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Jim Magay |
We've wave-fronted people, we've back-sided them, we've free-formed them, high index is so advanced the lenses almost disappear from sight, AR is so slick and slippery we can barely edge it!
At the same time, frames have been revolutionized with materials like titanium, exotic plastics, wood, horn, great new hinge designs, and wrapped styles. We've luxed out frames with all manner of things: Pave stones, Swarovski crystals, leather, trim, platinum panels, and solid gold fittings. |
Glasses have gone way past their utilitarian roots; we ECP's are asked to provide personal consultations on style, color, and wardrobe. Gone are the dark, dreary days when frames were merely plastic and/or metal receptacles for the limited range of lenses we used to provide – usually in glass. Who could forget the straight top 22, 25, and (wow!) the 28, executive bifos and
trifos, the famous Kryptok lenses (I know, I know, "Don't forget the Panoptic!") P3, Clubman, Craftsman, Leading Lady, Tech 3250,
Gaymont, and so many other classic frames from the past are but faded memories. I still hear folks wishing for a return to the "Good Old Days!" As if!
Ok, I understand it is tough dealing with 3rd party insurers, Ophthalmology dispensing has made severe inroads, the chains are running wild, and cyclical economic factors affect us. (If gas goes over $4.00 it will surely hurt).
But; could you see returning to the "Bad Old Days! I can't, think of the edger you are using. I'm guessing it is fully computerized, quieter than anything you've ever had, more accurate and does more work in a couple of hours than you used to turn out in a day, with NO DO-OVERS!
Speaking of computers, I'll bet you can look up a customer's history in a flash, and send recalls with ease. You can study your inventory, see what is selling, what needs to be dumped or returned for exchange. Your clientele may be changing (you'd have to live in a vacuum for that not to happen) you can look at the trends with your client database and better plan for your future.
Optical Mags - the only one around when I was a kid was a European magazine called Vedere – it was great if you could read French! Now we are all so short of time it's hard to keep up with them all – (an easy solution is cancel all your subscriptions and just read EyeCare Professional!)
Your relationship with your labs has undoubtedly changed – for the better. Good labs are charged with keeping you on the cutting edge of technology, offering free CE's and great information. Overnight delivery service – what a miracle, doesn't matter where the lab is, Germany, Kansas, or down the road in Marlboro, Mass. Your customer benefits and helps you compete with the big mall based operations.
So! ... "The Good Old Days", well, lets just say,"Buh Bye!"
PS - Remember "Drop-Ball Testing?
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