MSE News: Tesco offers free eye tests

davejulie71

We took our 5 year old daughter to our local Tesco in Dover 5 weeks ago for an eye test, this was done and we were told that she needed glasses.....At the time they didn't have the NHS kids vouchers but would ring in about 2 weeks time, so we waited as you do, no call came, we chased after 3 weeks still they were waiting. On the fourth week I went into the store to find out what was going on still no news, I then spoke to one of their Every little doesn't help deputy managers complaining that this was no good enough and that if this had been an item that was ordered then they would give us updates of what's going on, she insisted that this was completely different....so much for customer service we thought......

So at that point we gave up and went the same day to an independent optician in Dover for another eye test with our daughter......only to find out that she doesn't need glasses after all.....

Tesco Every Little Helps..........but could have damaged my daughters eye sight.......you have been warned........PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE.........

Shop locally.......you support your community.........you get told the truth......customers come first = more profit + happy shoppers

sakara

Thats something that worries me too...That you'll get told you need glasses when you dont..so they can still make money off you.

bullshot

I needed new glasses as I sat on my old pair( I do that alot )...went to T's and had the most thorough eye test I've ever had( been wearing glasses over 40 years)....optician noticed something at the back of my eye and gave me a letter to take to my Dr...Dr referred me to a specialist.Saw specialist within 2 weeks....nothing serious, thank goodness...but well spotted by T's optician...double-up offer was on and I got 2 pairs for £20 worth of vouchers ... glasses should have been £40....had my specs from Glasses Direct last time but T's are cheaper and I'm pleased with the quality....always went to Boots and paid £200+ for glasses that only last the same as these cheapie ones, but at these prices I won't be upset if I lose or break them...

biggurs

Most opticians charge about the £20 mark for a sight test. Its been around that price for at least a decade. Considering the person examining your eyes is a trained medical professional, any professional service should be much more than that, especially since having an eye test can literally save your life..... things like brain inflammation/tumours can be picked up from an eye examination.
Car MOT £40 - £50
Hair Highlights £40+ ( possibly more ???)
Getting your nails done ???? im sure is more than £20
Also, an eye examination is only recommended about every 2 years.
It should be worth much more than the £20,
The reason the charge has remained at about £20 is because the profits made by opticians practice is from the sale of glasses.

SO THE REASON TESCO ARE DOING FREE TESTS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE HOPING YOU WILL BUY THEIR GLASSES WHICH YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO.
BY LAW YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PRESCRIPTION ANYWHERE YOU WANT AND THE OPTOMETRIST HAS TO HAND OVER THE PRESCRIPTION TO YOU AT THE END OF THE SIGHT TEST AND IF HE/SHE DOES NOT, THEN GO STRAIGHT TO THE GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL Harley st London and sue him/her!
They will get struck off.
An optometrist should not let financial matters influence the way they deal with their patients.......you dont see doctors trying to sell you medicines from a particular chemist (which may belong to their partner or family member)

IT_Trainer

I had a free eye test at Tesco and also ordered glasses from them. The glasses were much too strong but when I went back I was told that headaches for the first couple of weeks were normal and that I should move my monitor forward so I could see it :rotfl:I thought glasses were supposed to fit your life, not the other way round. Anyway, I went back and was offered a re-test but after it was cancelled 3 times I decided I would prefer a refund. This was NOT EASY and took a visit to the Tesco store manager. I went for a re-test at Specsavers and found the Tesco prescription was wrong by .75 in both eyes. I guess you get what you pay for.

stinky

Every Little Helps - Helps who? Tesco, that's who.

When are people going to wake up to the Evil giant that Tesco has become. Does nobody think to themselves, why is Tesco doing this offer? What will be the end result of this offer? More profit for Tesco's as people will just end up buying their glasses there, as they are too lazy to go elsewhere and probably think Tesco means they are getting good value. Secondly, the knock on effect is going to put other opticians out of business, as they cannot compete - without losing money. Then our only choice for an optician - will be lovely Tesco's.

A world full of Tesco's. You may as well be placed in the shop as a baby and book your coffin in the store while you're at it.

Am I too cynical perhaps? Sorry, but I just see Tesco as an evil giant of the supermarket world, with no interest in its customers at all. They are simply rubbing their grubby little hands together as they put everybody else out of business and then instead of paying the Taxes they earn back into the UK economy, they send them offshore to one of their numerous dodgy offshore companies. They are screwing this country big time - and the public love it!

Why is it always easier with the British to rip them off, than to earn an honest living. If you try and be honest, people think you are charging too much. If you con them however, they lap it up.

relmore66

WHAT ARE YOU ON???????

Does competition mean nothing to you?
Is evolution a no no to you?

If we as a species didn't evolve or move with the times, we would all still be wearing animal skins and chasing mammoths!

What Tescos (and ASDA for that matter) are doing is making eyecare and spectacles affordable to everyone! Your 'local optician' has been ripping the general public for decades. I know this as I have worked for a company who makes glasses and believe me, they cost pennies to make!
High street opticians were perceived as the evil ones 30 years ago and Specsavers were not regarded as people to trust! How things change!!!!
The supermarkets are just evolving the process of buying glasses, just as they did when they moved pharmacies into stores.

Put things into perspective. Stay with your local independant and continue to be ripped off, or keep up with the times, save money & time and try something different!

Good work TESCO and keep up the good work!

Sceptic001

I can't comment on Tesco's evil plan to take over the world, but I got a very comprehensive free eye test (saving £20 on my previous optician), a £15 contact lens test (saving a further £5) and got no pressure to buy specs, even though my prescription changed. Furthermore, I can buy my contact lenses online from Tesco 38% cheaper than my previous optician.

If I had a choice between Gordon Brown and Tesco to run the country, guess who would get my vote...

nedmundo

relmore66 wrote: »

WHAT ARE YOU ON???????

Your 'local optician' has been ripping the general public for decades. I know this as I have worked for a company who makes glasses and believe me, they cost pennies to make!

So you'd know all about the overheads that are subsidised by glasses dispensing then?

relmore66

Yes.

Opticians are very expensive to employ as they are medical professionals. I know people in the industry, and the take from TESCO is that they want to make eyecare accessible to all. They - just like everyone else in the industry - will wherever possible look to sell glasses should they be needed/wanted. TESCO offer very competitive deals and are as good as anyone on the highstreet.

Other industries employ the same tactics, look at these car tyre companies who offer 'Free brake/ tyre/ bettery checks'. They don't do it for fun!