Boots Contacts Free Trial - really a free trial?

iamashoppingaddict

So I need to know if I'm being silly thinking they way I do, or if what Boots has explained to be is reasonable. Basically tell me if I'm being stupid or not!! lol :rotfl:

I tried contact lens' many moons ago and didn't get on with them but recently I've been having problems wearing glasses so decided to give them another go. I wasn't impressed with Specsavers last time I tried so I decided to go with Boots. Bear in mind that I didn't get on with them when I tried at Specsaver before so didn't look into signing up to any plans for anything.

Anyway I went in for my appointment at Boots weekend before last. The optometrist took ages to help me find a pair that would stay in my eyes and that my eyes would find comfortable. We were onto the last pair and he said that if these didn't work then for the time being I wouldn't be able to wear contact lens. To my surprise they did work! Little bit chuffed.

Anyway my right eye needed a different lens to my left eye and although they had lots of the left eye in stock they only had four of the right eye. I'm wearing dailys btw!

They said they would order me some more right eyes in. They asked me to come back in a week and to come in wearing them.

As I only had four right eye lens', in effect I only had three days in the week that I could try them so not really a full trial as such. First couple of days went well and then I managed to lose one putting it in on the third day so only really wore them for two days and then when I went back on Saturday was my forth pair.

They hadn't felt entirely comfortable in, I assume it was because I was still trying to get used to them. The optometrist gave my eyes a check over and said that they were all still ok and I could continue wearing them, but to come back in 3 months to check again.

I then went off with one of the assistants who wanted to tell me about the boots plan. For the lens I wanted it was going to cost me £29 a month but I'd pay £29 for the next three months and then I'd get 3 months worths delivered. If I wanted some for the next 3 months I'd have to pay £90 upfront.

I didn't have that much money (too close to payday and I hadn't budgeted for it) so I said that I'd have to go away and think about it but in the meantime could I have my prescription. Didn't really ask for any other reason expect that's what I do when I get my glasses prescription, that I like to go away and think about things.

She went away to speak to the optometrist again and then she came back and said that he couldn't give me the prescription until the three month check up! So I said basically I have to pay you £90 to get three months worth of contacts to be able to get my prescription in three months time? She said yes.

Now I know that for that £90 I'd get three months worth of lens, I also know that I NEED to go back and get checked.

To me a free trial is that, that once you've found the lens you want you then have the choice to do what you wish with your prescription. No where does it say that they cannot give you your prescription until you've worn them for three months and therefore you HAVE to buy three months worth from them before you can look around at the costs?

Overall, ignoring this for a moment, I wasn't particularly happy with their service anyway. The assistants left me sitting around for ages quite a lot and on my first visit were very hard sell on their lens' programme. I had to explain numerous times that I wanted to see how I got on first before it even occurred to me to think about signing up to anything!

Anyway, I'm considering an email to their head office, but I would like to know if I'm being unreasonable or not?

In my mind, if I'd been told that the trial wasn't free as such but I'd be required to purchase 3 months worth of lens' from them at a cost depending on what lens were required I would have looked at the experience differently.

Sorry about the essay!! :rotfl:

pirateyqueen

I would email head office. For starters, I don't understand why they won't give you your prescription!

peachyprice

iamashoppingaddict wrote: »

In my mind, if I'd been told that the trial wasn't free as such but I'd be required to purchase 3 months worth of lens' from them at a cost depending on what lens were required I would have looked at the experience differently.

Sorry about the essay!! :rotfl:

The 'free trail' was the weeks worth you had that they didn't charge you for even if you decided they weren't right for you.

iamashoppingaddict

That's half the point though, I didn't get a free weeks trial, I only got a few days because they didn't have the lens I needed in stock.

And if we continue with the point you are making then surely as I've had my free trial and I've been checked and they are ok, then aren't I entitled to my prescription?

I have to buy three months worth to enable me to get that?

GRM

Sounds reasonable to me. Looking at http://www.boots.com/en/Opticians/Contact-Lenses/Free-contact-lens-assessment-and-trial/ I don't see any mention of it including a free prescription too.

tidus

The fitting is not considered complete until the Optician says it is - this can be on the day, after a couple of weeks trial, or at a later date like a 3 month check.

The prescription can only be issued once the fitting is complete, and yes, you may have to buy some lenses to reach that point. The maufacturers normally provide 5 pairs of daily disposables or one pair of monthly disposables FOC.

You've got the Opticians's and other staff's time for free, your free lens allowance from the lenses manufacturer - that's normal for a "free" trial.

iamashoppingaddict

Ok thanks for that guys. I'll have to grin and bear and sadly go without for the time being.

Your thoughts are much appreciated.