Boots opticians hard sell how to get out of order placed

[Weymo]

After my child’s free eye test last week we were shown glass starting at £20.

Assistant didn’t show us the free ones first, so daughter had already seen a paid pair by then that he’d shown us.

I knew daughter would be indecisive and wanted her to wait rather than ordering then.

But I’m a pushover, and he took us to desk and I signed something (wasn’t going to read it, who does, A4 size page of T&Cs) which I presume is an order for her prescription lens for this £20 frame glasses.

I couldn’t afford £20 and still can’t a week later!

Does anyone know if I can just go to Specsavers instead, do another free kids eye test, and then have their 2 pairs of free kids glasses instead?

Would I still be billed for the Boots pair though?

I’m nervous about going back to Boots and saying I felt pushed into buying a pair rather than the free ones, and canyou cancel even if I’ve signed something.

Has anyone done similar?

One of the reasons I dislike buying glasses at Boots is due to the relatively "hard sell" approach our local branch takes, as well as the fact their glasses are twice as expensive as anywhere else; the sales assistant was very snotty about the fact I could only afford frames from the lowest priced range - my lenses are so complex and change so often I don't see the point of buying more expensive frames even if I had the money. My eye test is free (well, NHS funded) due to the complexity but I am only entitled to one per year.

Our Specsavers does quite regularly offer free vouchers for eye tests though I don't know how it works for children. You are entitled to ask for a copy of your prescription as an adult and any vouchers towards that (again, though I'll be asking for it soon, our lovely local Boots is still sitting on mine as, I quote, when I had the test, "they'd keep it for me as otherwise I'd probably lose it" - same snotty assistant; it will cover less than 10% of the absolute cheapest option they do for my prescription) so doesn't it work the same for kids? You should be able to ask for a copy of the prescription?

On the "independent optician" thing, I've had very good care from independents, and very bad care; I've had very good care from Specsavers and not so good care, at four different branches round the country; and I've had good care in some respects from Boots (optician was very good) and really lousy care in other respects (by far the most expensive, truly snotty sales assistants, and the lenses haven't been noticeably more accurate). But then even Boots and Specsavers are franchises, so much depends on the individual branch.

I've never understood why opticians don't offer monthly schemes to pay for glasses, when pretty much all of them have monthly schemes for contact lenses and there are medical, dental schemes and veterinary schemes on offer....so what makes eyes different?

Both of the last two points are very insightful. The system is more complicated than it needs to be, under-funded in respect of the service element, and not explained to the public very well at all. These are points that opticians have been calling for change on for many years.

Frames and lenses are priced to recover the cost of the professional services which are not charged for correctly in this country. The cost of training to become an Optometrist or an Optician, and the cost of employing those professionals, is not than £21.31 per 20 minutes. When did you ever book a plumber or builder or solicitor for less than £80 an hour? How do you decide whether things like glasses are good value if you don't know how much they have cost to supply and produce?

All frames hold lenses. All lenses are designed to help you see. There is justification for spending more, a qualified dispensing optician is obliged to offer the best, not necessarily the most expensive, relevant to your requirements. The rest is up to you.

Such is life... we all make mistakes. FIx it move on... we all have bad days. I wish I was so perfect, that I never made any mistakes...

Boots are all about making as much money from the customer as possible. 100% fact. They are an extreme rip and it isn't the fault of those working on the front line... it comes from the vultures above... there is a culture to screw the customer...