Arlo Wolf Eyewear

Arlo Wolf Eyewear: online prescription glasses with a home trial

Arlo Wolf Eyewear is an online optician based in Manchester, United Kingdom, that sells prescription glasses and sunglasses directly to customers. The company states that its team is backed by over 100 years of optical experience and that it serves customers from the UK and throughout Europe. Its stated aim is to make stylish eyewear accessible, with frames and prescription lenses starting at £50.

How the try-before-you-buy service works

The centrepiece of the Arlo Wolf offer is a free home trial. Customers can order a pack of up to four frames, including sunglasses, to try at home for a week before deciding whether to buy. The company presents this as a way to check fit and style without visiting a physical store, and it publishes a face shapes guide to help customers choose. The service is branded as Try Before You Buy (TBYB).

What every pair includes

According to the company, all frames come with high-quality prescription lenses that have anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings. Each pair also includes a protective bag and a lens cloth, both manufactured from recycled plastic bottles. Arlo Wolf offers a 12-month warranty covering manufacturing defects and a 30-day return policy described as no-quibble. Lens upgrades are available, including blue light lenses.

Collections for women and men

The catalogue is organised into women’s and men’s optical frames, women’s and men’s sunglasses, and blue light glasses. New arrivals listed on the site include the Theo in Black and Crystal Grey, the Clara in Crystal Grey, Grey and Tortoise, and the Roper in Brown. The company also offers glasses reglazing, a service for fitting new lenses into existing frames, and sells accessories.

Pricing and multi-purchase discounts

Arlo Wolf states that glasses and sunglasses start at £50, a price that includes prescription lenses with anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings. A 10% discount applies to the entire order when two or more pairs are purchased. Shipping within the UK is free on every order.

Donation programme and sustainability

For every order received, Arlo Wolf donates a pair of glasses to someone in need through Sight2Save. The company also highlights sustainability through its Eco Glasses collection and the use of recycled plastic bottles for the protective bag and lens cloth supplied with each frame.

Buying online: the company’s rationale

Arlo Wolf argues that buying glasses online offers convenience, a wider selection of frames in different styles, colours and sizes, and lower prices because of lower overheads compared with physical stores. It also points to easy comparison between models and to the home try-on service as ways to reduce the uncertainty of buying eyewear remotely. Customers provide their optician’s prescription when ordering.

Background and additional resources

The company describes itself as born in Manchester and says it works with UK glazing laboratories. It maintains a blog covering topics such as eyewear as gifts, reglazing existing glasses and seasonal trends, and it publishes a face shapes guide and FAQs. Arlo Wolf Limited is the legal entity named on the site.