Forums, blogs and communities create a kind of collective memory for shoppers. Trendy pieces are fun, but I only buy them when the price is reasonable. In the past I have wasted money on items that looked good in photos but felt cheap in real life. I also check if the lenses have any blue light filter or anti-reflection coating. Footwear is even harder because different brands cut shoes very differently.

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:

click here


I also started paying attention to how websites display sizing charts for clothing. Bad lenses can cause eye strain, reflections and headache when you wear them for hours. Sometimes I still make mistakes with size, so a friendly exchange policy is very helpful. On the other hand, a well made pair of glasses can last a long time and feel comfortable all day. In the end there is no perfect shop, but some stores are clearly more consistent. When I test a new shop I usually start with one or two items instead of a huge order.

Hope this helps someone.