Specsavers rubbish varifocal specs

cajef

wends6539 wrote: »

Sour grapes? Yes. Everyone knows the specsavers slogan - they have their marketing down to a T. Shame they cant do the same with the product and the customer service. I would then, have no reason to complain.

Nothing wrong with specsavers marketing or customer service as far as I am concerned, two years since I had a check so went there last week, after a thorough check I was informed that my eyesight had not changed so there was no point in spending on anything unnecessarily, come back in two years time.

Paul_Varjak

I have had specs made by Specsavers, six times in the past year, but that is because I am a Mystery Shopper! I must say I am quite impressed with the staff and the spectacles supplied to me.

The last two pairs I got were just £25 each and I was quite impressed with the quality of the frames and the lenses were perfect. Unfortunately, I don't get to keep the glasses as they have to be returned to Specsavers for checking.

The next time I need new glasses I would not hesitate in using Specsavers, although it is tempting to double up on my Tesco vouchers and get them from Tesco instead.

Personally, I don't like varifocals and prefer single distance vision lenses and simply remove the glasses when I want to read. I feel much safer when driving if using single vision lenses and can get single vision thin & light lenses for next to nothing using an NHS voucher.

macma

THANKS Flobyjoby:)
What is the charge for a copy of my prescription if I go elsewhere and would it be valid 6mths on ?

sagalout1954

macma wrote: »

THANKS Flobyjoby:)
What is the charge for a copy of my prescription if I go elsewhere and would it be valid 6mths on ?

There is no charge for getting a copy of your prescription at any opticians as far as I know, when you have your eyes tested they SHOULD give it to you automatically - if not then simply ask for it. It's YOURS, not THEIRS.

In the space of a few weeks recently I had my eyes tested at Specsavers twice, Tesco and D&A - 4 times at 3 different places and I didn't have to ask for my prescription once - all 3 simply gave it to me. I suppose there might be a few who'd try to hang on to it in the hope that you'd feel obligated to buy your specs/lens from them but frankly, you can go wherever you like with it and they must hand it over.

I suppose to bring this thread to a close, it seems to me that if you're used to driving a Merc, BMW or whatever, being switched to a Ford Ka might be something of a shock. That's how these lenses feel to me, if I'd never had better quality all round vision in previous specs then I suppose I wouldn't know any different!

nedmundo

Although some may charge for further copies of your prescription.

d8veh

Ive been using Specsavers for years with no previous problems. Yesterday,I went to collect two pairs of varifocals (my 3rd pair of pairs). The first pair they gave me were totally wrong - dark lenses, wrong frames and wrong prescription. These must have belonged to someone else, but they couldn't find my ones. So then we tried the second pair. As soon as I put them on, I knew there was a problem. My vision appeared to be blurred everywhere except when looking upwards. I was able to do an A/B comparison with my present ones - chalk and cheese. They said that they would re-cut the lenses 3mm lower, but I'm not convinced that that would make them satisfactory. They had charged me for the 3rd level up lenses (£120 instead of £40 for standard varifocals) although I didn't ask for them. I am very suspicious about what lenses I got. How would anyone know that they got the Pentax Origo lenses marked on the order form rather than the standard ones? Does anyone know what markings the four grades would have?

Next thing - if someone can enlighten me. I was told that the cheaper lenses have a narrower sweet spot in the middle so that one would see more blurring around the edges. Am I right in assuming that this effect depends only on the profile of the lens. I thought that all lenses are ground on computer controlled machines that can make the lens whatever shape you want, in which case it would cost the same to make them with a wide centre as a narrow centre. Am I missing something?

nedmundo

d8veh wrote: »

Next thing - if someone can enlighten me. I was told that the cheaper lenses have a narrower sweet spot in the middle so that one would see more blurring around the edges. Am I right in assuming that this effect depends only on the profile of the lens. I thought that all lenses are ground on computer controlled machines that can make the lens whatever shape you want, in which case it would cost the same to make them with a wide centre as a narrow centre. Am I missing something?

Specsavers have the rights to rebrand anything they want as 'Pentax' so you'll find that the lens supplied at each level can differ over time and location. Can't help you there!

However, most and particularly older designs of Varifocals are moulded on the front surface, with your prescription worked on the back surface. The cost of R & D and mould production is massive, so newer designs will inevitably cost more because that is required to pay back the original investment.

Newer 'freeform' designs are digitally surfaced to order and can be more complex designs which in theory can better visually. As these are not bulk moulded, they will cost even more to manufacture.

Hope that explains everything for you.

nedmundo

I thought this was quite topical for this thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPCSxFTRNlk

knightstyle

OK all you experts where would you go for your eye test and which varifocal glasses would you choose?

roddydogs

Specsavers is a franchise and branches work independently, so you cant compare branches.
The Eye test Should be standard in any opticians...you can as most of you know then take the Prescription to any Opticion...........If your thinking of buying online Variafocals, you will need the PD (pupilarry distance) (which opticians do not provide automatically) Over 60s get 30% od in Specsavers (or they used to) Boots run a similar scheme.