7 Questions For Consideration Prior To Purchasing Contact Lenses Online

It can be quite convenient to purchase contact lenses online: a few clicks of the mouse are all it takes. However, you ought to see whether or not buying contact lenses online is really the best option for you.

You have many other options like purchasing contact lenses from your optometrist, optical stores and even large retailers like Sam’s club and Costco. It may be that one of these options is a better alternative for you.

You should be aware that there are dozens of websites online where you could purchase contact lenses, if you do in fact decide to buy them on the Internet. However these sellers are not all created the same.

Here are some questions for you to consider before buying contacts online:

1. Do they accept telephone orders?This is a sign that the company is a real “mail order” company and not just some individual with a website.
2. Will my order ship right away?A smaller scale company may stock only the most popular and in demand prescriptions. If they have to get your lenses only upon you ordering them, then delivery time may take quite a long time.

   While in the process of ordering, a seller worth doing business with should tell you if the product you want is in stock and give you at least and estimated ship date.

   (Important note: An online or mail-order seller is obliged, by law, to contact your eye care practitioner (ECP) to substantiate your prescription. The law says your ECP’s office has eight business hours to respond. If your ECP fails to respond within that amount of time, it will be assumed that the prescription is valid and the company can ship the lenses to your location without verification. However, this legal requirement may delay the shipping of your lenses by up to a couple of days.)

3. Do I trust this company with my credit card information?You should be aware of the risk involved when buying from companies that you have never purchased anything from in the past nor heard of before. Be sure to research any company in depth before deciding to purchase anything from them like by searching for reviews, ratings, etc.

   The Better Business Bureau is another useful resource, which tracks complaints against companies and how those complaints were resolved.

4. Is customer service readily available?If there happens to be an issue with the contacts you purchase online, it would be great to know whether you can get the prompt attention you need. A reputable online seller should provide you with a toll-free phone number and an on site contact form. Even if you decide to order online, be sure to try the phone number: if you are responded to with an answering machine, it’s likely a back-room operation.
5. What’s the return policy?If you purchase a year’s worth of contacts and your prescription happens to change, do ensure that the company will accept the unopened boxes for credit. Also, ask the company what is the policy of damage of the product while in transit.
6. Does the site have an “About Us” page?The website should have credible information about the company, its people and its history, and not simply a vague statement about how they desire to serve you with a vast selection and great service.

Is the ordering process secure? When you reach on a page to enter personal information, be sure to check the URL of the page at the top of your browser. It should begin with “https://” as opposed to “http://” if the page is secure. Also, a padlock icon — locked, not open — should appear in the status bar or elsewhere in the browser when you are visiting a secure page.

Articles