Lenscrafters

My glasses broke on a recent camping trip. All my earlier eyeglass purchases were in India, where glass lenses and good frame comes to Rs. 1500-3000. In San Diego, I decided to go to Lenscrafters, a chain store. Their service pretty much sucks, and prices are high too. I wonder how these guys stay in business. I told the salesman I have used glass lenses earlier, and would like to try if something new is available. He took a look at my prescription, and told me to go for Polycarbonate.

As I later discovered after an internet search, polycarbonate lenses have an issue with peripheral vision. For people with cylindrical power in the -1 or more range, the image is not clear when looking through the edge of the lens. And I am not talking edge edge: the image becomes fuzzy half way between the edge and center. Anyway, the salesman gave me no warning of this issue, and gave me a $350 eyeglass (that included a $25 polishing fee that he sprung on me at the end of the deal).

The eyeglasses irritated me with this off center problem, and I finally had to return them. The only saving grace is that the return policy was a 30 day no questions asked. I don't know if lenscrafters is a franchisee based operation, but if it is, they should keep better tabs on the franchises.

okay, end of rant now.

Online banking with ING

I opened an online savings account with ING Direct a few months ago. They are giving 3% annual interest, as opposed to the zero point something on my bank's checking and saving account. ING gives no checkbook and not too many services. They just let you put money in, by writing a check or electronic transfer, and take money out, by transfering it to your regular bank account. Thus, they keep overheads low, and interest rates high. It's got good reviews on the web.

A competior is emigrant-direct.com. They are offering 3.25% now.