Warby Parker (or, Finding Broken Systems That Are Full of Money)

Reads a bit too much like ad copy for my tastes. Or rather I read it with the intent to understand more about the content in the parentheses, not Warby Parker. :)<p>That being said they are situated in a vertical that has efficiency players (Zenni Optical, Coastal Contacts) but haven't mastered the design/marketing/CS game yet. Going Zappos-style is their entrenchment mechanism, as well as the in-house designers.

Huh that's funny. I just ordered 5 pairs from them to try on, they came yesterday. (<a href="http://imgur.com/a/ZRTKi" rel="nofollow">http://imgur.com/a/ZRTKi</a> if you're interested in offering an opinion)<p>I'm really impressed with the build of them. They feel a lot better than my zenni optical pair (which were only 30 dollars, not 95). Hopefully the lens quality is better too (mostly anti-glare I'm concerned about), but I'll have to wait and see.<p>Also, if you missed their april fools site, it is extremely adorable and well done: <a href="http://www.warbybarker.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.warbybarker.com/</a><p>Every pair of glasses has a dog modeling it, ie: <a href="http://www.warbybarker.com/sunwear/aldous/" rel="nofollow">http://www.warbybarker.com/sunwear/aldous/</a>

I've been using Zenni Optical, which I guess is disrupting the broken system of Warby Parker by undercutting their prices by yet another factor of 5, just like Warby Parker did to brick and mortar stores.

Somewhat unrelated, but I love Warby Parker's 2011 "Annual Report".<p>Clean, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing.<p><a href="http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2011/" rel="nofollow">http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2011/</a>

I wonder if this is one of those rare instances where the US plays catch up with an established money making idea (another being text messaging)? Glasses Direct have been doing the same thing in the UK since 2004 and having similarly major blow out success. Usually it's the other way around.. the UK copies the US model ;-)

This is a little weird for me. I've got a couple optometrists in the family who own their own practice. A lot of this article rings completely false. Kind of makes me wonder, when reading about other "disruptors" what information is exaggerated or missing.<p>Still, not a bad idea, especially for people without insurance.

huh. the biggest problem I have with buying glasses online is the lenses. The PD (I believe is what it's called; the distance between your pupil and the bridge of your nose) is super important for the glasses to work very well at all.<p>Yeah, you can fuck around with a mirror and a ruler, or once at wallmart the kid at the counter just looked at me real hard and drew spots on the plastic filler lens... as far as I can tell, the actual machine to do that measurement? makes a pretty big difference.<p>I think the optometrists know this, too; the optometrist is happy to give me my prescription, but they won't give me the PD numbers. "you usually have it measured when you get the frames" they say. (I should look if it changes.)<p>And that's the thing, the difference between pretty good glasses and perfect glasses is huge for me. Enough that I'm happy to pay five hundred bucks for a product I can get for fifty online.<p>That said, my local Cosco has those machines, and as far as I can tell, the lenses they grind are just fine, and if not 1/10th the cost, at least 1/5th the cost of the optometrist.<p>But yeah, until they solve that measurement problem? I don't really see how this is any different from any of the millions of other online frame/lens retailers, save for the vertical integration (which is kinda interesting.)

How come not many people are talking about this article in the context of entrepreneurship? Pretty astute advice for people doing startups.<p>"1) it fits the classic definition of a disruptive company and 2) is an innovative company playing in a large market with unsophisticated competitors."<p>Of course, everybody who does a startup has to go through the cloning phase. It's just part of learning how to build a business...

As some have mentioned, not a great option if you have insurance. Mine covers a new pair every two years (plus the appointment you need to get a current prescription). They may want to make an effort to cater to that segment more, if it's possible. But it is an innovative approach to a market ripe for the picking. On that note ... Insurance and medicine – Talk about a broken system full of money.

I always get my glasses from Korea (I'm not Korean). I think a large number of Koreans wear glasses, so I always find a lot of variety.<p>I bought my current glasses for ~$150 almost 3 years ago and they still look new. If you are visiting/vacationing, I highly recommend checking them out (I think the store that I bought them from was 1001 optical or something like that)

There are plenty of brick &#38; mortar stores at the $95 price point in my area. Warby Parker won my business because they had many more styles, better-looking glasses (IMO), and a really strong guarantee (most other stores had a no refunds policy).<p>I had never heard of Zenni Optical until reading this HN thread, which goes to show you how successful WP's marketing is.

Interesting all of the people who keep saying they've heard of WP but not Zenni. I'm actually the opposite. I've gotten several pairs from Zenni for &#60; $10 and have always been very happy with them. This is the first time I've heard of WP and for me the price is too high for me to consider that disruptive.

I heard about Warby Parker about two weeks ago and decided to give them a try. Whenever I would get frames at a local shop it always felt rushed and I was never happy with the results in the long run. I really like the idea of the home try-on and did find a pair I'm very happy with.

When I have more time, I'd like to look into just how WB grew so fast. What's really impressive is the logistical and operations side (the marketing and publicity are awesome too, but less impressive than coming out of nowhere to ship so much physical product)

Who does the eye tests in the US? In UK eye tests are often done through local opticians.<p>Disclaimer: not using specs at present but probably will be soon, I'm having to hold the books with small print further and further away...

Been using framesdirect for a few years now. Very happy. How is this different?

I love WP. I've bought three pairs from them. They have free try-on with free return shipping. And you get glasses anti-reflective, polycarbonate lenses for less than a frame alone if you bought them retail.

Does anyone know how big they are in terms of sales?<p>I considered interviewing them for Mixergy because I hear they're doing well, but the only metric I see for their success is valuation.

off topic but: Is there a similar service for lens?

Anyone know any UK based equivalents ?