Wholesale Price 15, Retail Price 799! Why is the eyewear industry so opaque?

How profitable is a pair of glasses really? According to reports, in Danyang, Jiangsu, known as the “Glass Capital of China,” reporters found that some merchants are very cautious when discussing purchase prices, quietly typing on their phones to avoid eavesdropping. A common 1.61 index lens on the market costs only 15 yuan to buy, but is priced at up to 799 yuan, a markup of 53 times.

Seeing “15 yuan versus 799 yuan,” many people can’t help but exclaim “huge profit.” Although the eyewear industry features low-frequency consumption, intensive service, and high labor costs—such as store rent, optometrists’ salaries, equipment maintenance, utilities, inventory, and after-sales adjustments—such a large difference between purchase and selling prices naturally raises questions about profit margins.

In fact, the high retail prices of glasses are not only due to “pricing” itself but also involve marketing tricks behind the pricing. For example, some merchants are eager to hype “high-tech features,” such as nano-coatings, smart color-changing lenses, and blue light protection—concepts that sound impressive but lack rigorous scientific validation. Some merchants also deliberately create anxiety, exaggerating children’s vision problems, and forcibly linking vision correction with high-priced products to induce uninformed parents to buy at inflated prices.

Behind these small glasses lies a huge market affecting the interests of hundreds of millions. Some netizens say, “Wearing glasses is to see the world more clearly, not to make consumers more confused.” When false advertising blinds consumers and inflated prices distort the market, and substandard products threaten eyesight health, it’s time for regulation.

Price chaos not only harms consumer rights but also erodes the trust foundation of the entire industry. To rid the eyewear industry of “huge profits” accusations, the key is to break the “filter” of pricing, allowing consumers to clearly understand what they are paying for, and for merchants to profit through quality and reputation.

This requires regulatory authorities to take strong action, crack down on price gouging, false advertising, and substandard products. It also calls for establishing transparent pricing systems and traceable quality standards, so every purchase is justified. Moreover, the industry needs to “dispel illusions,” restore reasonable prices, and create a fair market environment. Consumers should also enhance their discernment, focus on core parameters, avoid falling for gimmicks, and refuse unnecessary “feature upgrades.”

Restoring clarity to the market and transparency to consumers should be the shared goal of the eyewear industry. This not only helps hundreds of millions see the distant world clearly but also ensures a bright future for the entire industry.

Source: People’s Daily Online

【China Economic Times - China Economic News Network

Chief Supervisor | Wang Liejun, Che Haigang

Supervisors | Chen Bo, Wang Yun, Yang Yuyang

Editor-in-Chief | Mao Jinghui | Editor | Gu Yun

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