Zenni Optical

So, I now own 4 pair of glasses from Zenni Optical.
They have the distinction of being the cheapest glasses I will buy. I could go cheaper, but I refuse to go that cheap. See, for the most part, there are very few actual manufacturers of glasses. Oh, sure, they'll slap different labels on different types, but they're pretty much all made in the same place. So, it complicates things- I know that my Lookmatics are still made by Luxottica, but my Mezzmers as well as the Zennis are made by Asisn upstarts. I honestly cannot tell which one, but I suspect Mezzmer is with Wenzhou, or another really large Chinese firm like Optibiz, whereas Zenni is more obscure- but still likely Chinese. I suspect that the manufacturing process is more "mass" and definitely less labor, and eco friendly than either Lookmatic or Mezzmer, but at least they're not all the way down there with some of the Indonesians- and that's why they are about as cheap as I will go. It's worth noting- and it's absolutely best to know, not guess, where the stuff you own was made, but in this world, and especially when it comes to monopolies, you have to make compromises.
Anyway- so I owned a pair of reading glasses from them, from last year's deal- they had a four for the price of three deal, so I bought three pair for my son, and one pair for me. This year's deal was three for two, so I got three, and my son got three. Here's my Three: "Blue Steel" "Retro Metal" ( AKA "Cory Doctorow") and  "Hipster Clown" - Zenni doesn't bother to name their styles, so I've done it for them.
So, what do I think? Well, Blue Steel is very much what you'd expect- super cheap, but not as cheaply made as what you'd think- like  most Chinese products. They create the most gnawing guilt- I'm pretty sure they were made by sweatshop labor, because the price vs. quality vs. flaws just fits that profile too well. Retro Metal is actually very comparable to a low-to middle end Luxottica product. I'd put them on par with Oakley. Not bad.  Hipster Clown actually is garnering me compliments, and I'm not so self assured that I can completely ignore that. They're still very cheaply made, and that's obvious ( I'd put it at Wal Mart type quality- aka "at least I didn't get it at a swap meet" ), but they evidently look good to other people, and they're the first pair of glasses since my Lookmatic Clubmaster-inspired "Austins" that get remarks of "Hey where did you get those? I want a pair!" So, I'll take it. So, all in all, I'd call it a win. Oh, and total price for my order was about US 160.00- which is what I'd pay for one pair of Lookmatics, with all the bells and whistles that I like ( which still beats the pants off of the 300 to 400 I'll pay, using my insurance, at a brick-and-mortar. Without Insurance, I'd pay more like 500 to 600) so, again, not bad.
Basically, Warby Parker still rules hell, for having the least amount of guilt, coupled with a decent price
(unfortunately they can't quite hit my distance prescription so I just have a reading pair). Mezzmer is a very close second, and Lookmatic might be third, but they win over both for style points. But Zenni still is slightly on the "good guy" end of the spectrum. If they start doing the moral equivalent to "carbon offests" I'll eliminate one of my other choices.

Blue Glasses

So, I still like Lookmatic. I've found that Mezzmer has a few frames that function better, book Lookmatic still has better style, and are just spot-on excellent for prescription sunglasses. So I got a pair of the "Jones" in black ( evidently their last pair, as the frame is not on their site any more) with blue lenses- let me tell you the blue lenses are key- they actually seem to work with my eyes such that I see details better, and more clearly when wearing them- it's like "Hi Definition" sunglasses. Very cool, and if you have blue eyes like me, I suggest you give them a try.

Some New Glasses From Mezzmer

I've got really pretty bad eyes. I don't have the worst prescription of anyone I know, but it's definitely on the worse side, not better. So I appreciate well made glasses. Mezzmer does glasses extremely well. They don't have the biggest selection, and basically, if you don't like retro plastic glasses, they have nothing for you. However, I do like retro plastic glasses, so they have plenty for me. So, I got two new pair from them- a pair of the Oscars in black, and a pair of the Astaires in brown. I like them as glasses, and they fit well, and are very well constructed. The only thing against, is that I have to get a new eye doctor. This one has got my prescription slightly off, again. I can still use these, but I can't use them for the reason I bought them- as computer glasses at work. I can read just fine with them up to about 20- 22 inches away from my face, but my computer at work is about 28-30 inches away, with small type. These will be fine for reading books, but because my doctor still doesn't listen to me, they will not function as I need them to function. It's definitely been that kind of day. So, I will have to go to another doctor, pay for an eye exam out of pocket, and then, I can order a new pair... Absolutely not Mezzmer's fault. and again, the glasses themselves are great. Just a pisser...