What is the Best Place to Buy Sunglasses

Buying sunglasses is a responsible task. Today every major city has thousands of optical and fashion stores. You have a choice to buy them from optical store, Sunglass Hut, flagship store, department store or online. Even big chains such as Forever 21 and H&M carry their own sunglasses. You can spend $10, $100 or even $1000 on a pair of sunglasses. But places to buy vary greatly and also your experience will vary depending on where you buy sunglasses. In no particular order:

Optical Store

Optical stores are among the best places to buy sunglasses. You can expect a full service such as adjustments, cost free repair and free warranty service. If you didn't buy sunglasses from the optical store, every problem with sunglasses will cost you. Every little screw, bending of the arm, minor repair will cost you in other places if you can even find them. Most of opticals don't even like to handle sunglasses that didn't come from them. Optical stores are usually small business owned by people who work there. They deeply care for products that they sell and have a full control of which specific models they put on their shelves. Therefore selection in such stores is always unique and corresponding the taste of the store owner. You can often find rare sunglasses models in such stores.

Tiffany TF4040 can only be found at some optical stores

Flagship Store

Stores like Dior, Chanel, Gucci and so forth all carry their own sunglasses product as part of accessory line. Same glasses that you find in flagship stores can be purchased online from online sunglasses store or optical boutique. But other than warranty, you can't expect any service from brand name stores. Also, they sell sunglasses by manufacturer suggested price, so you will not get a deal. In fact, these are the most expensive places to buy sunglasses from. But of course you will get a very special experience in the moment of making a purchase from Dior store on the 5th Avenue, NY or some other central street.

Dior Granville 1 can be found in most of Dior flagship stores

Online Boutique

Buying online is very tricky. Since you never get to see or talk to people who fulfill your order it is hard to get a personal connection with the purchase. In fact it is hard to even trust most of the places online. Over 90% of all brand name sunglasses sold online are replicas or fake. If you find optical boutique that carries real products from an authorized dealers you are lucky and should stick to it and recommend it to your friends and family. But advantage of buying online is of course getting a deal. Because online stores don't have to pay expensive rent and stuff, online prices are 50-70% cheaper than retail. Don't expect a service such as repair or adjustments as online stores may be located hundreds of miles away. But if you buy real products and treat them with reasonable care they will outlast the warranty period by many times. Online stores such as eyeinform are selling real authentic products for reasonable prices.

Gucci 3503 sunglasses is one example where you can save over $200 by buying them online

Department Stores

Department stores such as Macy's, the Bay or Nordstrom also carry premium brand name sunglasses. But they often sell by manufacturer suggested price and offer no service. You can't even expect warranty service from them because they don't have personal relationships with brands to service you. Also department stores often carry discontinued or old models because optical boutiques and brand name stores have a first hand on receiving new stock.

Tom Ford Vicky TF184 sunglasses would be found in many of Department stores that love to carry Tom Ford line

Sunglass Hut

Sunglass Hut is the largest sunglasses retain chain in North America. They are the most known too. There are over thousand Sunglass Hut stores. Each store also has rather large selection to satisfy any budget or style. They also have a website where you can buy online. They are not optical store, or department or brand name store. Other than some promotions Sunglass Hut is following manufacturer suggested price, therefore you will not get a deal. You will however get good service for adjustments and you can expect it in any stores across the country even if you didn't buy your sunglasses from that specific location. One major drawback is because of traffic, products in Sunglass Hut stores are often dirty and likely have been worn by other people before. They are known for their 90 days refund policy, so many fashionistas will purchase a pair and exchange it for another one 3 months later. Some people are put off when they realize that there is little guarantee that their pair of sunglasses may be used.

Versace 4044B sunglasses are widely available at Sunglass Hut