Each year when December rolls around, I not only play the gift-buying game, but also a little thing I like to call the tax game. This is where I look for ways to take advantage of last-minute deductions before the year’s end. The tax game also often involves making a few purchases, and I found myself marveling at a site that let me handle everything with ease.
Let me explain. If you itemize on your taxes for medical expenses because your itemized deductions are higher than a standard deduction, then now is the time to take advantage of refilling prescriptions, going to the dentist, getting that Christmas colonoscopy (if you’ve been putting it off) or, my personal favorite, buying new pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses.
By now you’ve probably seen the online banner ads for Warby Parker, a company that lets you manage the specs buying process online. I was hesitant at first, but thought I would give it a try. Here’s how it works. You can pick out up to five frames that you like and have them shipped to your house for free to try on. You have five days to get the opinion of your friends, family or just your fashion forward cat, if you like, and then you must ship them back using the included shipping label. After you make your selection, you simply send a copy of your lens prescription and a few other details along with your frame/s choice and wait patiently for delivery.
The process took me approximately one week, and now here I sit peering through my new nerdy-cool librarian-style frames. The beauty of this endeavor is that the price for the frames and lenses cost nearly 50% less than a purchase at the store where I see my optometrist.
And it was so easy.
This startup launched in 2010, so it’s hardly a new kid on the block. But it’s the innovative way in which Warby Parker allows the customer the utmost in convenience without price gouging that has no doubt propelled it on the road to success.
I’m impressed. I have no affiliation with Warby Parker, other than that I am now wearing a pair of WP frames. My awesome experience leads me to the question: What companies are you raving about this season? What conveniences do they offer their customers?
