Opinions on Specsavers please

Crabman

I've had awful service there - staff I had contact with had no understanding of good customer service or the Supply of Goods & Services Act.

They seem to use poor quality materials as the anti-reflect coating on my clear lenses degraded within 6 months of sale and needed replacement (new lenses).

The sunglasses I ordered were tinted incorrectly and had to be redone :rolleyes:

I wouldn't go there again, they make their offers and prices look good then it turns out the extras are ridiculously overpriced. I'll go to one of these places next time.

MoonRose77

Specsavers - missed eye problems everytime I went even though it was explained to them said I didn't need glasses. DH however has had no problems with them at all. Guess it depends on which person you get.

Boots - said I needed glasses gave me (on two separate occasions) glasses that were way too strong and gave me headaches even went back and had retests said they were right. Never went back.

Independant optician - did more checks than both of the above two, diagnosed eye problem without me telling him full details, perfect glasses, no problems.

recovering_spendaholic

I found the eye examination at Specsavers to be very good, but I ordered variofocals and when they came I couldn't wear them as they made me feel like I was walking on a rocking ship IYKWIM. I have had variofocals for years and had no problem but these were awful. I usually get my variofocals from Costco, similarly my contact lenses, but the variofocals at Costco cost £190 for the lenses alone and the specsavers variofocal lenses were only £99. I guess you get what you pay for - I went back to Costco and wouldn't change. The eye examination in my local Costco is thorough and the contact lenses are cheap.

flightinfo

I, personally, will not use my local Specsavers. I found the majority of staff to be very rude and not have any idea of customer service.

Specsavers are franchises and will vary from branch to branch so if possible it would be best to speak to some people who use your local branch. I have had eye tests done some years ago and was happy with the way they were done.

However, I used to get my young son's glasses there (not his eye tests) and found the staff in my local branch to be quite rude and offhand. On one occasion I did complain to the franchise owner as I had had such appalling service (not measuring my son's head for his new glasses until I insisted - they had the measurements from a year ago, making a special trip to collect his glasses only to find they didn't have them yet and nobody bothered to contact me, the manager not phoning me because she was 'too busy' and thought it was better customer service not to phone at all rather than ask someone else to phone on her behalf!')

The owner had only had this particular franchise for a few weeks and was aware of problems. Unfortunately, the customer service did not improve and I now take my son to an independant optician (throgh recommendation) which is more expensive but the quality of service does not compare.

Also, I would suggest avoiding Tesco's - my husband bought glasses there last year and they keep breaking - very poor customer service.

claireac

I've been going to my local Specsavers for many years for both contact lenses and glasses and have never had any problems.

They've always been polite and helpful, the examinations have been thorough and I wouldn't change to be honest.

It obviously depends very much on the individual branch!

Horace

I think it depends on the individual branch as I have a friend who went to one and had nothing but trouble. I visited a branch once and they turned to me and said that they couldn't deal with my prescription because its too complicated:rolleyes:

I get mine at the eye hospital because that's where I have my eyes tested but I have been known to visit a local private optician from time to time and have never had any problems.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

nedmundo wrote: »

What's the problem with asking you to pay for a professional service? Unless it was supposed to be included as part of a scheme of course.

There is nothing wrong with paying for a professional service, however, I have been a Rayners customer for approx 15 years, I spend alot of money in there due to my sight requirements and my last contact lenses which I've had for maybe a year, I bought from Rayners. I was needing a sight test with a view to getting more lenses, yet there were wanting £25 which I have never had to pay before, it has always been included in the aftercare. When I spoke to them over the telephone about it, they just shrugged me off basically. So much for desirable customer loyalty.

lindos90

Anyone here have contact lenses from specsavers, but get their 'eye test' done somewhere else?

I am having a free eye test from boots (promotion for joining the health advantage card) but spec savers insist I pay for an additional eye test with them, otherwise they will 'suspend' my account and not send any contact lenses.

I am currently on a lensemail scheme where I get a 12 monthly 'aftercare' consultation, which I know IS conditional, but does anyone know if I have to have the separate eye test with the same provider too?

Ive looked on there web site, and im unable to find any specific terms and conditions.

Any advice welcome please.

nedmundo

Legally, they have to ensure that you have an up to date eye exam prescription. If you were to produce the prescription, most Opticians would be satisfied at that.

naturally_2

I used them for a year with no problems, but in the last year they twice scared the living daylights out of me "(ooh you've got an ulcer that will never heal and you'll never be able to use contacts ever again) so I went to a local optician whose people mostly all came from a big eye hospital, and they told me a very different story.

I took my prescrition back to SS for my glasses for the 2 4 1 offer, but wish I hadn't as I'm not convinved its right, and they use very thick lenses as standard (to make you pay to upgrade) whereas the other opticians use thin as standard.