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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.consumers
Subject: Eyeglass frames--why so expensive?
Message-ID: <1068@opus.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 04:57:55 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.1068
Posted: Wed Jan 30 04:57:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Feb-85 01:03:41 EST
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Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
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Xref: godot net.misc:2317 net.consumers:1649

I've been looking for new frames for eyeglasses.  They seem to be
incredibly expensive for what's involved.  What's going on?  Is this is a
categorical ripoff or does it just involve some exotic processes that I
don't understand?

Metal frames are made from a number of pieces of metal with a few welds or
solder joints, then plated, coated, or painted with a durable paint.  The
amount of metal involved is small (a fraction of an ounce) and it's not a
precious metal.  The plating/coating processes are conventional and not
expensive.  There is no extreme precision required other than tapping
for small screws, which are a standard size (00-90).  The number of parts
is small--invariably under 20 and often under 10.  The number of joints is
also small--again, << 20.  Yet the price (neglecting sales) is $50-100.  If
you want a frame made of something out of the ordinary, maybe >$200 is
believable for titanium, but >$150 for good ol' stainless steel seems
awfully high.

Economics:  There are at least a dozen major frame manufacturers.  There
are lots of shops--a dozen or more in this town (1e5 population).  In other
words, competition abounds.  LOTS of people wear glasses; quantities have
to be high even with many styles and sizes.

For the price of an average pair of frames, I could buy a good
microprocessor, a quality router, more than two cases of good beer (:-), or
various other things which seem to me to take a lot more time and material
to make and have comparable or lesser economies of scale.

What am I missing?  Why do they cost so much?
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Never offend with style when you can offend with substance.