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Glasses Direct is an online retailer based in the United Kingdom that sells spectacles direct to consumers. It was founded by James Murray Wells in 2004 joining the small existing sector of online retailers. In 2009 it received investment from two major venture capital firms. It is also notable for the legal and regulatory attempts to close it down by several major bricks and mortar competitors. == Overview == In the UK a customer can go to an opticians (shop) on the high street and purchase a fixed price eye examination, from which the optician will issue a written prescription. This can then be used at any opticians to have spectacles made, including online. A common complaint is that the prices UK opticians charge for spectacles are too high. Such claims about UK prices are common in many areas of retail and services in the UK according to Rip-Off Britain. Despite both these factors, the online prescription eyewear market is relatively under developed. For example, the UK optical market is valued at over £3 billion. While over 12 per cent of Britain's retail spending is now online, only 1-2 per cent of people currently buy their glasses online. Glasses Direct aims to change this, selling glasses below high street prices (because it does not have high rents associated with retail outlets and because it doesn't charge high mark ups). There have been concerns by many leading professionals, including the GOC, about the effects of supplying ophthalmic glasses over the Internet. However, every Glasses Direct order is checked by a qualified optometrist and the company was recognised as providing medical care in its services in a ruling by the HMRC in 2013 and on that basis granted it VAT exemption (previously only enjoyed by high street opticians). Glasses Direct will not fulfil strong prescriptions in the following ranges- If the combined SPH and CYL is greater than +/-8.00. If the CYL is over +/-4.00. If there is more than 5.00D difference between each eye. If the prism correction is over 4.00 in any direction. Glasses Direct is part of the MyOptique Group, which also includes Sunglasses-shop, LensOn and MyOptique. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Glasses Direct」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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