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Tesco's doing free eye tests in-store, until 26 May.
The best bit is it’s dishing out 100 free Clubcard points when you take the test, worth up to £1 instore but can be £4 on goodies from the Tesco Clubcard deals brochure. The offer’s valid at all stores with an optician's department.
How to get it
First find your nearest Tesco Opticians, using the store finder. Enter your postcode and make sure you tick the "opticians available" button.
Then simply click on your nearest Tesco and ring its number to book, mentioning the “free eye test offer”. Alternatively make an appointment in store. We have confirmation from Tesco head office that this is nationwide.
Don't forget your clubcard
People who have the free eye test will also get 100 Clubcard points. Remember, never ever redeem vouchers in-store. Redeem vouchers on Tesco's special Clubcard Deals Brochure and points values increase four-fold.
Among options are RAC membership, Alton Towers tickets or a year's subscription. Read a full guide to Loyalty Schemes.
The offer is subject to availability and the 100 Clubcard points are only given if you're taking up the specific free eye test offer, not having an NHS eye test. If you'd normally be eligible for an NHS eye test you can still take up this offer to get the Clubcard points, but you'd then not be eligible to receive the NHS voucher for money off glasses.
You don't have to buy glasses from Tesco
Tesco's offering this freebie as it hopes you'll buy specs or lenses from it if you need them, but this isn't a prerequisite. You often have a right to get your prescription from elsewhere, see the Contact Lens cost cutting guide.
so i suppose you could have the free eye test get your points,and if you need glasses, go to your own optition for another eye test to get nhs glasses?
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An eye test must legally do a number of things in order to check all aspects of your vision and find your prescription. You can take the prescription (The numbers needed to get your glasses) anywhere and if you qualify for NHS eye exam (Income support, benefits, eye health problems) then the so called "free test" is actually an NHS one as they will most likely claim the fee from the NHS. A clever trick huh. Either way, the test is just the same though.
If you qualfy for an NHS voucher for glasses (a much tighter list than for a free eye exam - usually income support or particular benefit claimers) then the voucher issued will be valid at any other optician.
In my experience, the real difference between eye exams seems to be the amount of time you spend with the qualified optician and the customer service. Expect to pay more for a longer test and the bells and whistles like a photograph of the inside of the eye as well as a nicer environment, better choice etc
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Thanks for sharing this offer with us. I'll be taking it up definitely (I wear glasses anyway and was due an eye test). If the test isn't comprehensive enough, anyone who is on benefits pretty much is entitled to a free NHS eye test at other opticians. Also if you're on a low income, eg working 20 hours a week at minimum wage, then ask your GP (go to reception, no need for appt.) for a form to apply for a HC2 certificate. Send this off with some recent payslips to prove your income status, they make a decision and send you a cert. back which could entitle you to as much free treatment etc as someone on benefits; eg free eye test plus voucher, free dental care and prescriptions; I know because I had one myself at one stage. The cert. is valid for ONE year for YOU only. HTH.
Just called the Plymouth (Lee Mill) store to book and they said they have not heard about this offer. The is also no information about it on the Tesco website, so does anyone have any idea how can I prove to them that it is genuine and get the free eye test? All advice welcome. Thanks.
Unless they've changed the Ts and Cs you should note that you have to live in the catchment area of the participating Tesco opticians in order to qualify. My nearest is 3.6 miles away and when I last popped in and checked they told me I live too far away so don't qualify. Maybe worth phoning in advance, unless you're going to Tescos anyway.
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Unless they've changed the Ts and Cs you should note that you have to live in the catchment area of the participating Tesco opticians in order to qualify. My nearest is 3.6 miles away and when I last popped in and checked they told me I live too far away so don't qualify. Maybe worth phoning in advance, unless you're going to Tescos anyway.
Hm, interesting. My nearest is 5 miles away. Will they ask for any kind of proof of address, or can I get away with lying and telling them I live nearer than I do?
Just aword of warning about Tesco's & opticians......Tesco's is a supermarket primarily. Unless the staff are particularly trained for measuring & fitting of specs things can go wrong.
My Mum bought glasses from them recently & was very concerned that the girl who was 'trying' to take measurements was 'off the till' & she said she didn't know what she was doing. Wrong lenses were ordrered, glasses were lost & all this was because the staff are not trained & can be moved around the store at any time.
Not an ideal situation when it is eyes they are dealing with & not fruit & veg!!
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The contact lense test is £15 so you have a full eye test and contact lense test for that.
I can't find anything any better...
I am a fee charging WoM Mortgage broker.
I now no longer give information and opinion within the Mortgage boards, because a number of posters who, having approached me professionally, agreed my fee-which has been been made very clear at the outset, taken my advice (normally cancelling a [home visit] meeting at short notice) have then approached one of the fee-free brokers on here to arrange the very same deal I have advised.
Whilst I totally concur with the ethos of "money saving"- abusing the goodwill of a professional who provides a quality service is taking it too far!
Someone enquired if there were Tesco stores providing free eye tests in N.Ireland.
I work in Antrim and noticed an offer in an Opticians (Taylor & Toal) located in the centre of Antrim town. It has an ongoing offer of a free eye test to anyone up until the end of 2009. I availed of this last year and did not need to change my glasses.
They are currently also offering free prescription sunglasses of equal or less value with a purchase of glasses from their £75 range. This offer expires at the end of July.
Just aword of warning about Tesco's & opticians......Tesco's is a supermarket primarily. Unless the staff are particularly trained for measuring & fitting of specs things can go wrong.
My Mum bought glasses from them recently & was very concerned that the girl who was 'trying' to take measurements was 'off the till' & she said she didn't know what she was doing. Wrong lenses were ordrered, glasses were lost & all this was because the staff are not trained & can be moved around the store at any time.
Not an ideal situation when it is eyes they are dealing with & not fruit & veg!!
You can always get the eye test and get your glasses elsewhere. The original post is slightly wrong - you don't 'often' have a right, you always have a right to get your prescription and go elsewhere. To quote from the Tesco site: 'If not you can ask your optician to provide a copy as you are entitled to it.' Of course, the shop where you go also has the right to refuse to serve you, but they'd be pretty silly to do so. Or you can get your glasses online - if you don't need varifocals or bifocals, this is usually the easiest and cheapest way.
As there seems to be nothing on their website, does anyone know where to view the T&Cs for this offer? My nearest Tesco is 7.5 miles away but what do they class as the "catchment area"?
I just read this post at lunch time. I booked a test and was completed by 3:30 with the free check plus club card points and two pairs of glasses for the price of one. Very competent optician who did all the checks I've been used to at other opticians.
When I booked the test they wanted my post code but never mentioned any restrictions ( I live about 7 miles away)
Just aword of warning about Tesco's & opticians......Tesco's is a supermarket primarily. Unless the staff are particularly trained for measuring & fitting of specs things can go wrong.
My Mum bought glasses from them recently & was very concerned that the girl who was 'trying' to take measurements was 'off the till' & she said she didn't know what she was doing. Wrong lenses were ordrered, glasses were lost & all this was because the staff are not trained & can be moved around the store at any time.
Not an ideal situation when it is eyes they are dealing with & not fruit & veg!!
Been there and done that and wouldnt go back again.
when i went in they took my glasses and took the prescription off my glasses ( gave them an idea of my eye sight i guess)
Was told my prescription had changed and would require glasses.
Chose new frames etc.
Got glasses back and couldnt see properly out of them ( i kept stepping over everything)
Was told I would get used to them went away
Not happy put old glasses on and went back
this went on for about 6 months and then my work asked me to go for a eye test to get a pair of safety glasses so i went back to my old optician and wore no glasses so i could relax my eyes and get a good eye test.
Turns out that tesco had put wrong lenses in frames and didnt tie up with the prescription they gave me at all.
Tesco denied that and so i went to the head office where i got a full refund and then purchased a pair off the internet for 15.00
I wouldnt trust them testing the eye sight of my cat let alone me again
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Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Free Tesco eye test worth £10
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