#29: Reducing Optical Costs: Talking SmartOD.com with Dr. Dan Dieterichs

[AdminWolf]

Episode 29:
Reducing Optical Costs: Talking SmartOD.com with Dr. Dan Dieterichs

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In this show, private practitioner Dr. Dan Dieterichs stops by to talk to us about reducing costs of goods sold in the optical.

We explore "Dental Envy", Independent Practitioner Associations, and talk about the new SmartOD.com, and how buying frames factory-direct can lower the cost of goods in your optical.

Leave feedback for Dan in this thread!

 

[Stephen Hyle]

Got my free frame

I ordered my free sample frame recently from Smart OD. It arrived in a couple days and was very nice for the twenty dollar price point. We were pleasantly surprised and now we will be ordering more soon to replace some of the Altair line which cost twice as much. So we will make more on the frame and give less to VSP. That is a no brainer.

 

[Faive Kovalis]

I ordered my free sample frame recently from Smart OD. It arrived in a couple days and was very nice for the twenty dollar price point. We were pleasantly surprised and now we will be ordering more soon to replace some of the Altair line which cost twice as much. So we will make more on the frame and give less to VSP. That is a no brainer.

Dear Dr. Hyle,

I am very pleased to hear that you are soon to be taking advantage of SmartOD.com. You are absolutely correct - this is a no brainer! I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Please let me know if you have any additional comments or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Faive Kovalis

 

[VincentUy]

Interesting interview, thanks.

Do you do custom made private label frame?

 

[Faive Kovalis]

My Recent Travels Abroad

We just returned from a very interesting and educational trip from Japan and China. Since most of the manufacturing is happening in this region it’s the first place where you begin to see the changes and the new trends. I was able to see the future trends before they come to the US and Europe in a year from now.

The only major change that I observed was more and more colors being added into the frames. The difference between men and women’s frames are fading and are now more Unisex. People are no longer backing off from color. The factories are more willing to mix numerous colors into a single frame.

More manufacturers are open to new raw materials. It is not like 1998-1999 when all of the frames suddenly changed from a P3 shape to a square. Or in 2001 when the market was flooded with rimless/drill mount frames. This year the trend of plastic frames is continuing as it was the year before, basically unchanged. As far as I can see, the fashion world will continue the same trend for the next year or two, wearing more and more plastic frames with daring colors.

A new material was presented from many of the factories by the name of ULTEM. This material is used mostly for temples. It’s an unbreakable material, very light, extremely flexible and bendable. This material is also offered in many bright colors. It’s similar to Memory Flex, which we have in our Golflex Frames and Champions. It’s the same, but plastic.

Obviously we follow the trends and are also manufacturing frames using more materials that are bright in color. I hope this information will help you and your frame buyers to make the best choices for the upcoming year.

Sincerely,

Faive Kovalis
303-748-7015

 

[Daniel J Dieterichs]

Interesting interview, thanks.

Do you do custom made private label frame?

We have not had that request. Everything is possible. It comes down to numbers. We can get anything printed on the frame, but to make it worth doing, the printing needs to be put on a large number of frames.

I'll check with Faive Kovalis.

 

[Kevin J. Gross OD]

dan, we have created our identity on smartod. are all of faive's lines available, or just the one's listed on smartod?

we're planning on placing our first order in january, good work.

 

[Daniel J Dieterichs]

dan, we have created our identity on smartod. are all of faive's lines available, or just the one's listed on smartod?

we're planning on placing our first order in january, good work.

I will have Faive Kovalis get you the exact answer. I believe that he has put all of his frames on the SmartOD.com site.
Dan

 

[Faive Kovalis]

dan, we have created our identity on smartod. are all of faive's lines available, or just the one's listed on smartod?

we're planning on placing our first order in january, good work.

Dear Dr. Gross,

Thank you for registering with SmartOD.com. We absolutely look forward to doing business with you in the future.

All of our frames are currently published on-line. We just returned from a trip to Japan and China and will be adding more and more frames. We are also going to be adding more "boutique" style frames as we receive many requests for such frames. Of course, those will have a higher price point but will still save you a lot of money.

We are also in the final stages of adding our lenses to our SmartOD.com website.

If you have any additional comments or suggestions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Faive Kovalis
303-748-7015

 

[Daniel J Dieterichs]

Lot's of listeners but not many joiners

Dear Dr. Gross,

Thank you for registering with SmartOD.com. We absolutely look forward to doing business with you in the future.

All of our frames are currently published on-line. We just returned from a trip to Japan and China and will be adding more and more frames. We are also going to be adding more "boutique" style frames as we receive many requests for such frames. Of course, those will have a higher price point but will still save you a lot of money.

We are also in the final stages of adding our lenses to our SmartOD.com website.

If you have any additional comments or suggestions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Faive Kovalis
303-748-7015

Many of you have listened to the radio about SmartOD.com, but not many have followed through with a purchase. It is easy to do. Ask your frame buyer to go to SmartOD.com and create an account. Then have them order a few frames. You will see the quality and the cost savings. With these two things you will make much more profit per patient. This will give you time to go to your son's little league games and spend more time with your loved ones.

Happy Thanks Giving.

 

[Nathaniel Dolbee]

Heads up to anyone submitting claims for these frames to VSP.

Be aware that none of the lines available on SmartOD.com are listed on VSP's Frame Companies / Lines List (p. 380 in provider manual effective 1/2014). That means VSP requires you report your actual acquisition cost rather than the price published in Frames Data.

And I believe that effectively means that you can't charge any overage for any of these frames to VSP patients. They also require you to maintain your acquisition invoices for 6 years.

Do other vision plans have similar policies?