Anyone on here who uses SpecSavers for their glasses?

[JohnTheRevelator]

Posting on here for more traffic. I am booked to have an eye test next week at my local SpecSavers. I've not had an eye test with them before,my last eye test was 15 years ago (yes,I know!) at a Tesco opticians and all was well,no glasses needed. I'm pretty sure I will need glasses now (age related long sightedness). My question is - what are they like about handing over the prescription for you to take away and use elsewhere? I've read that by law they have to,but a friend of mine and a relative both had issues in this respect, being told that as they'd had their eye test there,they had to purchase the glasses from them. Anyone had experience of this,or were they just unlucky?

I used them for years for single vision glasses but when I moved to varifocals they were hopeless at fitting them and the actual lenses were awful. Moved to Boots and had no issues at all.

Every optician is required by law to give you your prescription and you can go anywhere to have the prescription filled. Can I just add that I know someone who works for Specsavers and they don’t treat their staff well.

Always had my eye test at Specsavers, but now get my glasses from Goggles4U.co.uk as previously recommended by someone on here. Much cheaper and I've had no issues whatsoever.
Just ask for the prescription, they can't refuse.

Been to loads as used to assess customer service. No problem getting a prescription. Will replace glasses that don't suit. Used them for 35 years as a customer too.

I don't think the glasses are as good quality these days but still haven't quite been brave enough to try online retailers.

They are all independent, just branded.

I recently had my first eye test at a small local optician and my DH was shocked that I was done within half an hour as it's more like 2-3 hours when you go to Specsavers here. I also asked him why everyone hated the air in the eyes as it was just a tiny puff at the edge and he was surprised as he said it was much stronger at Specsavers and it was the thing he hated the most. He then switched his eye test to where I go and said he's not going back to Specsavers as he said it was a much better experience.

He's always been given his prescription to take away though, he bought glasses from them when necessary and the local one is pricier for glasses, but his prescription hadn't changed and for mine I ordered from Glasses Direct instead. My first order I paid around £25 with an introductory discount code and got two pairs, one I lost and the other I broke accidentally, so I went for pricier lenses the next time but had another discount code so I was just over £30 for my next two pairs.

@JohnTheRevelator I think someone on here, recently was praising asda opticians for service quality & price might be worth looking into

No problem in getting a prescription after my eye tests in three different branches over the years. I then toddle over to Asda and save a flipping fortune compared to Specsavers. With Asda the price includes everything! coatings, thinning etc. What a contrast to Specsavers and their convoluted and extortionate pricing structure.

I went recently for an eye test (my last one was 12 years ago and not with them), they gave me a card at the end with my new prescription written on it- no issues at all!

No problem whatsoever. Had my eyes tested last week and I didn't even have to ask for my prescription. It was handed over automatically. For the first time I've ordered some cheap glasses from an online company as a trial.

Interesting results on here. I had problems with 3 different branches of Specsavers. First 2 in west Sussex, first one, I bought new glasses, the following day,drove to shops, suddenly felt sick, when I got out of the car, the left lens had fallen out..so it was like travel sickness. They weren't interested, I assumed there was some type of guarantee! Second branch, optician,told me not to get tired or work in the dark, I had just filled in a form to say I was a night nurse! Then she told me I needed reading glasses, said to just go to Boots, get a pair off the shelf, plus 2. This was about 15 years ago, I am mildly short sighted,so you get longer sighted with age,my script is a lot less now. I got the reading glasses,they made me feel sick and dizzy,if I looked away from the page. My DH has been long sighted all his life and his script isn't that high. 3rd branch east Sussex,was told I had to use blephasol lotion and hypromellose eye drops for life. Somehow ended up in Asda,3 hours eye test, suspected detachment of retina, and hospital visit. Told if you over use them, you get a rebound effect.Always go there now. Boots gave me completely wrong script, but did get refund

DH was handed his prescription by SS last Monday, he didn't even ask.
When I needed new glasses I decided to support a local independent and it cost me literally 4 times as much as my previous SS glasses so I won't be doing that again

I find Boots terrible, once the optician who did my test was eating a prawn mayo sandwich whilst I was in the chair! Firstly he denied it, then I pointed out I could be allergic to it, then he mildly panicked then he got defensive saying it didn't smell what's my problem?!!
He didn't work there very long after that.

For the past 18 plus years, have been getting specs from glasses direct.

I didn't have a great experience with them, I went purely because I'd never had an eye test so wanted a health check as much as anything, they told me that I needed glasses and although it was only a slight change it was necessary so that my eyes weren't straining.
I didn't think I needed them as nothing was blurred but I spent over £200 on glasses.
From day one everything was slightly blurred through them and they kept telling me that my eyes would get used to it, they didn't and the glasses ended up in the drawer.
2 years later I went to our local optician who did a very thorough test and told me that I didn't need glasses, I told him about Specsavers and asked if they'd just wanted to sell me some glasses and he said that he couldn't say why they did it but could say that I definitely didn't need glasses.

In hindsight I wish I'd taken it further and got a refund.

Never had any issues at all. I'm given my prescription without asking for it but I get my glasses there anyway.

Last time I went (9 weeks ago) I was told the changes in my sight were so minor that any change in my lenses would have minimal effect and so I didn't really need new glasses. Hardly a hard sell.

I understand they are a franchise so clearly what happens at one may not happen at another.

I get my eye test done locally then always buy glasses at Specsavers. They have a great choice of designer frames and the service has always been great. I've had great assistance with selecting frames, they will leave you alone if you don't want pestering but I appreciate a second opinion and they will be honest about what suits you. I'd recommend them every time.

After my first experience with Specsavers, I went to an old fashioned independent opticians,that closed. A friend had her eye s lasered and huge problems with vision express,so I tried the second Specsavers, I forgot, bearing in mind I am mildly short sighted, I wear glasses for driving. They persuaded me to try contact lenses,they put them in,I got in the car, couldn't read the dashboard,got in the shops, I could see a long way away, but nothing close up . I tried to get them out. I should have gone back but the car was in a car park quite a long way from the branch.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. Quite a mixed bag in all!

I’ve never had to ask for mine. I did for DC, they distracted the dispensing optician with their Harry Potter chat who forgot it!

I'd go elsewhere for your test.
They are a franchise
But they do stock really nice glasses
I have eye test at Boots ( same optician each time) but look around for glasses l like and take my prescription to wherever l want the glasses from.
It's your legal right.

At our local branch, the eye testing is amazing, efficient and thorough. Prescription card d handed right over. But buying the frames, they couldn't be less interested and we're very dismissive of me when I asked for some guidance as first time getting varifocals.

Went to M&S opticians to browse frames and they were fantastic, explaining everything about the varifocals, helping me stick to budget and could not fault them.

Used them for years, they were fine, in the pandemic I switched to my local independent optician and the level of service and diagnostic care was so much better I never went back to specsavers. In my case I got what I paid for and the higher price at the independent optician was worth every penny.

Been fine with me.

Fine, if they don't offer ask for a printout

I haven't used them for years, but they printed my prescription out for me if I recall.
I'm not a fan of their eyes, by the time you add up all the extras to get what you actually need their prices are as high as the much better quality frames in the independent opticians.