Let's shop Havre, not the Internet

Zach White's incomplete editorializing in his "Shop the Planet" article in the Havre Daily News on Aug. 7, compels me to write a response. I'm sorry to learn that the local opticians were unable to fulfill his optical needs. I would like to highlight, however, a few facts that are important for the readers to know.

Inserting a lens into a spectacle frame carries a small risk of damaging the frame, especially when the frame is brittle. To the credit of all the local opticians they were cautious about working on a very expensive, unknown frame, in this "you break it you buy it" world.

Erica Farmer

Evans Optical, Havre Optometric and Northern Montana Vision Center all have very well-trained professional opticians, and all of them were justifiably cautious about inserting a lens into the frame Mr. White brought to them. Northern Montana Vision Center called their optical supplier, and their resident expert was not available that week.

Unknown to Mr. White, that expert later informed Northern Montana Vision Center that if the frame was brittle from age or dryness, then the frame would probably crack during lens insertion.

It is not uncommon for even frames made from modern plastic to crack. What Mr. White interpreted as apparent inability was the very justifiable caution of the local opticians about damaging the frame. There is no way a company could warranty or replace a frame sold to Mr. White by an eBay user. The local opticians have to live with the consequences of breakage at much closer proximity to Mr. White than a mail-order service.

Making purchases over the Internet, or for that matter, through a mail-order catalog (the same process, but just updated less often), can be very useful in some circumstances. However, I suspect that for many categories there is no substitute for hands-on or local purchasing. My husband and I have considerable experience purchasing goods for building renovation, and have spent large sums of money for common and sometimes rare supplies.

We buy local whenever possible because it is best for us as well as the community. For example, while we might be able to locate a rare door lock in a catalog or on the Internet, being able to order the lock is not the same as knowing whether this lock is the best for the purpose, let alone being able to install the lock, or getting the lock serviced if it is defective or when it inevitably breaks.

The local locksmith, with his specialized knowledge of the specific door and intended purpose of the lock is probably the best person to rely on for guidance.

Yes, the Internet (or mail-order catalogs) provide a way to purchase many, many things. But just because a willing buyer found a willing seller does not mean that the best possible purchase was made, nor does it guarantee that the purchased product can be serviced. I believe that an honest seller would have told Mr. White that a wooden frame was extremely unusual, that getting lenses in the frame would be a risky proposition and that if any part of the frame broke, getting replacement parts would be next to impossible.

In the case of spectacle frames made of stronger, more durable materials, most manufacturers warranty their frames for a year, and may only carry spare parts for the frame for two or fewer years after a frame has been discontinued.

I suspect that the eBay seller Mr. White purchased the frames from made no representations about their serviceability or the availability of spare parts.

By his own admission Mr. White "was hunting for an unusual product that lies on the fringes of commerce" at "the world's largest flea market."

It is an unrealistic assumption to think that such purchases can be readily serviced or repaired. I have been an optometrist for 12 years and Mr. White's wooden frame was the first I have ever seen. Shopping the planet is easy — mail-order catalogs made that possible generations ago. For many products, basing your purchase on the advice of local experts and buying something that can be locally serviced are important considerations. And "Shopping Havre" might benefit all of us in the long run.