How to avoid hidden fees when buying contacts online

It can be tricky to avoid hidden fees when you’re shopping for contacts online. One common culprit is suspiciously low base prices that get more expensive when the retailer adds processing, handling, or service fees at checkout. Don’t know how to avoid the sales tricks when shopping for vision care? We've got your back.  

In this guide, we'll show you how to avoid hidden fees when buying contacts online. We'll also explain how to spot common types of surprise junk fees, how to compare retailers, and where to actually buy contacts without hidden fees.  

Why do so many contact lens companies have hidden fees? 

Hidden fees or additional charges that aren't visible in the advertised price often only appear once you reach the checkout screen. This type of retailer often shows you a low per-box price up front, but they hide the true costs until you're almost finished with checkout. And because every retailer uses their own names for these fees, they're not always easy to identify. This can add anywhere from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars to an order. Ouch. Not a pretty sight. 

The good news? When you know the common names for these sneaky fees, it's pretty easy to identify extra costs when buying contact lenses online: 

• Processing fee 

• Service fee 

• Verification fee 

• Prescription handling fee 

• Order fulfillment fee 

It’s important to find out what to watch for when you're shopping for contacts online. Not all fees look the same. Some involve processing, handling, shipping, or automatic subscriptions. Retailers might even reel you in with rebates that are surprisingly hard to claim. Regardless of what the retailer calls it, these charges all serve the same purpose…raising the final cost above the advertised price without warning. 

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Processing and handling fees 

Processing and handling fees are the most common hidden fees in online contact lens purchases. You'll typically see them added at checkout. 

The trouble with these fees is that they usually don't appear until the final step of checkout. If you're trying to place your order quickly, you might not even notice them until it's too late. 

How can you spot hidden processing and handling fees? Watch for these red flags: 

• Per-box price that's much lower than competing retailers. 

• Labels that show a processing, service, verification, or fulfillment descriptions charge. 

• Extra charges that show up only after you enter payment information. 

• Final total that's significantly higher than the price you saw on the product page. 

Shipping fees and slow default delivery 

Some retailers reel you in with free shipping, but only for the slowest possible delivery option. They're usually hoping you'll pay to upgrade. (They know you need those contacts!) 

This isn't a hidden fee, but it works like one. When the advertised free shipping takes two weeks or more, it effectively pushes you toward paid shipping options. 

Here's what to watch out for when shopping: 

• Long default shipping times of 2 weeks or more 

• Multiple paid shipping upgrades with significant price differences 

• Free shipping, but only if you buy more boxes than you need 

• Handling fees that are separate from shipping costs 

Auto-subscription enrollment 

Read the fine print carefully when you're shopping for contacts online. Some retailers automatically enroll you in a subscription or auto-renewal program during checkout, resulting in unexpected recurring charges. 

These subscriptions can save you money if you knowingly opt into them, but if you're enrolled without your knowledge, your wallet may take a hit. 

Avoid surprise subscription fees by watching out for these issues: 

• Pre-checked "subscribe" boxes during checkout 

• Discounts that are only available when you auto-renew 

• Vague cancellation terms 

• Difficult cancellation process 

• Confusing customer support options 

• Unexpected charges on your credit card after your order 

Hard-to-claim rebates 

Have you ever seen rebates while shopping for contacts? Tread carefully, some retailers advertise a low after-rebate price but make the rebate difficult or time-consuming to claim. That means you pay full price upfront and never actually get the savings. (Rude.) 

In the contacts industry, retailers often require mail-in forms and multiple receipts, or they give you an unreasonably short claim window. 

Signs of a difficult rebate process include: 

• Advertising after-rebate prices without providing before-rebate costs 

• Rebate claim windows of 30 days or less 

• Mail-in rebates rather than instant savings 

• Rebates that require you to create an account or register your products 

How to compare contact lens retailer fees 

The best way to compare contact lens retailers is to look at the total final price, not the base price you see on the product page. 

When comparing retailers: 

• Use an incognito or private browser window when shopping to avoid personalized pricing. 

• Add the same product to your cart at multiple retailers. Put each one in a different browser tab for quick comparisons. 

• Before you add payment information, go through the checkout process and note the total, including all fees, shipping, and taxes. 

• Watch out for fees with varying names. Retailers may use different terms for the same fees. 

• Read the fine print for discounts to see if they require a subscription or a complicated rebate claim process…you might need to click a link or scroll to the bottom of the page. 

• Make sure you can use your vision insurance or FSA and HSA funds. This will affect your out-of-pocket costs. 

At 1-800 Contacts, we make sure we're giving you the best possible final price, not just the base price. That’s why we’re we're so proud of our best price guarantee. 

Order contact lenses online

Learn how to order contact lenses online at 1-800 Contacts

Learn how

Where to buy contacts without hidden fees