Opticians

MariaJP

What is your experience of local opticians?
I found myself pressurised and manoeuvred into buying 3 new frames that I did Not want or need.
I had 3 good quality one-year old frames (including an expensive designer one), which I wanted reglazed with new prescription. I was told emphatically, as a universal fact, that it would be cheaper to discard last year's frames and buy new ones. This was the dispensing optician's considered "professional" opinion. What a waste, not to mention environment! I was quoted £126.00 each for reglazing my 3 frames (total cost £378.00). I later found this not to be true, as other opticians did agree that reglazing my existing 3 frames is a cheaper and better option. I know I could have taken the prescription and shopped around. But this is not a point - an optician is a healthcare professional bound by a code of conduct and should act with integrity, not like an avaricious and unscrupulous trader. Given this malpractice, I am not surprised that many people whose medical condition necessitates a regular eye test do not have this done and suffer. "Trust me, I am an optician" no longer holds true for me. No joy appealing to the General Optical Council - they seem to condone this practice.

kirtondm

well it may well be true that at their practice reglazing a frame costs more than a new frame. A lot of practices discourage reglazing by levying a reglazing charge.


It seems a bit over the top to complain to the GOC when essentially what they have been saying may have been true at their practice.


Their are advantages and disadvantages to reglzaing and even though the intal cost may be less the frames life expectancy will be shorter so might need replacing before the eyes change again.


We do a lot of reglazing but to be honest some people have spent far more reglzaing and repairing a pair of specs than they would have on a new pair.


In general a good quality frame is more amenable to being reused than a cheaper frame.

[Deleted User]

My local optician is independent, I moved to him from a large company. I get much more personalised care and don`t feel like a number and no pressure at all. He tells me if my prescription is identical but I do like a change of frame every two years, varifocals and have worn glasses for over 60 years. Lately I have been liking zeiss lenses, got new specs last week in fact and still have to wear them but lovely new clear lenses and completely different frames, more important to me than any new clothing or shoes or holiday. If you don`t like it then shop around to get the re-glazing

Strong words OP, rather over the top imo
avaricious and unscrupulous trader. Given this malpractice,

jenniewb

My experience of opticians and getting new classes?


My glasses are maybe a bit different, because the frames cost one amount and the lenses are a second amount and aside from the regular "BOGOF" type offers, the way that cost works out wont change.


My lenses cost in excess of £400 (which is because they are really thick and if I don't get them thinned down my nose swells, I get very bad headaches and then the swelling turns to a bruise and the swelling seems to set a gouge in my nose). It wont go below this, but the frames I can lower if I choose a cheaper frame.


The only way it would be cheaper for me to get a new set of frames would be if my current set were on their last legs and were about to break- because if they did break after a few years I would not be able to replace them with a new set (they are both out of warranty and the design is no longer made) and this would mean a whole new £400 PLUS a new set of lenses.


Plastic type frames do have a short-ish lifespan and will degrade and become brittle over a few years, they can last a long time in some cases but it is rare.


If your frames are a few years old and you know they are no longer being made to the same measurements; you could say you would be better off getting new frames because that way if they did break, you would not need to pay for a whole new set of glasses, if they broke within a certain time you'd be able to claim the price of a replacement back as they were under warranty for the first x days or months (not sure how long but it is time limited) and it would also be more than likely that if they did break after that warranty time, by fault or because you'd accidentally broken them at your own hand, it would be far more likely you'd be able to get the same frames again and so not need to pay for new lenses and new frames, you'd only need the new frames as the old lenses could potentially be reused if they had not been broken- which can happen for example if the arm breaks or they snap on the bridge rather than become crushed or similar.


I'm not saying your optician was right or wrong, I'm just saying I can understand why it might have been said. It's your money at the end of the day, if you don't like what one service says, vote with your feet.

getmore4less

If happy with reglaze and know what you like with frames plenty of on-line options to buy frame only.

getmore4less

126 for a reglaze is quite high unless including a higher index or varifocal lens.

60ish with basic lens is reasonable.

Linda32

I go to Tesco's.

https://www.tescoopticians.com/prescription-glasses/Baseline/?PageNo=1&SortBy=saleprice&ItemsPerPage=9

Good enough for me. I have two pairs, one pair tinted to use as sunglasses.

I did have to convince the lady that I didn't need to pay £65.00 to buy one get one free when they are only £15 a pair in the first place.

loulou41

Just been to Boots optician glasses cost £400. I asked whether I could use existing frames . He advised me it will be cheaper to get new frames to benefit from 25%.

pmduk

I feel shopping around for a good optician is as important as for any other healthcare professional. Ask for recommendations from friends & family. I was gutted when my trusted guy retired

sheramber

The OP already had a thread about this in September 2016 and also posted in Campaigns.

It seems she can't accept that nobody else supports her view.