'Guarantee' placed on glasses

BruleeFan

We have had to switch opticians as previous one closed and they sent our notes to another business.

Yesterday I bought new lenses at said business (a +2.5 change) for my current frames.

I'm asking whether I'm right to have issue with the cost and the addition of a guarantee.

I was not informed about it but on my receipt it quotes £54 for 'Own Frame Guarantee'. Is the store penalising me for using my own frames? What's this guarantee? If it's insurance in case they break them when fitting the lenses why am I paying it? Surely the store should pay this? And is it really £54 to insure a pair of frames when it only costs £20 for a single trip holiday with far more risks?

Can I go back and complain about the price of the lenses - they've cost £560

In 2023 at my previous opticians new lenses of identical quality cost £309

Please be kind in comments - yes I shouldn't have parted with my money and yes I should have looked at receipt - I was in hurry to return to work - my bad

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668309/guarantee-placed-on-glasses

Did you agree the price £560 and then the £54 added on top?

Or did you agree the price £560 and the breakdown on the receipt split out different line items but still £560 total?

dumpster_fire2025

Surely the people best placed to answer what the "Own Frame Guarantee" is are the opticians themselves rather than an internet forum, given there isn't even mention of who the optician is.

eskbanker

As you recognise, the time to challenge the price was before paying, so having agreed the deal you're unlikely to have any right to change it or to cancel it, if concluded in store, unless there's any angle about the contract not having been formed until delivery.

If the optician engaged in something underhand by adding a cost that wasn't explained to you then you may be able to pursue that via the General Optical Council if a complaint doesn't bear fruit.

BruleeFan

I agreed the total £614 after my jaw hit the floor, paid and then looked at receipt when I got home - it was itemised with this 'guarantee' on it.

I then have found receipts from when I last bought lenses and realised £560 is an enormous increase even if taking into consideration resource increases across all industries atm.

dumpster_fire2025

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998514#Comment_81998514

Who is the opticians?

Is it Leightons by any chance?

BruleeFan

Oh wait there's more…

At bottom of receipt there's a VAT summary. It says the following:

Professional Services (exempt) £399.10

Goods (Standard rated 20%) £179.09

VAT: £35.81

So does that mean the actual lenses cost £179.09 and I spent £399 to pay person to measure the glasses? 😮

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998514#Comment_81998514

I think you're on a hiding to nothing if you're trying to benchmark pricing - there's nothing wrong with one company choosing to charge more than another.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998514#Comment_81998514

You were quoted £614 and agreed to proceed.

Instead of proceeding you could have chosen to go elsewhere.

flaneurs_lobster

You are obviously a very busy person but I think the time to ask about costs and charges is before you incur them.

Unless you believe you have been deliberately misled I don't think there is much chance of redress here.

Ergates

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998525#Comment_81998525

This is true for most things - the cost of the raw materials is less than the cost of the skilled labour turn the raw materials into a usable product.