When I replaced my glasses in 2009, I went to LensCrafters. It was the biggest optical chain in the US at that time, so it had the widest selection of frames. I liked that I could walk into any LensCrafters branch for minor adjustments and cleaning. My frames and lenses totaled $551. I thought they offered the best deal.
I’m a loyalist so for the next ten years, my family of four gave LensCrafters our continued business with yearly eye checkups and regular replacement eyeglasses that cost over $290 per pair.
Lenscrafters only guaranteed my unhappiness.
Disgruntled Guarantee
However, in 2019, during their promo 30-day Happiness Guarantee, I bought my son CB an Oakley frames that broke off on September 11, after only a week. I thought it was an obvious defect that would be easily replaced. But no. LensCrafters arrogantly refused to replace nor reimburse me. I invoked the Happiness Guarantee but they denied it without giving a reason. What The Scam?!? I felt so angry and betrayed.
I quickly consulted my fellow Silicon Valley moms and switched to a fancy ophthalmology practice that had a solid reputation for quality. It even turned out a bit cheaper than LensCrafters and came with a two-year warranty. I felt assured that this one wouldn’t scam me.
Since then, Fancy Practice has framed my whole family, even though their prices kept rising each year. I just renewed my glasses and it cost $784 after a discount.
First look at JINS
In 2024, CB wanted sunglasses from JINS. He heard about JINS from his Japanese-American friend. CB has a BiliMoKo gene, so I immediately presumed JINS was another trendy hype that would be expensive. So I said No. But CB is the firstborn, so it was hard to keep saying No to him. Plus CB used his Kulit Superpower of badgering me till I said Yes.
As an antisocial bookworm, I dislike the mall, especially on weekends. JINS was in the mall and in San Francisco. So I paid my Complainer’s Karma and suffered the oppressing crowd to go with CB to JINS in the mall.
I was surprised by JINS’ open layout. In LensCrafters and Warby Parker, the frames are displayed along the walls. Here at JINS, they were spread out all over the center up to the edges of the doorless store. At least in the Apple store, the devices were tethered to the tables. Here, anyone could walk by and snatch a pair!
I was not expecting a crowd of so many young people in one place that did not have free beer. Gen Zs and stylish Gen Ys were milling about with their bobas and matchas trying out frames like they were Wacky Hats in Disneyland and taking selfies.
I grabbed a seat at the only bench and waited for CB to browse like he’s killing time before boarding a flight. After an hour CB did not find a pair. Naturally.
Instead, CB bought frames from Gentle Monster in Korea. Then he took it to JINS for his prescription lenses which cost only $119. I usually pay over $240 for lenses. JINS can also fit lenses into other brands of frames subject to manager’s approval.
Second look at JINS
In 2025, my other son Thursday now also wanted frames from JINS. So back I went. But this time, the crowd included older parents like me looking for frames for their kids and themselves. Thursday quickly found frames he liked.
But I was still skeptical of JINS and I didn’t like the inconvenience of going to the mall, so I had Thursday’s lenses done at Fancy Practice. It was closer to home, and in an emergency including scratches, the lenses could be quickly replaced under warranty within two years.
Third look at JINS
This year, My Girl also needed glasses because I obviously have dominant weak genes. Last Sunday, I drove her to the mall.
For old time’s sake, we went to LensCrafters. What a world of difference. Gone were the steady flow of people I had come to expect. This time, the store was embarrassingly vacant that I almost thought, “Maybe I should feel bad for them?”.
Unlike before, there were so few frames on display that My Girl couldn’t find anything mildly acceptable. We left after nine minutes. It took us longer trying to find the store from the parking garage.
Next we went to Warby Parker, who pioneered selling eyewear directly to buyers in 2010. I was impressed by their mailing model, which reminded me of Original Netflix, and told My Girl that they supposedly had cute designs. She almost found one she liked but it was the wrong color. I asked the staff if they still mail frames to customers and she said they stopped doing it. Oh. So now it’s just like any other eye store?
And now we’re back at JINS. With little hope, I grabbed one of two chairs and prepared to wait for disappointment. Before I could finish editing a Shorts, My Girl came back with three options. I reluctantly stood up and helped her choose the cutest one.
JINS is next level
Once you choose a frame, you scan the code to get a number. Depending on the crowd, it can take 10-60 minutes before they call your number.
But since the crowd had cleared for the midafternoon SnackNap, an attendant approached to help us. She scanned the code on the chosen frames and took My Girl’s digital measurements with a giant binocular device.
Our attendant V said the frames came with basic polycarbonate lenses. I was so used to being upsold by LensCrafters and Fancy Practice that I said I wanted the high-index with all the add-on coatings. The upgrade would cost at least a hundred more and take three weeks since it will be made in Japan.
Then V explained that for minors who drive, they recommend basic polycarbonate so it doesn’t shatter. Once she turns 18, she can use glass. How come no one ever told me that? And this is my third one to get glasses.
If I chose the basic lenses, I could get it in 30 minutes. Amazing. Take that LensCrafters and your one-hour wait!
JINS doesn’t file insurance claims for me like they do at Fancy Practice but I could pay with my Flexible Spending Account card. I only spent $90!! I can’t believe the frames only cost $45!
My Girl celebrated with boba, of course, then we pretend browsed Old Navy.
On the dot, we scanned our receipt at a kiosk near the counter to claim the glasses. Beep! A small locker door opened. It was like getting a surprise in the mail to find the JINS signature white case with a small white envelope. What a seamless way to bypass a second line just to claim your new glasses.
I thought JINS was from Korea but it began in Tokyo in 2001. It offers affordable, lightweight, yet sturdy frames that look good on you. The frames come in three sizes to fit all head sizes and tastes. Since its inception, JINS has forced vision centers worldwide to offer cheaper frames at higher quality.
JINS’ website is so easy to navigate for new users or to replace your old pair. Shipping and returns are free. It’s made in Japan so you are assured of the quality, yet it still has a one year warranty.
JINS does everything a typical vision center does. But they do it better, cheaper, faster, and with integrity. That’s enough to slay a lumbering Goliath.
Ivy is a lawyer turned columnist. For your comments, questions, and suggestions, message IvyDigest on YouTube or Instagram.
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