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If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you'll know the pain of shelling out for optical services. It can be a financial headache if you do and a physical one if you don't. A study by MyVision found that optical services cost Americans with eyesight difficulties around $500 a year. That can be a significant chunk out of any budget .
The good news is that a Sam's Club membership can help you cut your eyecare costs. Even better? You can do it in style. Here are five benefits of Sam's Club Optical that may surprise you.
As of August 2024, Sam's Club Plus members who buy two sets of glasses can get a 40% discount on their second pair. If you bought two top-of-the-range pairs at $199 each, you'd get almost $80 off your spare set. Both sets of glasses have to be bought for the same person on the same day. You'll get the discount on the lower-cost set of glasses.
A Sam's Club membership costs $50 a year and a Plus membership will set you back $110. As such, if you buy two pairs of their more expensive frames, that discount could go a long way toward covering your annual Plus membership fee.
That said, the Sam's Club Plus 2% cash back benefits don't apply to prescription and pharmacy products. You can still earn credit card rewards on these purchases. But if you like to stack your Plus benefits with top cash back apps and other discounts, you'll get more benefits on grocery shopping than optical services.
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2. Sam's Club eye tests are some of the cheapest you'll find
Eye test costs vary depending on which store you visit, but generally speaking, Sam's Club Optical is a great value. According to Clark.com, the average eye exam at Sam's Club costs $72. That's cheaper than you'll find at other stores like Walmart or Target Optical.
Indeed, All About Vision says the average eye exam costs around $144 -- double what you'd pay at Sam's Club. You don't have to be a Sam's Club member to benefit from low-cost eye exams, either. Non-members cannot buy the chain's optical products, but they can visit the optician for a check-up and a new prescription.
3. Elton John loves Sam's Club glasses
Sam's Club has a broad mix of frames, starting from as little as $59. If you've got kids, you'll find similar low-cost deals on stylish frames. It can be hard to find glasses for under $100 you'll actually want to wear, so it's worth checking what your nearest Sam's Club Optical has to offer.
When it comes to designer frames, what better celebrity to endorse your glasses than bespectacled music icon Elton John? The superstar launched his own eyewear collection with Sam's Club a few years ago. Sadly, his collections are no longer on sale, but it's still big-name kudos for Sam's Club glasses.
4. You'll have your new glasses within a week
In most cases, your new glasses will be ready a week after you order them. You can get them delivered to your home or pick them up from your local Sam's Club Optical. Some opticians take two weeks or more, so waiting just seven days isn't bad.
You'll find all the top contact brands such as ACUVUE, DAILIES, and Biofinity at Sam's Club. You can order contacts in person, but it is super easy online. You just need to pick your brand and upload your prescription. If you spend more than $45, shipping is free.
Bottom line
Around two-thirds of adults use glasses or contacts in some shape or form. Sam's Club Optical services can go a long way toward reducing the costs involved. If you have vision insurance, check in-store to see which plans Sam's Club works with and what co-pays you'd have to pay.
If you have a Sam's Club membership, it's worth knowing about any extra benefits such as affordable glasses, contacts, and optical services. From low-cost gas and prescriptions to discounts on tire installation, those perks can help you squeeze more value out of your annual membership fee.
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