Strange Specsavers Policy - Is This True?

Undervalued

swarden13510 said:

I was confronted with a strange and seemingly illogical policy at Specsavers this past week and I'm trying to figure out if there's any truth to it or if the member of staff I spoke to was mistaken.

Long story short, I've worn glasses for about 10 years and always go to Specsavers. Last time, I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses. Well, I just had laser eye surgery so have 20/20 vision but I love these sunglasses so I went back to Specsavers to see if I could get the lenses replaced with the normal non-prescription lenses. 

The lady in the shop told me that, in order to "prove" that I don't need a prescription any more, I'd need an eye test (presumably at a cost). My question is... why on earth do I need to prove anything to Specsavers? I cannot fathom how I can go in and buy the same glasses off the shelf with no prescription and no questions asked but to change the lenses on the ones I own (the cost of which I was willing to pay), I need an eye test. Surely if it's my own property and I'm paying for the service and materials, I can do whatever I want with them?

I then went into a local optician and asked the same question and she was able to do it no problem, so I know it's not a legal issue. The only issue is I'd prefer to get it done at Specsavers as the local place would just put in generic lenses (the sunglasses are designer so I'd like them to match ideally).

I understand they try to upsell but I was going to pay for the new lenses anyway so I'm a bit confused. Is this an actual policy or was this one employee mistaken/being a bit sneaky?

How do you "know that"? Surely all you know is that one firm is right and the the other is wrong.

Whilst I am not saying Specsavers are right, I can see their argument. The glasses were made to a prescription issued by a qualified person. You are asking them to change the lenses to a different strength (in this case none) without providing any professional evidence that they would be correct for you.

sheramber

While it is possible physically to change the lenses, did you ask the local optician if you would need an eye test for it? How would ‘generic’ lenses differ from what you prefer?

Jenni_D

What do you mean by "generic lenses" please?

It's the frame that the OP prefers, so they wish for the prescription lenses to be changed for non-prescription (i.e. no vision enhancing) lenses so that they can continue to use the sunglasses.

born_again

swarden13510 said:

born_again said:

swarden13510 said:

I was confronted with a strange and seemingly illogical policy at Specsavers this past week and I'm trying to figure out if there's any truth to it or if the member of staff I spoke to was mistaken.

Long story short, I've worn glasses for about 10 years and always go to Specsavers. Last time, I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses. Well, I just had laser eye surgery so have 20/20 vision but I love these sunglasses so I went back to Specsavers to see if I could get the lenses replaced with the normal non-prescription lenses. 

The lady in the shop told me that, in order to "prove" that I don't need a prescription any more, I'd need an eye test (presumably at a cost). My question is... why on earth do I need to prove anything to Specsavers? I cannot fathom how I can go in and buy the same glasses off the shelf with no prescription and no questions asked but to change the lenses on the ones I own (the cost of which I was willing to pay), I need an eye test. Surely if it's my own property and I'm paying for the service and materials, I can do whatever I want with them?

I then went into a local optician and asked the same question and she was able to do it no problem, so I know it's not a legal issue. The only issue is I'd prefer to get it done at Specsavers as the local place would just put in generic lenses (the sunglasses are designer so I'd like them to match ideally).

I understand they try to upsell but I was going to pay for the new lenses anyway so I'm a bit confused. Is this an actual policy or was this one employee mistaken/being a bit sneaky?

Think of it this way. Just because you have had laser eye surgery does not mean that you do not need some form of prescription correction glasses.
So Specsavers are being careful to ensure that you are getting the correct prescription for you eyes. If they fitted non corrective lenses & you said you had a problem seeing through them, they would be at fault.

I would have thought that after surgery they would have checked your eyesight & given you your prescription or how else would you know you have perfect vision?

Having new lenses fitted into a old frame carries a risk. As it is very easy to break a frame while changing lenses. This will be at your risk.

You do realise that Specsaver still use exactly the same lenses as a local optician.

TBH if you feel that you do not need your eyes checking. Forget going to a optician for sunglasses. Just go to supermarket/cheap shop & buy a pair from there. Just as good & a lot cheaper 👍Designer frames are exactly the same as non designer, only with a badge on them & a increased price to the customer, but not the outlet selling them 🤣

Ok, but isn't that my call to make? I mean, if I wanted to go into Specsavers and buy a pair of normal non-prescription sunglasses when I was short sighted, that was my prerogative, right? So why are they policing this now?

Yes, and I said this when I went to the Specsavers shop. I had a post-op eye test in Optical Express the day after my surgery and I was told my vision is now 20/20 -- therefore I was not given a prescription card as I don't need one.

I appreciate the risk and cost -- this was nothing to do with the issue.

I've literally had several eye tests in the past few weeks over the course of my laser treatment so no I don't feel like I need yet another eye test. I already have existing glasses and would rather not be wasteful and buy cheap glasses and throw those ones out. In my experience the cheaper versions are not  exactly the same. I've had the ones I'm referencing for several years now, whereas I find any cheap ones don't tend to last that long.

Down to that stores policy. Same as any other store really. It is there choice. Certainly not a legal issue. As you say you have had several eye tests in the last few weeks.
Might be worth going back to Optical Express & asking for a copy of your prescription. Which is your right to have. At least that way you have proof for specsavers.

One thing if you are using your old frames, they will have to make the lenses for them, as the frames for normal sunglasses are designed for much thinner lenses, that might not fit or even specsavers might not be able to source.

sheramber

Jenni_D said:

What do you mean by "generic lenses" please?

It's the frame that the OP prefers, so they wish for the prescription lenses to be changed for non-prescription (i.e. no vision enhancing) lenses so that they can continue to use the sunglasses.

Yes, but it the lenses the OP is saying will be generic not the frames. The local optician will make lenses to fit the  frames, the same as Specsavers will. Non prescription lenses are non prescription lenses which ever optician provides them.

Ectophile

I suspect you've confused them by asking for something out of the ordinary.

If you go to any optical supplier and ask for a pair of glasses, they will want to see an up-to-date prescription.  So their staff will have been trained to refuse to make up any glasses without either a recent prescription or a new eye test.

molerat

Ectophile said:

I suspect you've confused them by asking for something out of the ordinary.

If you go to any optical supplier and ask for a pair of glasses, they will want to see an up-to-date prescription.  So their staff will have been trained to refuse to make up any glasses without either a recent prescription or a new eye test.

Exactly this.  Staff are trained not to think but follow the rules, thinking outside of the box and applying logic is frowned upon.

Undervalued

molerat said:

Ectophile said:

I suspect you've confused them by asking for something out of the ordinary.

If you go to any optical supplier and ask for a pair of glasses, they will want to see an up-to-date prescription.  So their staff will have been trained to refuse to make up any glasses without either a recent prescription or a new eye test.

Exactly this.  Staff are trained not to think but follow the rules, thinking outside of the box and applying logic is frowned upon.

Exactly. Although from the customer's point of view one would hope that they would also be trained to refer questions that are "above their pay grade" to somebody qualified. That said, they are of course free to turn down any business they don't want.

Manxman_in_exile

sheramber said:

While it is possible physically to change the lenses, did you ask the local optician if you would need an eye test for it? How would ‘generic’ lenses differ from what you prefer?

Jenni_D said:

What do you mean by "generic lenses" please?

It's the frame that the OP prefers, so they wish for the prescription lenses to be changed for non-prescription (i.e. no vision enhancing) lenses so that they can continue to use the sunglasses.

sheramber said:

Jenni_D said:

What do you mean by "generic lenses" please?

It's the frame that the OP prefers, so they wish for the prescription lenses to be changed for non-prescription (i.e. no vision enhancing) lenses so that they can continue to use the sunglasses.

Yes, but it the lenses the OP is saying will be generic not the frames. The local optician will make lenses to fit the  frames, the same as Specsavers will. Non prescription lenses are non prescription lenses which ever optician provides them.

I think the OP is confused.  I think that they think that Specsavers will put in the corresponding "designer" non-prescription lenses, whereas their local optician will just put in non-branded lenses.

I'd be very surprised if Specsavers would go to the trouble of using the "correct" designer lenses rather than just making or having made up their normal non-prescription lenses.

If the OP is not happy with Specsavers response then they just need to go back to their local optician.  And, to be honest, although I've never had any problems with Specsavers at all, I'd expect a local optician to be far more responsive to this slightly unusual request than Specsavers.

(FWIW I know what the OP wants as I've got a 50 year-old pair of Carl Zeiss sunglasses that I've regularly had the lenses in changed as my prescription has changed.  But my replacement lenses have never had the CZ monogram etched into them like the originals have.  I still have the original lenses)

born_again

There is no such thing as "Designer Lenses" Lenses are made by various companies. Then made to your prescription.
The only difference between shop bought complete sunglasses & what the op wants is the thickness of the lenses. Most shop bought, even designer are stamped out of a sheet. Where as what Op wants will have to be made.

Hence why you CZ replacements do not have CZ etched into them, as they will not be CZ made lenses.