Sometimes a claim that seems too good to be true is actually true.
It promises standard distance and reading glasses for just $63, made while you wait and with a lifetime frame warranty.
General manager Matt Martel says one of the biggest challenges is convincing people that glasses for $63 can be better than spectacles worth many hundreds of dollars. “The lifetime warranty is a really important part of convincing people,” he says. “The number of people who tell us that they’ve paid nearly a $1000 elsewhere is astounding.”
With Dresden, the only time you pay more is when the lenses are more expensive, such as high-prescription grind lenses or progressives. Dresden has only one frame style, but it is available in a wide range of colours and materials, including recycled beer keg lids, Australian banknote offcuts, milk bottle tops and more.
“There are no silly upsells. Our frame is always the same price and we only sell the lenses you need. The majority of glasses we sell are at our standard price.”
Customers are encouraged to mix and match their frame and arm colours, or get multiple of them because everything is interchangeable - even the lenses. “They are especially great for kids because if something snaps, we replace it for free. That takes away lots of stress for the child and also the parents.”
The factory in Sydney produces zero waste and its frames have a fraction of the environmental footprint of regular glasses.
"The lenses come from a German optical company and are often better quality than more expensive options from elsewhere," he says.
The Ponsonby store has an optometrist working most days (appointments are $75 for adults and $49 for kids). They’re also more than happy to put new lenses into your current frames.
DRESDEN VISION, 132 Ponsonby, T: 09 918 2121, or 31 Vulcan Lane, T: 09 218 6938, www.dresden.vision