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Clark's shaving, eyeglasses cheapness rankles some

Clark's cheapness has set off a couple of recent firestorms. Syndicated financial writer Greg Karp recently wrote about Clark's use of a single 17-cent razor for a year. Last March, Clark graduated to his second razor. But spending 34 cents on blades for two years is pretty good, don't you think? Yet many people have expressed that they think this is cheapness without a purpose because his razors are so cheap to begin with. In a way, Clark agrees -- but he'd definitely be saving a lot over time if his blade of choice was an expensive one. Other people are upset with Clark over the Zenni Optical issue. For those of you who don't know, Zenni provides deeply discounted prescription eyeglasses starting at $8. Clark himself wears progressive lenses from Zenni that cost him $41. But some people wonder how they can be any good if they're so cheap. Clark's friend Jim Strickland, an investigative reporter for WSB-TV, recently did a story about eyeglasses where he compared Zennis and a number other more expensive brands. The Zennis had perfect prescriptions versus the glasses that were filled at well-known optometry chain stores. The message here is that buying cheap glasses does not automatically mean you'll get bad quality. Consumer Reports recently revealed the three best places to have your eyeglasses prescription filled: At an independent practice where the optometrist has his or her own dispensing operation; at a Costco location; and at the For Eyes Optical discount chain.

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What others are saying

  • Zenni Optical
    I spent $498.00 on glasses at a popular brick and motar place. I got better glasses from Zenni with more optios, for $89.00. They are great. The $498.00 are sitting in my glove compartment, haven't worn them since I got my Zennies.
  • Cheap Glasses Better for Your Health?
    I am ordering glasses from Zenni right now. It has been 12 years since I have gotten new glasses or lenses. That's right - 12! That last pair was VERY expensive and did NOT hold up well right from the start. My very fragile glasses have been repaired with parts from other old glasses MANY times. (I wear contacts otherwise I would have been in trouble long ago.) Point is: cheap glasses are actually better for people's heath. Why? The whole reason I neglected my eye heath was cost. I have VERY poor eyesight and just my lenses start at $160 without frames! If one $50 pair from Zenni lasts me a year - (and I feel confident it will) I am ahead of the game! My husband's glasses are held together with rubber tubing so he gets a new pair too! New pair for him and 2 pairs for me (1 backup) means these wreatched things can go in the trash, and my eyes will thank me!
  • Zenni Optical
    When I told my Eye doctor about ordering on line Progressive lens the concern came up about the PD, and the height of the progressive lens (Bi-focal). How did you deal with these different issues?
    Note my eye doctor did seem to have a problem with ordering reading glasses.
    Thanks in advance.
    Lenny
    Lennysemail@yahoo.com
  • ZENNI
    Clark it seems that there are many many many complaints all over the web about zenni. I hope you reconsider you endorsement of this horrible company. Sometimes cheaper is not better or safe for that matter.
  • Great Affordable Glasses!
    My husband learned about Zenni Optical from your show and I have to tell you, they are awesome! I got my first pair from them today! They are light-weight, anti-glare, scratch coated, half rim style with UV protection, and they came with a polarized sunglass Clip-on for $21.85 including shipping. It was incredible. They came today, 2 weeks after I ordered and I LOVE THESE glasses! Even more I love the price! Great Find Clark Howard!
  • zennioptical
    All I know is that within 3 months of buying these glasses, they have chipped on both sides - this has never happened to me before in 20+ years. Customer service does not care but I will try corporate headquarters.

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