tell if the "PORSCHE", "Tag Heuer" or "Dior" Model Frame is a genuine one and not from some Hongkong or Chinese Sweatshop?

[hhfarang]

The eyeglasses shops everywhere in the world is of extra low efficiency, low traffic, low daily volume, but high selling prices of glasses comparing the the cost of the products.

It is normal.

I've had several sets of lenses made here for frames that I already had and have had to go back twice because the coating wasn't done right and became spotted or "spider webbed" after a few weeks. The place fixed the problem both times with no argument and blamed the problem on a lens maker in Bangkok that supplies them.

I think the optical markup is on the order of 1000% (everywhere) so if they sell a pair of glasses a week, most shops can probably stay in business here.

Comes all down to: "You get what you pay for"!

Genuine Quality comes at a price!

And some of these "El Cheapo's" aren't really cheap, it's what they try to appear to.. their Sales pitch!

If one knows or even only compares prices... and you one can tell if the "PORSCHE", "Tag Heuer" or "Dior" Model Frame is a genuine one and not from some Hongkong or Chinese Sweatshop?

You missed the point... the optical shops here are not cheap. They are in line with U.S. prices at least. Maybe you guys from Europe are used to paying more, but what I'm saying is that you pay the same here as in the states and the quality is sorely lacking here compared to there...

The reason I just keep getting new lenses put in my old U.S. frames is that the price is way too high here for new frames... like I said, markup on the order of 1000% everywhere, including Hua Hin! The optical (frame) business is a scam the world over... materials and workmanship to make a good pair of frames (probably in China where most of them are made) is probably a few U.S. dollars per frame and they sell them for hundreds!

[Deadcert]

I asked the same question in Hua Hin, I was told that there was originally 1 guy with a couple of shops and he was making a fortune so everyone else jumped on the band wagon. This would make sense as there was a sudden increase in the number of opticians. How they stay in business is the next big question, maybe the grey haired Vias brigade are the reason .....