Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

always_running

I want to know if my optician can do what they are doing.

I booked a contact lens check with an optician. it was the first time i had been there for years.
I was thinking about going back there as they are nearer than the place i had been using for both sight tests and contact lens fittings and checks.

They said they did not have any records for me so i grabbed my file of previous prescriptions etc and took it with me.

When the person checking my contact lenses perscription saw in my file that i had been ordering lenses online she said that they are not allowed to give me a copy of my prescription until i had had two tests and they were happy with the lenses.

On leaving i expected to pay for the check but was told i had to pay £57.

They still have not given me a copy as they seem to be pushing me to take ot a direct debit with them that i do not want.

So i am £57 out of pocket and still do not have my prescription.

( sorry about spellings am in a rush)

System

picked up my new £40 glasses yesterday from my local independant optician no problems , on looking at my invoice the glasses cost £14-20 and the rest £25-80 are fees ! [not the eye test because i get that free.]

jstyles

always_running wrote: »

I want to know if my optician can do what they are doing.

I booked a contact lens check with an optician. it was the first time i had been there for years.
I was thinking about going back there as they are nearer than the place i had been using for both sight tests and contact lens fittings and checks.

They said they did not have any records for me so i grabbed my file of previous prescriptions etc and took it with me.

When the person checking my contact lenses perscription saw in my file that i had been ordering lenses online she said that they are not allowed to give me a copy of my prescription until i had had two tests and they were happy with the lenses.

On leaving i expected to pay for the check but was told i had to pay £57.

They still have not given me a copy as they seem to be pushing me to take ot a direct debit with them that i do not want.

So i am £57 out of pocket and still do not have my prescription.

( sorry about spellings am in a rush)

They are legally obliged to give you your prescription. Stand your ground.

buzzer

D&A have a half price offer which expires end of June. Grab it!!

http://www.danda.co.uk/spr-08-opt-dol-het-10peog/

mishkanorman

jstyles wrote: »

They are legally obliged to give you your prescription. Stand your ground.

They are legally obliged to give you a spectacle prescription, after a full eye test, with contact lenses though its a little bit of a grey area that some opticians try to exploit to retain customers.

What the contact lens fitter has said is correct, they generally like to see you for 2 follow-up appointments to ensure the prescription, fit etc of the lenses. As they settle after a time its harder to say after 1 appointment what lens is best to have.

If you are not happy with the service you have received, pursue it, but realise that they may just make them dig their heels in a little more


mishka

Clowance

I'm still hopping mad after buying a pair of varifocals in a local opticians (only one pair, no offers but the best price for glass lenses) for £225 - the frame was £79 - I had a new prescription already to give her, she took my pupillary distance so I said could I have a copy so I could get a spare pair off the internet and she said "its not our policy to give out pd". Grrr - they had all that money off me. However she left the card on the desk so I read it upside down, will check it myself though.
Boots didnt acquit themselves well either: they had an offer for plastic varifocals bogof, worked out about the same as above for two pairs. However when I tried to get a £75 pair plus lenses and a free cheaper frame, apparently the cheaper frame (£35) wasn't part of the offer, I had to choose a dearer frame to have free. They lost my custom as it was the cheaper one I really wanted, but it didn't cost enough to qualify for the free offer as the main pair. So I went to the local one - less waiting and better customer service until I asked for my pd. I don't think buying glasses should be this stressful: not all of us have money to burn on glasses and I certainly can't afford £400 or so even though I wear them all day.

brownbabygirl

I got my last prescription from Specsavers (using a Nectar voucher) and they measured PD for me free of charge. I then ordered online and reclaimed from HSA (quidco). That is moneysaving lol

Clowance I am surprised they would not measure PD for you.

lb364

I ordered my last pair of glasses off ebay and got them reglazed at Ciliary Blue, saved about £200!!

bitsandpieces

buzzer wrote: »

D&A have a half price offer which expires end of June. Grab it!!

http://www.danda.co.uk/spr-08-opt-dol-het-10peog/

And D&A are offering a free test for Nectar card-holders. Anyone ideas where I can get a good deal for new lenses in an existing frame? Single-vision lenses, though the thinner variety are nice to have I know it might be better value to get a new pair of specs, but I really like my current frame...

wolfehouse

if you have a costco card or know someone who does and will go with you you can get lenses put in an existing frame for £50-60 for a single vision antiscratch and antireflect coated one. (you'll need your prescription)