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Covid

Specsavers - what the hell?

68 replies

fretaway · 22/03/2020 23:54

Specsavers in Stevenage are opening up more appointments for parents to bring in kids while schools are closed:

www.thecomet.net/news/specsavers-stevenage-announces-extra-sessions-for-child-eye-tests-1-6571444

Is there a worse idea? Enticing parents to bring their kids out into the public with the bribe of a free eye test and sit in an enclosed room with another person with no social distancing. FFS.

Another example of a corporate showing complete disregard for the public’s safety. Bring on the lockdown.

OP posts:
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Cacacoisfarraige · 23/03/2020 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stuckinthehouse4now · 23/03/2020 18:25

Head office advise to directors is to overbook all clinics

Specsavers - what the hell?
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Roselilly36 · 23/03/2020 18:29

Bribe of a free eye test? Under 16’s or 17,18,19 in full time education qualify under the NHS for a free sight test.

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dolorsit · 23/03/2020 18:31

Hmm I wonder if they are trying to take advantage of the fact that Boots is closing their opticians.

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Radyward · 23/03/2020 18:33

Absolutly disgusting
The one in Belfast boasted last weekend of a new shield between the magnifying lamp and customer. Below 15 min tests . rooms packed out with 5 optometrists going. Last customer being an 88 yr old. This type of stuff needs outing. I am in Ireland work in optics and closed last week. I work in an Indeoendent. I just thought anything for a pound. The Hosp might be full in Belfast next week FGS ( I hope not !)

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Judashascomeintosomemoney · 23/03/2020 18:36

Remember that self isolation is still a customer’s choice so now is the to maximise absolutely every single opportunity available
Wow. Just, Wow.

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PureAlchemy · 23/03/2020 18:40

FFS.

Routine eye tests can wait. If they must open at all then it should be for emergencies only.

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Bakingberry · 23/03/2020 18:41

This is disgusting. Another company that won't be getting my business after this is over. I've been astounded by how unethical some companies have behaved lately.

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JKScot4 · 23/03/2020 18:41

I stopped using them a few years ago because of their overbooking, ending up waiting nearly two hours for an eye test, always heaving with kids.
We need to remember these companies at the other side of this.

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RedRed9 · 23/03/2020 18:43

Remember that self isolation is still a customer’s choice so now is the to maximise absolutely every single opportunity available
That is absolutely disgusting. I will never use them now.

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TheWaspsAreEverywhere · 23/03/2020 19:07

Specsavers in Scotland are pretty much closed, as far as I know. Only seeing emergency cases by appointment. My ex works for them, and has dropped down to working two days per week. Government (Scottish) ordered closure.

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AwdBovril · 23/03/2020 19:15

Right. Have any of the other big opticians behaved well over this matter? Because I'm defecting from Specsavers. I was due to get some new glasses any time now, actually. If it's got to be a small independent, fine.

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GCAcademic · 23/03/2020 19:15

Urgh. Looks like I'll be cancelling my contact lens subscription when this is all over.

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BestStressed · 23/03/2020 19:17

Specsavers rang me to move my daughters forward and I cancelled. I may be a key worker but my kids aren’t leaving the house!

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picklemewalnuts · 23/03/2020 19:29

Before you rush to cancel, they are franchises. Your local one may not be following those directives.

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AwdBovril · 23/03/2020 19:37

My local branch is definitely following it. We walked past yesterday on the way back from buying vegetables. Open, on a Sunday afternoon, the branch was deserted. The entire town centre was pretty bloody sparse, TBH - at this time of year & in this weather we'd usually have quite a few tourists. Barely a soul to be seen.

I do feel sorry for the staff though. I know very well (bitter experience) that in many jobs you put up with a lot of crap if you want to remain employed.

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Sockwomble · 23/03/2020 19:46

I went to pick up my new glasses today and mine was doing emergency appointments only. It was empty apart from me and one other customer also picking up glasses.

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GabsAlot · 23/03/2020 19:50

my dh got a routine reminder text i appreciate it was probably an automated thing-i said well it can wait cant it

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TheGreatWave · 23/03/2020 19:50

Surely an opticians is one of the worst places, all those intrusive thoughts of 'what if I kiss them?'

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helgahelga · 23/03/2020 19:51

That is quite bad actually!

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Elouera · 23/03/2020 19:53

I would never use this company again. They replaced my lenses (taking 4 weeks!!!) with the exact same strength of lens- despite the fact my prescription had changed.

They refused to believe that things were still blurry! They tried to offer me a free eye check 12mths later as 'compensation' for the additional 4 weeks to get the correct lens fitted!!!

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NauseousNancy · 23/03/2020 19:54

I was in Specsavers over the weekend and had the most amazing service ever. The Scotland branches are closed now, other than for emergencies.

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Wannabangbang · 23/03/2020 19:55

What a really stupid idea. I for one will not be taking myself or my children anywhere near an optician's at the moment. It's hardly an emergency

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FlyingFlamingo · 23/03/2020 19:55

My dds routine appointment was cancelled on Saturday (I actually phoned them to cancel and they said they were going to phone me anyway) so this isn’t UK wide

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ilovecherries · 23/03/2020 19:58

I’m completely neurotic about the opticians at the moment - to the extent I’ve stopped wearing contacts as I had a weird dream the other night that I couldn’t find one in my eye and had to get an optician to remove it. In 15 years of lens wearing this scenario has never happened, but having thought it, I couldn’t bring myself to put them in. Opticians have closer personal contact than dentists (I know dentists have to contend with the spray from your mouth but opticians are within snogging distance). Just no.

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