health

"I got naked with a shop assistant today. But it's not what you think."

Me and retail outlets? We’ve had some pretty intimate times together.

I used to date a guy who asked me out after he spotted me in a music store.

And one time I burst out of a pair of jeans with such force that the button blew off across the changing room, breaking my dignity and, I swear, the laws of physics.

But until now I’d never discussed being naked with a sales assistant.

If you’re wondering how this wild seduction came about, then behave, people. It’s not what you think.

“Me and retail outlets? We’ve had some pretty intimate times together.”

Just as an FYI, this post is sponsored by Specsavers. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

My undressing happened because I belong to a tribe of people known as put-stuff-off-ers.

We’re excellent at getting things done… if we actually start our tasks. It’s just that it takes us a while when there are other interesting things to do, such as snacking.

In the six months since I arrived in Australia from the UK I’ve made some achievements – namely, locating a tea-bag stockist – but I had not found an optometrist. Mainly because there wasn’t one in the teashop.

Related: Why global eye health is a women’s issue

But hearing about one of Specsavers’ latest initiatives forced me to get my act together. I was almost at the end of my contact lens stash (and my glasses and I stopped being live-in lovers years ago).

This is what I learned when I went into the store and bared all…

1. Specsavers offers nudity you’ll like.

We all know bad nakedness: it’s the men’s swimming briefs that take the word ‘brief’ too literally. This is good nakedness – which refers to being free (ie naked) from your glasses. Specsavers now offers a new online e-tailor for contact lenses. The same principles used in online clothes shopping apply: select your style, your size and how often you want to receive them, then check out. Your lenses arrive in days at a location of your choice. And, even better, you already know they’ll suit you.

“Next time you’re on Facebook ‘Like’ the Specsavers page. It’s the notifications from this that will alert you to exclusive flash sales – and, you guessed it – the promo codes.”

 

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2. It’s a LOT cheaper.

Back home, I paid $83 for a month’s supply of contact lenses. Buying an equivalent product via Specsavers.com.au only costs $66. Obviously products vary depending on your eyes’ needs, but prices start from $38 a month for both eyes using Specsavers lenses.

3. Use Facebook to save even further.

The worst thing about online shopping is seeing a box on the checkout screen that reads, ‘Enter promotional code’. It’s so frustrating because you know there’s a code to get your goods cheaper – you just don’t know where the heck to find it. In this case, I have the coordinates. Next time you’re on Facebook – ie in five minutes’ time – ‘Like’ the Specsavers page. It’s the notifications from this that will alert you to exclusive flash sales – and, you guessed it – the promo codes.

4. Aftercare is free.

Many optometrists charge for aftercare – Specsavers doesn’t, and you can go into any one of its stores to get advice. After you’ve paid for your lenses online, you’ll also receive a unique code to pass onto your healthcare provider to claim part of the lens cost back, which is usually debited to you within 24 hours.

“My optometrist advised that I start wearing sunglasses much more often to prevent further damage to part of the eye called the macula.”

 

5. The consultation is actually really useful.

Before buying lenses online, optometrists recommend an eye check – either to ensure you’re buying a totally up-to-date prescription, or to run through the lens-wearing process if you’re a newbie (trust me, it’s life-changing).

Related: How many of these 9 things are you up-to-date on?

Sadly, the check-up doesn’t come with a complimentary head massage, but getting a current picture of your eye health is as important as knowing any other part of your body is in great shape. And we cannot check it ourselves. My optometrist advised that I start wearing sunglasses much more often to prevent further damage to part of the eye called the macula.

If only I’d found that out before I’d spent six months in the Australian sun. Time to stop the putting off.


Specsavers is encouraging glasses wearers to “get naked” and experience the freedom that comes with wearing contact lenses. With free-shipping, in-store aftercare and all the world’s leading brands, buying contact lenses online with Specsavers is the best way to get “naked” for less.