The UFC-Que choise examined the bill of consumption studied today in the Assembly and affirmed that it will make it possible to make real savings in the optical sector.
The association for the defense of consumers announced in a statement that “by facilitating the use of online sales, the bill on consumption will allow, on the one hand, substantial savings when buying on the internet, because for equivalent quality, prices can be up to 50% lower. But it will also force opticians to reduce their in-store margins. These can indeed be extravagant. “They can, according to the association for the defense of consumers reach 233%.
Excessive prices in France
“French consumers spend 4.7 billion euros each year on their glasses. They thus pay the bill with great opacity and insufficient competition, which lead to an average selling price of € 470, beyond the reach of many French people, suffering the highest prices in Europe – with a budget glasses per inhabitant 50% higher than the average, ”recalls the consumer association. According to government estimates, optical expenses could decrease in total by one billion euros, or by more than 20%.
Secure online sales
To protect consumers, the text asks ophthalmologists to write the patient’s pupillary distance on their prescriptions. This will allow safe delivery of glasses to the consumer, including distance selling.
The text also confirms the role of the optician since “this profession is confirmed its monopoly on the delivery of glasses (including on the internet)” explains the UFC-Que Choisir.
The UFC-Que Choisir affirms that “by bringing more competition to the optical sector, the consumer bill will help France lose its deplorable title of European champion in optical spending and improve, by in addition, public health by securing online sales and allowing all French people, whatever their income, to benefit from quality equipment adapted to their needs. “Indeed, in France, the overpriced optics is the 2nd cause of forgoing treatment.
According to an Ipsos survey carried out in September 2013 for the Krys opticians group, the French do not change their glasses because of the cost of what remains to be borne by them, “54% of patients still consider the part they have to pay to be too high and which will not be reimbursed. And 66% of them even admit to having already delayed the moment to change their glasses, due to lack of means. “
