Hey, you! Yes, you! Are you looking for a great new pair of specs and want to buy glasses online? Do you want to save some bucks and look fabulous simultaneously? Well, you’re in luck because today we will compare two of the most popular online glasses retailers and eyewear brands: Coastal and Zenni.
A quick word before we start: If you’re interested in Coastal, there are some important things to note about it as the company has recently changed its name and services. Coastal is now ContactsDirect, selling contact lenses instead of letting you buy prescription glasses online.
In this blog post, we’ll compare ContactsDirect and Zenni. We’ll look at their benefits and drawbacks and how they compare in terms of quality, price, and customer service. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea of which one is right for you.
Coastal (now ContactsDirect) and Zenni overview
Coastal was previously one of the world’s largest and oldest online eyewear stores. Founded in 2000, Coastal sold millions of glasses to customers in over 150 countries.
In 2021, Coastal joined forces with ContactsDirect so that Luxottica Eyewear now owns both of them. This has changed the types of products that Coastal offers.
Although Coastal used to sell prescription reading glasses, sunglasses, prescription glasses, lenses and contact lenses, now it only sells contact lenses. However, you can still purchase Coastal glasses from other online eyewear retailers like EyeBuyDirect.
Zenni is another leading online eyewear store in business since 2003. Zenni has sold over 50 million pairs of glasses to customers in over 80 countries. Zenni offers many frames for men, women, and kids, as well as sunglasses, clip-ons, sports goggles, and accessories to wear glasses.
Compare: Coastal (ContactsDirect) and Zenni
An important thing to consider when buying glasses online is the service you get from the company. You want your order to be processed quickly, shipped safely, and your glasses delivered on time. You also want a hassle-free return policy in case you change your mind or encounter any issues with your purchased glasses.
Both ContactsDirect and Zenni have user-friendly websites that make it easy to order your glasses online.
- When shopping at Zenni for glasses, you need to enter your prescription details, choose your frame and lens options, and add them to your cart. A virtual try-on feature and face shape guide helps you to find the best fit.
- On ContactsDirect, to purchase contact lenses you have to search for the contacts you want from their wide range, enter your prescription values, and add them to your cart. You also need to submit your eye doctor’s prescription.
However, there are some shipping and return policy differences between Coastal and Zenni. Here is a summary of their main features:
| Feature | Coastal (ContactsDirect) | Zenni |
| Shipping cost | Free for orders delivered within 7-10 business days and when collected from a Sunglass Hut or LensCrafters store (delivery within 3-5 business days) | $6.95 for domestic orders and $24.95 for express shipping within the US; $9.95 for delivery to Canada; $12.95 for international orders. |
| Shipping time | 7-10 business days for standard delivery; 3-5 days for delivery to a store; 1-2 days for express shipping. | 7-14 business days (some international locations require timeframes of between 15-25 days). |
| Return policy | Free returns within 60 days of delivery (as long as contacts are unopened). | Returns within 30 days of delivery; 50% refund or 100% store credit; customer pays for return shipping. |
| Warranty | No refunds on unopened boxes of defective contacts. | 30-day warranty for manufacturer defects; free replacement and repair. |
As you can see, ContactsDirect has a confusing return policy for defective products, but you can get free returns on unopened contact lenses for 60 days after delivery. Zenni has a better warranty and it also offers international shipping, which isn’t available from ContactsDirect.
What do customers say about Coastal (ContactsDirect) and Zenni?
When it comes to quality, both ContactsDirect and Zenni offer high-quality lenses. However, ContactsDirect offers contact lenses whereas Zenni provides glasses and frames.
If you want new glasses, you’ll appreciate Zenni’s warranty and international shipping options.
Zenni offers a variety of lenses for glasses, and all eyewear comes with free UV protection and anti-scratch coatings included. If you want blue light protection on your lenses, the starting price is $16.95. You can also purchase protective glasses and sports glasses from the company. Its protective glasses have an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rating of Z87, which means that they’re resistant to impact and protect the wearer from hazards.
If you want to start wearing contact lenses instead of glasses, you should consider ContactsDirect. They request photos of your lens prescriptions and will confirm them with your eye doctor if required, so you can be assured that you’re getting quality lenses.
You can also get discounts on prescription lenses. You can earn discounts if you order a one-year supply of contact lenses.
Regarding their customer service, both ContactsDirect and Zenni have positive reviews from customers who praise their fast delivery, easy ordering process, and friendly staff.
On Trustpilot, Zenni has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating. One customer stated, “Beautiful glasses. Fast service. Dependable. Excellent service. I have more than 20 per glass with [Zenni] and love them all.”
While many customers appreciate its services, there have been some negative reviews. One customer stated, “The experience with customer service was painful. The agents are reading off screens and don’t seem to use any common sense problem-solving. It took over a week to get to someone who was able [to] solve my problem.”
By comparison, ContactsDirect has a 3.9 out of 5-star rating. Although dealing with the contact lens provider can be satisfactory, some improvements can be made.
As one user stated, “Overall, it was a good experience. A few things were not fully clear as I was trying to place the order — for instance, the process takes me to check out before I get a chance to update my prescription, which is a counter-intuitive workflow. I had to call customer service to clarify that, which was done very friendly, but I would have preferred to avoid that extra step and use of time.”
A more positive review stated, “Ran into a minor problem with my order (not attributed to ContactsDirect) and Customer Support resolved it very quickly, thoroughly, and professionally. Received what I ordered and earlier than the delivery quoted.”
What if something goes wrong?
Even if you buy high-quality glasses online, sometimes things can go wrong. Maybe your new glasses will get damaged, lost, or stolen. Maybe you don’t like how they look or feel on you after they’ve been delivered. Maybe your prescription changes or you need a different lens option. Lots can happen! Whatever the case, you want to know that the company you bought your glasses from will stand behind their products and help you out.
ContactsDirect and Zenni have customer service teams you can contact by phone, email, or chat. They can assist you with any questions or issues with your glasses, such as tracking your order, adjusting your frames, replacing your lenses, or returning your glasses. However, there are some differences in how they handle these situations.
Returning your ContactsDirect products can be difficult, as you can’t open them otherwise this will prevent you from getting a refund. But, if your contacts have a manufacturing defect or they aren’t the right ones you purchased online, you should contact the company’s customer service immediately as they’ll be able to help you.
- You can contact ContactsDirect via phone on 1-844-553-6737, Mon-Fri from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, or on Saturdays from 9 am to 5:30 pm (EST).
- Or, make use of the Live Chat on their website (8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon-Fri).
If you’re having second thoughts about your Zenni Optical glasses, don’t worry! You have a whole 30 days from the date you received them to contact Zenni for a return authorization (RA). Plus, they offer free returns shipping and you can easily start the process through online chat.
Whether you made an error while ordering your stylish frames online or simply changed your mind, Zenni has got you covered. You can receive a one-time-use 100% store credit or a 50% refund (excluding shipping) to your credit or debit card or PayPal account.
Tips and tricks for finding your perfect lenses online
So, should you choose ContactsDirect or Zenni? The answer depends on your own personal style preferences, needs, and budget. Both brands have their strengths and weaknesses, so you have to weigh them carefully before making a decision. However, here are some general tips that might help you find your perfect pair of glasses online:
- Know your prescription and get your eye exam. You need an updated prescription from your eye doctor before ordering glasses online. Make sure you only order glasses online with the correct values for your sphere, cylinder, axis, add, and PD (pupillary distance), especially with progressive prescriptions. You can measure your PD using an online tool or guide if you don’t have your PD.
- Know your face shape. Different frame styles and shapes suit different face shapes. For example, round frames look good on square faces, while square frames look good on round faces. You can use an online guide or a face shape app to determine your face shape and find the best frames for you.
- Know your style. You want to choose frames that match your personality and taste. You can browse through different categories, such as retro/vintage, classic, sporty, or aviator, to find frames that suit your style. You can also use color, material, size, lens width, or price filters to narrow down your options.
- Try before you buy. You want to see how the frames look on you before you buy them. You can use a virtual try-on tool or see yourself on a webcam to see how the frames fit your face. Some online eyewear retailers give you a ‘home try-on’ program: they’ll send you up to five frames to try on in the comfort of your home.
- Read reviews. You want to know what other customers think about the frames and lenses from online retailers. You can read online reviews from verified buyers on the eyewear website or on third-party platforms such as Trustpilot or ResellerRatings to choose a few trustworthy online retailers. You can also watch YouTube videos or read blogs from people who have tried the glasses themselves.
- Check policies. You want to know what the company offers in terms of shipping, returns, warranty, and customer service policies. You want to make sure that you’re getting a good deal, a good discount code or coupon code before buying prescription glasses online and that you’re covered in case something goes wrong with your glasses.
Conclusion
Purchasing glasses online can help you save money and find your perfect glasses. But you need to compare different online eyewear brands before you buy. Coastal and Zenni are two popular ones, and they have their pros and cons. The best one for you depends on your preferences, needs, and budget. Coastal has become ContactsDirect as it now only provides contact lenses online, so it’s ideal for people who want to make the switch from glasses to contacts.
We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about Coastal and Zenni, and how to find your ideal glasses online.