In what way does the market for eyeglass frames differ from markets for the following products: automobiles, compact disks, clothing, art, bicycles and computers?
Unlike other durable goods, there is not an established market for used eyewear. This is, perhaps, fortunate since many thousands of used eyeglasses are donated each year to the Lions, who are able to dispense new lenses in them to underprivileged people in need of glasses. There are also people who collect eyeglasses, mostly antiques, for museum displays and personal collections.
Apart from these two worthy uses for old eyewear, many thousands of frames are out there, sometimes in new condition, for prices which often rival the cost of a daily newspaper!
The best sources for used eyewear are thrift stores, lost and found sales and garage sales. Each has its own merits and "tricks of the trade".
Thrift stores usually have a box or basket set aside for eyeglasses. It may take some hunting on the shelves to find it. Some thrift stores leave glasses in cases. Other times glasses and cases are stored in separate boxes. Prices usually run from 50 cents to a few dollars for vintage frames. Brand new contemporary frames may often be found for less than a dollar.
A likely scenario: someone took their new glasses home, did not care for them for one reason or another, saved them for awhile, and eventually dropped them in a box with some old clothing. Their loss, your gain! Thrift stores are also great spots to find vintage eyeglasses and styles which are momentarily out of fashion. Remember, in eyewear, as with other areas of fashion, everything will come back into style eventually.
Lost and found sales are more obscure, but perhaps even more bountiful, places to find virtually free eyewear. Organizations that put on lost and found sales include colleges, libraries, conference centers and large businesses. Call around, most have their sales just once or twice a year and will be happy to tell you when the next one is. If the person on duty can't help, ask who is responsible for the lost and found area and ask to speak with them. When you arrive at a lost and found sale, you will usually find that eyeglasses outnumber any other category of lost item, with the possible exception of keychains. No wonder they couldn't find their keys! Typical prices range from 25 cents to a dollar. You are not as likely to find vintage frames, but virtually unworn current styles turn up all the time. If an organization says they don't have a lost and found sale, encourage them to start one.
You might mention that you are a collector of eyeglass frames and would be interested in buying older, unclaimed glasses. Many lost and found areas have several boxes of eyeglasses accumulating that they don't know what to do with. That failing, you can suggest that they donate their buildup to the Lions.
Garage sales are a very spotty source for glasses. When they do appear, they are often beat up, but miracle finds can occur. If you go to garage sales already, keep your eyes open for glasses in boxes of miscellaneous buttons, tools, etc. Sometimes they even turn up in the "free" box. In any case, you can almost always be assured of a low price.
Walk into a medium sized optical shop. Browse the shelves. Check �ut the selection and prices. You can be assured that a large city will harbor many more frames than this, sitting around in dusty boxes, just waiting to be found. Happy hunting!
As a final note, used frames you find will have someone elses lenses and will be in need of cleaning. Take them to your neighborhood optician to be fitted with your lenses and cleaned. Do not try to remove the old lenses yourself. This can crack the frame; opticians have special machines for this procedure. They can also often adjust a frame which doesn't fit properly.