I want to change opticians

[wondabar]

I have become very disappointed with the appalling customer service given by my SS opticians. Which opticians do you use and are you happy with them? I need an optician for both contact lenses and glasses and don't want to pay the earth but would like an optician who is there to help the customer.

I’ve just moved to our local town independent opticians and am over the moon after being so fed up with specsavers and their upselling, poor quality and awful staff near us. I thought it would be much more expensive but nit at all! No one trying to sell me thungs I don’t need and pay a little each month. So much nicer!!!

No suggestions I'm afraid, but I had an awful experience with Specsavers at the weekend and have been having the very same thoughts!

I was with Specsavers for decades, finally got fed up with their continual awful service. Switched myself and all of the family to Vision Express and never looked back. I pay roughly the same but the difference in customer service is a different league.

I've been reasonably pleased with the service from Boots but I think with all these things it can be very variable between branches, and I've noticed post-covid the availability of appointments is poor. If I could start again I'd probably seek an independent option, but I've got some complex eye stuff going on at the moment so want to stay put for the consistency.

Try a local independent - less layers of commission driving the upselling and IME better service over the years.

Specsavers- the first one I tried wasn't great but freinds recommended a different branch and they have been brilliant both for regular checks/glasses and emergency.
I'd see if you can get local recommendations. Our independent was terrible and didn't comply with nhs guidelines but my parents go to an independent that is brilliant.

I've been to two different branches of Specsavers and one was so much better than the other. It's further away but worth it.

I tried Vision Express and couldn't see properly with the glasses and kept getting headaches and they just told me it was the right prescription. I know they have a guarantee but this was during lockdown and it wasn't easy to get appointments.

I got fed up with SS and switched to Boots opticians. Much more personable and friendly service.

Me and my family have always had a good experience with Vision Express.

I’ve always preferred a local independent optician and have had poor experiences at SS and Boots. I was with a local one for many years and only changed because we moved away.

Im going to a new one shortly, on the recommendation of a friend.

I've used independent local for the last 15 years. All excellent service, my lenses are expensive wherever I go.

A chap we go to who repairs glasses and makes lenses told us to go to Asda . He said he doesn't know how they do it for the prices they charge and he makes lenses for a living ! The price is all inclusive of any type of lens including super thinned and varifocal . I think it's 120 for 2 pairs at the moment and you only pay extra for light reactive lenses which are an extra 50. And no I don't work for them !

I just switched from my local independent to John Lewis.

JL were much more thorough and attentive and my new frames and lenses are cheaper than those available from my independent opticians.

I’ve been with Vision Express for about 30 years and have always had excellent service from them.

Costco - excellent or an independent

Asda opticians don't have the same overheads to cover.

I use local independent optician for my prescription (Boots were awful gave me the wrong one and kept saying I didn't need separate VDU lenses).

Get my varifocals from Asda even though it's a trek.

You'll be better to ask on a local facebook page if you have one as it definitely seems dependent on the branch.

We have two local SS near us and one near my work. I've used them all and they've all been really good.

Someone more local to you will have some good local recommendations.

Boots. If you use their contact lens scheme you get money off specs and sunglasses, plus you get Advantage card points!

I hate SS. They took weeks to replace the lenses in 2 pairs of glasses, but turns out- they'd replaced the lens with the exact same script I'd had before! It took 3 visits and insisting they put them on their machine to actually check the lens strength.

I now use a kodak lens/opticians. I too have glasses and contacts. I always ask for the actual prescription and then you buy the lenses from anywhere. I order online from asda.

I use an independent place now but I've never had any issues with Specsavers. The only reason I don't use them anymore is that there isn't one anywhere near us!

Independent. It makes such a big difference havingvthe same person look at your eyes each time. And they actually refer to your file when you go!! shock! Horror!

Ss do seem the shittest. My local branch are so rude, repeatedly got my name and and address wrong as well as my basic prescription (it varied wildly from appointment to appointment). Boots were better, but still very conveyor belt like.

Boots. They spotted a blood pressure problem and that I may have heart trouble. Went to the doc to find out I'd had a heart attack. Had not been to the doctor for decades... Now on medication. I am eternally grateful.

After seeing the answers on here, I looked into booking at my local Boots. Minor issue though- that the next appointment for an eye check is APRIL!!!

Local independent. Superb service.

Local independent for us. They are really thorough & professional & I don't even need glasses but go every few years anyway. Both DC have been too - which is free, & much better than the sight test in Reception.