Is This Deceptive? You Be the Judge!

While gathering data for our contact lens price comparison chart, we went through the ordering process on the Just Lenses website. At the end, the numbers didn't add up (in the screen shown below, $59.96 plus $59.96 equals $119.92, not $127.71).

Then we noticed the asterisk to the right of the word "Subtotal." The asterisk did not reference anything further down the page, but when we clicked on the asterisk itself, a small window popped up that said, "*Includes Handling Fee." Apparently, Just Lenses added a handling charge to the order subtotal but didn't display it in the "Final Shopping Cart Review." We wouldn't have known this if we hadn't taken the trouble to add up the figures.

Please click on the image to see the entire checkout screen from Just Lenses.

The handling charges for the Just Lenses orders in our price comparison chart ranged as high as $11.95. Remember, this fee was not displayed on the "Final Shopping Cart Review" screen.

We found the same thing on Lens.com, an apparently related website.

Conclusion: If you want to know exactly what the charges are, do the math before you submit an online order.

For more information, please read "Buying Contact Lenses Online" and "Where's the Best Place To Buy Contact Lenses?".

[Page updated September 2009]