This is why so many people prefer to shop online...

hollydolly

hollydolly

SF VIP
Location
London England
Horrible customer service in store..

Today was an example.

The week before Christmas I went into Specsavers and for those who don't know, is our biggest chain of opticians and suppliers of specs .. I ordered one pair of Sunglasses. Usually I would buy 2 pairs for the price of one, in fact always, but I just needed new prescription sunglasses.

No-one called me to tell me they were ready , so I called and they couldn't find them, Are you sure it was this branch, how much did you pay for them, can you repeat your D.O.B again,can you remember who served you.. yada yada.. ..then after getting a manager they found them.

This morning I drove to London to get them, when I got there, they were the completely wrong specs.. the frames I'd chosen but reactolite distance glasses, ..I have never had transition lenses, and they would not have been in my records..

To save you a long drawn out story.. transpires that the person who served me was an agency assistant who charged me £49 more for the glasses than I should have paid....and now the glasses have to go back and it'll take at least another week for them to have the new lenses.. plus to get my money returned...

Unfortunately this isn't the first cop-up.. from Specsavers.. and last time they messed up I swore I wouldn't go again... and have bought specs online in the interim.. and now they've done it a second time.. so I'm not ever going there again... once I get these specs and my money back
 

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With time and current trends things seem to have gone downhill here as well.

I've had trouble getting proper frames my last visit, and at best they don't properly fit the bridge of my nose. It's like they're all made in China or someplace. Never had this issue so bad in the past. Staff out front seem far less professional now, I swear one woman seemed more like a fast food clerk.

Decent eye doc though, and the lenses seem ok.
 

Online is often not much better. We've had some dreadful customer service from more than one major supplier. It seems many retailers believe that because online customers are 'at arms length' that we therefore have no or fewer consumer rights. On- or offline, it really pays to know your rights and their responsibilities -- and hold them to account
 
Balzac said:
Online is often not much better. We've had some dreadful customer service from more than one major supplier. It seems many retailers believe that because online customers are 'at arms length' that we therefore have no or fewer consumer rights. On- or offline, it really pays to know your rights and their responsibilities -- and hold them to account
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I've bought prescription specs online several times, and except for the last time, when I tried a different company and they sent the specs in an ordinary envelope unprotected, I've never had any problems...plus I'm paying a fraction of the price compared to the high street..
 
"I have never had transition lenses"

I have, and I liked them a lot....except you have to be super careful about how you clean them so you don't permanently scuff, scratch, dull or mar them. That was a huge pain in the arse.

Interestingly, the first transition lenses I got way back in 2001 (or whatever) were practically invincible. But they were also really expensive....$700. Apparently, they found a cheaper way to make them, but it's not worth it if you can totally ruin them just by wiping them off on your t-shirt.
 
Glasses aren't something I'd buy online. For me, I have to see myself in them, and obviously not pay until I'm taking them away. If I had a bad experience like this - well you have to deal with it, but I'd certainly never go back to them again. There are a lot of places to get them around me here. I get mine from a local shop.
 
I was just thinking of this yesterday. I don't shop much retail except necessities. But I have had some lousy experiences that make the "shop local" a bit hard to continue. We do have some small downtown stores that are good. But I'm mainly thrift shopping anyway.
 
I use Specsavers for my NHS Hearing Aids. I've found them to be superb. Nothing too much trouble. And I can just walk in without an appointment whenever they need new tubes or I need batteries and they do it there and then. No charge.
 
hollydolly said:
I've bought prescription specs online several times, and except for the last time, when I tried a different company and they sent the specs in an ordinary envelope unprotected, I've never had any problems...plus I'm paying a fraction of the price compared to the high street..
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Bought a couple of ceramic items from Wilko's once. Arrived loose in a cardboard box -- smashed to smithereens!
 
My only experience of Specsavers was a good one. On the bus on the way to another town, I developed a Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in my left eye. When we stopped . I headed for the nearest opticians which happened to be Specsavers. An optometrist quickly diagnosed the PVD which had also caused a small retinal tear. He arranged for me to have an emergency out of hours appointment at the main hospital in Aberdeen. The consultant confirmed the diagnosis and arrange for it to be repaired first thing the next day. Next morning the tear was repaired with laser stitches and has been fine since then.

I was impressed by the treatment I received from Specsavers, having just walked in off the street. I do however have annual checkups at a local independent opticians (mainly for convenience). Eye tests are free for all in Scotland and free for over 60s in England.
 
hollydolly said:
Horrible customer service in store..

Today was an example.

The week before Christmas I went into Specsavers and for those who don't know, is our biggest chain of opticians and suppliers of specs .. I ordered one pair of Sunglasses. Usually I would buy 2 pairs for the price of one, in fact always, but I just needed new prescription sunglasses.

No-one called me to tell me they were ready , so I called and they couldn't find them, Are you sure it was this branch, how much did you pay for them, can you repeat you D.O.B again,can you remember who served you.. yada yada.. ..then after getting a manager they found them.

This morning I drove to London to get them, when I got there, they were the completely wrong specs.. the frames I'd chosen but reactolite distance glasses, ..I have never had transition lenses, and they would not have been in my records..

To save you a long drawn out story.. transpires that the person who served me was an agency assistant who charged me £49 more for the glasses than I should have paid....and now the glasses have to go back and it'll take at least another week for them to have the new lenses.. plus to get my money returned...

Unfortunately this isn't the first cop-up.. from Specsavers.. and last time they messed up I swore I wouldn't go again... and have bought specs online in the interim.. and now they've done it a second time.. so I'm not ever going there again... once I get these specs and my money back
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When we need something we could get at Wal-Mart, Target, or any other big store in Columbia we order online instead. Usually from Amazon now. I said it a long time ago. Once cooperation's seize control of production the public will be left with very few choices. They continue to consolidate also. Shopping online is becoming a snap. I also find that when I do go to the store there is almost always a big hassle. Finding what I want, the costs and sales tags, and if there is a salesman , they are trained to sell me something, anything. I find the whole shopping experience a chore I sometimes HAVE to do.
 
Capt Lightning said:
My only experience of Specsavers was a good one. On the bus on the way to another town, I developed a Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in my left eye. When we stopped . I headed for the nearest opticians which happened to be Specsavers. An optometrist quickly diagnosed the PVD which had also caused a small retinal tear. He arranged for me to have an emergency out of hours appointment at the main hospital in Aberdeen. The consultant confirmed the diagnosis and arrange for it to be repaired first thing the next day. Next morning the tear was repaired with laser stitches and has been fine since then.

I was impressed by the treatment I received from Specsavers, having just walked in off the street. I do however have annual checkups at a local independent opticians (mainly for convenience). Eye tests are free for all in Scotland and free for over 60s in England.
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eye tests are free here too for over 60's... but remember Specsavers are a franchise.. so it's a lucky dip how good or bad the branch can be..
 
I don't shop online and re Specsavers I've never been to them. I'm not a fan of High Street chain type places for what I consider important stuff - and my eyesight is important to me. I want a proper professional - the ones around before the advent of Specsacers etc.

I've used the same independent optician since 1966. They have my full eyesight history and I trust them - never have had cause to complain nor had to wait when I arrive for my appt.
And, yes they still trade all these years later. Older original receptionist and same but older admin. :cool:

I couldn't contemplate buying frames or lenses online, nor those 'ready made' (?) glasses with different strength lenses that you buy off racks in various places. :cautious:
I'd rather pay full price knowing I've been to the right people. But that's just me and my one of my little quirks I guess :)
 
Quackers said:
I don't shop online and re Specsavers I've never been to them. I'm not a fan of High Street chain type places for what I consider important stuff.

My eyesight is important to me fell needs proper professionals - the ones around before the advent of Specsacers etc.
I've used the same independent optician since 1966. They have my full eyesight histor and I trust them - never have had cause to complain nor had to wait when I arrive for my appt.
And, yes they still trade all these years later. Older original receptionist and same but older admin. :cool:

I couldn't contemplate buying frames or lenses online, nor those 'ready made' (?) glasses with different strength lenses that you buy off racks in various places. :cautious:
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Specsavers have qualified Opticians.. no-one's eyes are at risk from unqualified opticians, it's the front of house staff that seem to be more of the problem....
 
hollydolly said:
Specsavers have qualified Opticians.. no-one's eyes are at risk from unqualified opticians, it's the front of house staff that seem to be more of the problem....
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Perhaps I worded my post incorrectly - I'm not saying Specsavers are unqualified, they don't feel 'proper' to me being a retail chain.
I started needing specs in 1966. Specsavers came into being in the 80s.
It's more a case of I'm the old school. I trust in who I know.

Bit like plumbers prefer going to proper plumbers merchants instead of B & Q. :ROFLMAO:
 
dilettante said:
I went to a small outfit for my previous glasses. It had its advantages and disadvantages, but I didn't go back.
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If I buy glasses at an optician's office, I will bring in them in for any adjustments I need. Sometimes I even bring glasses in that I didn't purchase there, if I bought there recently.
 
birdy said:
If I buy glasses at an optician's office, I will bring in them in for any adjustments I need. Sometimes I even bring glasses in that I didn't purchase there, if I bought there recently.
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..you can do that at specsavers as well , they've adjusted the arms of specs for me etc..
 

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