+ Lens upgrade options stand out
+ Exceptional lenses quality
+ Designer frames at low cost
- No "Try Before You Buy" Program
- Mixed customer service reviews
A relative newcomer, Coastal.com is a legit supplier of excellent glasses at superb prices. Their fast shipping combined with the great lens quality is a combination that is hard to beat. The cherry on top of this company is their steadfast philanthropic endeavors to help the under-privileged have a better view of life, literally.
About Coastal.com
Coastal is the new kid on the block when it comes to economically and socially conscious eyewear.
Originally a contacts only retailer, Coastal.com has since evolved to provide high end, as well as budget priced, glasses and sunglasses. But they want to be known for their top notch eyewear quality as well as for their no-nonsense attitude when it comes to helping the 2.5 billion people who suffer from vision problems, daily.
Our in-depth, hands on review of Coastal discovered a hidden gem that not only provides its customers with great service and quality but also gives them the chance to donate their used and well-loved glasses to someone who really needs them.
Coastal.com MyFit
The name of this feature pretty much sums up everything. Coastal offers its customers the chance to virtually try on glasses, which I will admit, isn’t unheard of in the eyewear industry but their smooth integration really puts them heads and shoulders above the competition.
MyFit allows customers to add their custom measurements into the website. Apart from that, there are guides to help buyers pick frames that fit perfectly with their face shape, even recommending preferred size and weight.
All you need to do is find the measurement numbers on your already prescribed glasses or your prescription and you will be smoothly led into seeing and reviewing glasses that only fit your exact measurements.
This means that now you won’t have to deal with that awkward situation where you spend half your rent on a pair of glasses and by the time you receive them, it turns out they are either too wide, too long or not even the right fit for your face, at all.
MyFit might seem a slightly redundant application at first but in reality, this neat little feature will help you not only save money but also make shopping for eyewear easier and faster than before.
One program that seems to have fallen by the wayside is Coastal’s Try Before You Buy program. They originally allowed customers to keep 4 pairs of glasses for 30 days (with prescription lenses included) then return the pairs they no longer wanted. Apparently this wasn’t a profitable venture for the Coastal Try Before You Buy program and our Coastal.com Review found they no longer advertise it.
Another once popular item was the FirstFreePair deal from Coastal.com. Unfortunately that is also not available anymore, but you can get 20% off all frames here by putting in the code FRAMES20
Personalized Experience With Coastal
Now, that we are on the topic of handmade. Let’s talk about Coastal’s drive to help its customers. I don’t want to sound corny but the quality, cost, and variety so far has impressed me wholeheartedly.
Being a bookworm and blog lover, you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Coastal’s blog.
Why the blog is tucked away under sub-selection after sub-selection, I will never understand but truly once you find the blog, you will thank your lucky stars.
Coastal’s blog isn’t just informative and engaging like all blogs should be but it helps readers learn more about eyesight health, preventative measures to maintain strong eyesight and even useful tips on how to read and understand your RX.
There are also the boring bits about insurance claims and what not but those are a necessary evil!
Think of Coastal’s blog as an alternative to Buzzfeed.com just full of well researched and science based data.
Check our deals page for the latest Coastal.com discounts
Coastal.com Review
In order to give Coastal.com a full and thorough review, we decided to purchase 3 pairs of glasses and 3 pairs of sunglasses, with all different frames and lenses specifics. We lived our lives in these glasses and had Coastal reviews on the brain for months. What follows is our Coastal.com review.
Coastal.com Lens Quality 10/10
A lot of effort of our Coastal Review is dedicated to the quality assessment of their lenses because this is what we see the world through.
First the specifications: every frame you order comes with the standard air lenses that fit snuggly in the frame with no sign of wiggle. We put the Coastal lenses through a rigorous real world test run (exercising, reading for long hours, repeated open and closing of the frames, etc.) and found absolutely no issues with the lens falling out of the frame.
Coastal.com offers the option of upgrading your lenses to progressives, sunglasses, transitions, and one really neat option is the Kodak BlueReflect Lenses. These special Coastal lenses eliminate the glare and eyestrain we experience from working in front of a computer all day or sitting in artificial light. Wearing them around the office was amazing and I had no sign of the nagging headache that usually accompanies too many hours writing an online glasses review.
Every pair used in the Coastal Lens Quality review included scratch resistance, anti-reflective coating, and UV protection. Coastal further customizes your glasses by allowing you to choose the thickness of the lens, no matter the prescription. This is much more customization than most online retailers and Coastal has the highest quality lenses out there.
Building the perfect set of glasses with Coastal.com is completely legit and they take the guesswork out of glasses shopping and walk you through each and every step.
Coastal.com Frame Quality 9/10
Before I received my Coastal parcel I was convinced that the company can’t simply back up such elaborate claims on quality. I was ready to be disappointed and what I received was overwhelming.
The small details on the glasses aren’t elaborate but simple. The soft spring hinges are nothing fancy and do the job, as we say. The glasses are assembled by hand and the love and attention put into each piece is noticeable.
The nose pads are comfortable yet stay remarkably strong on your nose. This helped significantly when we used the glasses to cook, often looking straight down for extended periods. No sliding is a major benefit of Coastal’s glasses.
The majority of available frames are stainless steel metal, which helps with rigidity but also lightness. They also offer pairs that have wire frames encased in hard plastic called Mazzucchelli Acetate. It is hand made only in small qunatities that results in amazingly light yet firm frame. These also allow for a plethora of Coastal frames colors and varieties.
If you are in the market for some extremely high-end frames, then look no further because Coastal.com offers a satin finished, double titanium frame that’s even hypo allergenic! Check it out here
Overall, Coastal.com scores well on all quality levels and you can tell a lot of hard work goes into their fabrication. But see for yourself with this video about the quality control at Coastal
Coastal.com Style 8.5/10
I was already pleasantly impressed by Coastal even before I found out the great designs that Coastal had to offer. The brand not only carries classic designs but ups one and has the quintessential hipster-friendly frames.
You can easily find everything ranging from edgy and even distressed frames to the classic cat eye. The options really seem endless, although, in reality, that might not be true.
Another neat little trick that makes me like Coastal just a little bit more is that they notify buyers when a particular frame is low in stock. This might not seem like a big deal breaker to most but to me, who is a serial shopper who always ends up falling in love with frames just as they are going out of stock. This really takes the trouble out of the entire situation.
Apart from the selection of frames, you can also hand pick your lenses. This is perfect for someone who is looking for “specialty” eyewear. Our Coastal.com follows your RX to a T and has taken over the game for anyone looking for eyewear that is made for extremely sensitive eyes.
We performed an even more in-depth review of Coastal’s frames selection and the best ones can be found here.
Coastal.com Customer Service 8/10
The Coastal box came securely packaged in a bubble mailer and a hard case box. The lens was thinner yet felt more durable and the whole frame in itself felt sturdy.
Coastal also offered some of the fastest shipping time I have witnessed. My pair was here in less than two days. That is nearly Amazon Prime fast shipping if I am so bold to say!
This wasn’t just an isolated incidence, a quick google search will lead you to the same conclusion.
Overall customer service for our Coastal eyeglasses review found it mixed on social media but the majority of reviews associated with the brand are great, even outstanding customer service.
For example, this reviewer goes as far as claiming Coastal eyeglasses as the same quality as Dolce and Gabbana eyewear. I wouldn’t entertain any such claims here but I personally have not had a direct need to contact customer service.
The few instances I did require assistance- such as finding the right length, frame length etc., my needs were easily met.
This isn’t the case for all of the buyers, though. Many reviews claim that customer service was poor and go as far as claiming that they seemed “bored” and “refused to give adequate explanation”.
I am a huge believer in top notch customer service, especially for online companies. I would understand if this is a deal breaker for you.
All I can advise is to stay cautious as you order.
Coastal.com Cost 9/10
I am not going to beat around the bush here and just get straight to the point.
When it comes to eyewear we all want a great deal. Who wants to spend abhorrent amounts of money on glasses that they will eventually break, anyways?
This brand claims to do just that.
Coastal is not the type of company that will add “hidden fees” to your already 600 dollar glasses, just to turn over profit. Coastal will do the exact opposite.
Coastal gives a free flat 25 percent off on all eyewear purchases plus free shipping. In the world of good quality eyewear, this is unheard off. Of course, they do ask you to sign up for their Email newsletter but you can easily unsubscribe after redeeming the offer.
The most expensive frame at Coastal is only $95. Apart from the competitive price, Coastal.com reviews really drills in the fact that they are a customer oriented company by ensuring a full refund if you are not happy with your purchase.
You can also mix the first time 25 percent off offer with other easily available coupon offers as many others do, giving yourself an even better deal, altogether.
I nearly forgot to mention that the $95 and less price tag includes a free complimentary Standard Air Lens. Coastal lens review makes these lenses seem less than worthy for your delicate eyes but in reality, these lenses are more than sufficient.
Ending the most important part of your purchase decision is another hard to believe fact, the company will price match any purchase. This means that if you do find a cheaper version of a brand or style on a competitor’s website, Coastal glasses review will make sure you get the best price.
Their dedication to really giving its buyers the best for the least amount of money really drives home when you look at their competitive pricing, which is buyer friendly.
Coastal.com Review Summary
If you have made it this far, then bravo to you my friend. I have reviewed many eyewear companies in my time and have been disappointed too many times to count but our Coastal.com review has sincerely taken my heart away. I often get asked if Coastal is legit and after this review I would give them a wholehearted “Yes!”
The fast shipping combined with the great quality is a combination that is hard to beat. Not to mention the jaw-dropping competitive pricing that will have you adding glasses on glasses to your cart before I can say Coastal.
The cherry on top of this company is their steadfast philanthropic endeavors to help the underprovisioned have a better quality of life.
The goods outweigh the negatives when Coastal is concerned but again, I would mention their slightly turbulent experience with customer service. I regard, customer service at the near top of my must haves for any online business but I might be making an exception for Coastal.