Sometimes I experiment with different materials just to see how they feel in daily life. Over the last months I noticed that some of my favorite items are not the most expensive ones. From my experience, communication with the store can tell you a lot. Taking a few minutes to research before buying can save a lot of money and frustration.
If anyone is interested in real user experiences, I sometimes write short notes about the shops I test.
You can find one of the pages here:
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I try to balance my budget between basic everyday items and a few special pieces. The main things I look at for glasses are frame weight, hinge quality and lens coating. Good packaging and a small storage bag are also nice touches for accessories. Of course shipping delays can happen, but good communication reduces stress. Reading comments with real body photos is one of the best ways to check sizing. Of course we all have different taste, but patterns still appear in long discussions.
Hope this helps someone.