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I ordered some glasses online, from Amazon, about a month ago. Last week, I realized that they hadn't arrived yet, so I checked the delivery date and it said that they wouldn't be here until Sept. I contacted the seller and was assured that the glasses would arrive before the eclipse.
This week, I received a letter from Amazon saying that the company I ordered the glasses from was not "approved" by NASA, or whatever, and that they were issuing me a refund because they did not want to be held responsible for making me go blind. They did not say that the glasses were bad, just that the seller had not submitted proof that the glasses met the required tests.
I decided that I should try to buy replacement glasses, and found a number of local stores (Best Buy, Lowes, Toys R Us, all in Crossroads area) that were supposedly selling glasses. I visited them all yesterday and they were sold out.
Has anyone seen any glasses for sale recently, and if so, where?
I ordered some glasses online, from Amazon, about a month ago. Last week, I realized that they hadn't arrived yet, so I checked the delivery date and it said that they wouldn't be here until Sept. I contacted the seller and was assured that the glasses would arrive before the eclipse.
This week, I received a letter from Amazon saying that the company I ordered the glasses from was not "approved" by NASA, or whatever, and that they were issuing me a refund because they did not want to be held responsible for making me go blind. They did not say that the glasses were bad, just that the seller had not submitted proof that the glasses met the required tests.
I decided that I should try to buy replacement glasses, and found a number of local stores (Best Buy, Lowes, Toys R Us, all in Crossroads area) that were supposedly selling glasses. I visited them all yesterday and they were sold out.
Has anyone seen any glasses for sale recently, and if so, where?
The museum of Natural sciences in downtown Raleigh was selling the glasses as recently as yesterday for $3 a pair. (A friend posted his purchase of the glasses on twitter). Not sure if they sold out yesterday, maybe you can give them a call to see if there are any left?
I saw some at a Home Depot last week, but might be sold out by now if the rest of the okaces are. I got the same email from Amazon about the glasses I got a while back. I've already checked them even before the reports of bad ones surfaced and they seem fine. I can't see anything with them except the filament of a bare light bulb and a quick look at the sun after that, I can barely see it either. Honestly, I'm wondering if at the max coverage we get if I will be able to make out much, so I have no doubt they are OK.
You can also try Welders goggles which should still be available at Home Depot, lowes etc.
And of course you can always do a pinhole projector type of viewer which will enlarge the sun way more than just looking with glasses.
I contacted at least fifteen places by phone that were supposed to have them five days ago. Nada. (Walmart, lowes, home depot.)
Then I started looking at store inventory online at found nothing. So I took to the Internet to have them shipped to my house and, again, found nothing except expensive ones on various sites (including amazon) or places that were selling packages of 50 or more.
Finally, I found some on Toys R Us for home delivery only (all stores locally were sold out). I had to pay a bit extra for express shipping.
The site now says they are unavailable for home delivery and local stores out of stock.
I tried calling the museum of natural Sciences, but couldn't get a human on the phone. Automated information and voice-mail only. Maybe I hit them on a busy day?
Unless somebody else has an idea (like north raleigh guy) I'm afraid you're SOL.
Unless somebody else has an idea (like north raleigh guy) I'm afraid you're SOL.
A friend of ours was shafted with their original Amazon order as well and ended up reaching out to a bunch of people via Facebook to see if it was worth while to do a bulk order since the prices have jumped up so high. She ended up ordering 25 in bulk as she was able to "pre-sell" her extras within like 5 mins thru facebook.
Getting two from her for $8 total, whenever they get here.
So there are still ways to get them "affordably", but people are going to have to get slightly lucky/creative with it.
A friend of ours was shafted with their original Amazon order as well and ended up reaching out to a bunch of people via Facebook to see if it was worth while to do a bulk order since the prices have jumped up so high. She ended up ordering 25 in bulk as she was able to "pre-sell" her extras within like 5 mins thru facebook.
Getting two from her for $8 total, whenever they get here.
So there are still ways to get them "affordably", but people are going to have to get slightly lucky/creative with it.
I bought four extras for my terrific neighbors as freebies.
You can also try Welders goggles which should still be available at Home Depot, lowes etc.
Sherifftruman, I think eclipse viewing info has advanced since the last time you and I looked. I remember when your advice was considered sound by a lot of people.
The American Astronomical Society says only certain welder goggles will protect your eyes.
"The only ones [welding filters] that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher. These are much darker than the filters used for most kinds of welding. If you have an old welder's helmet around the house and are thinking of using it to view the Sun, make sure you know the filter's shade number. If it's less than 12 (and it probably is), don't even think about using it to look at the Sun."
I learned a lot from their article, How to Tell If Your Eclipse Glasses or Handheld Solar Viewers Are Safe.
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I bought four extras for my terrific neighbors as freebies.
