California Handling Fee

We aim to make your shopping experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible while staying compliant with California state requirements for prescription eyewear. A flat, non-refundable $4 CA Rx Handling Fee is applied to all prescription orders shipped to California addresses.

Prescription (Rx) Items:

• Prescription items shipped to California are exempt from sales tax.

• The $4 handling fee is separate from sales tax and applies to all customers, including those who are tax-exempt.

• The handling fee is always $4 per eligible order and does not change based on order size, shipping costs, or tax rates.

Non-Prescription Items:

• Non-prescription items shipped to California are subject to sales tax, which is calculated based on applicable state and local tax rates.

• For orders that include both prescription and non-prescription items, the $4 CA Rx Handling Fee and sales tax will be displayed as separate charges during checkout:

  • The $4 CA Rx Handling Fee applies to prescription items.

  • The sales tax applies to non-prescription items.

Frequently Asked Questions​​​​​​​​​​​

Why do I need to upload my prescription when ordering glasses?

• California law requires all prescription eyewear orders to include a verified prescription. To comply with these regulations, you’ll need to upload a valid prescription when placing your order. If you’re not ready yet, you can choose the "Send it Later" option and upload your prescription after completing your purchase.​​​​​​​​​​​

What information must my prescription include?

• To ensure your prescription meets California requirements, it must include the following details:

  • Patient name

  • Expiration date

  • Date of issuance

  • Prescriber’s name, address, phone number, license number, and signature

• Providing a complete and valid prescription helps us process your order without any delays!​​​​​​​​​​​

What happens if I choose "Send Later" but don’t upload my prescription?

• If you select "Send Later" during checkout, we’ll send you gentle reminders to upload your prescription:

  • Right after placing your order

  • 96 hours (4 days) later

  • 144 hours (6 days) later, alongside a cancellation warning

• If we don’t receive your prescription within 7 days, your order may be automatically cancelled. Don’t worry, these reminders are here to help so you can submit your prescription on time!​​​​​​​​​​​

What if I didn’t receive a copy of my prescription/PD at my last eye exam?

• Please contact your eye care provider’s office, and they can provide you with a copy of your most recent prescription.

• The Federal Trade Commission has adopted the Ophthalmic Practice Rules, which set national requirements for the release of prescriptions from eye care providers to consumers.

• Under these rules, you are entitled to receive a copy of your glasses and contact lens prescriptions from your eye care provider. For glasses, your prescriber must provide you with a copy immediately after your eye exam.

• In some states, your prescriber can charge you for a pupillary distance (PD) measurement, which is the distance between your pupils required to fit glasses. If you have difficulty obtaining your PD from your eye care provider, don’t worry–Zenni offers a digital PD Ruler to measure your PD easily from home.

Does the $4 CA Rx Handling Fee apply to all glasses?

• No, this fee only applies to prescription items shipped to California.

• Non-prescription glasses, sunglasses, and accessories are subject to regular state and local sales tax.​​​​​​​​​​​

Can I get a refund on the $4 CA Rx Handling Fee if I return my order?

• No. The $4 CA Rx Handling Fee is non-refundable if you return your order.​​​​​​​​​​​

Can I get a refund on the $4 CA Rx Handling Fee if I cancel my order?

• Yes, the fee is refunded if your entire order is canceled.

• If you cancel part of your order, the fee will only be refunded if all prescription items included in the order are canceled.​​​​​​​​​​​

Will I be charged the handling fee for every pair of prescription glasses in my order?

• No, you’ll only be charged the $4 CA Rx Handling Fee once per order, no matter how many pairs of prescription glasses are included.​​​​​​​​​​​

What if my prescription has expired or is missing the required details?

• If your prescription is expired or missing critical details, the order may be delayed or canceled. To prevent this, make sure your prescription is:

  • Valid and unexpired

  • Includes all the required details

Can I submit my prescription via email or chat?

• No, prescriptions must be uploaded using one of our self-service options for verification. You can upload your prescription using any of these convenient methods:

  • During Checkout

    • Use the prescription upload option when placing your order.

  • After Checkout (Send Later)

    • Email Reminder: Follow the link provided in one of the Send Later automated reminder emails to upload your prescription.

    • My Orders Page: Select the order number from your order history to upload your prescription.

    • Track My Order Page: Enter your order number and email address to upload your prescription.

• While we’re happy to assist you with questions, we cannot manually upload prescriptions for you via customer support due to compliance and verification requirements. These self-service options are fast and easy to use!