synsam.no

Platform Basics

synsam.no is an online eyewear retail e-commerce site owned by Norway's Synsam Group. It primarily sells prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses online, while also offering complementary in-store eye exams and prescription eyewear fitting services. It is currently promoting a limited-edition collaborative eyewear line with famous footballer Erling Haaland, and is one of the mainstream eyewear purchasing channels in Norway.

Core Business and Pricing

The platform's core business is split into two models:

• First, the traditional one-time purchase model. It carries top international eyewear brands including Prada, Tom Ford, and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as its own private label products. Regular prices range from hundreds to thousands of Norwegian kroner. The site runs promotions year-round, with discounts of over 50% off on many popular styles. A single eye exam costs 495 Norwegian kroner, and customers who purchase a full prescription eyewear package get 50% off their frames.
• Second, the innovative subscription model, starting as low as 99 Norwegian kroner per month. The subscription includes unlimited free eye exams, free lens replacements when your prescription changes, one free full product replacement per year, and full eyewear insurance. This is ideal for users with ongoing eyewear needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The subscription model eliminates the extra cost of getting new eyewear when your prescription changes, and the included insurance covers common risks like damage and loss, giving the overall service excellent value for money.
• The omnichannel model lets customers try on and adjust frames in-store, for a much more complete user experience.

Cons

• The platform only serves customers within Norway, does not offer international shipping, and the entire site is only available in Norwegian, making it practically unusable for non-Norwegian users.
• The subscription service has complex binding rules, with an initial 24-month lock-in period, and replacing your product extends the binding period further, resulting in poor flexibility.

Access and Compatibility

The site is currently directly accessible from China. It does not support a Chinese interface, and does not offer sales services to users in China. It is only suitable as a reference for industry professionals looking to understand the Nordic eyewear retail model.