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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be upset that I can't cancel an order for glasses two hours after I made it?

125 replies

Shapechanger · 21/09/2013 14:28

Had an eye test at Boots Opticians and got a real hard sell on some frames. I don't normally buy expensive things on the spot, but, foolishly, I felt guilty - the sales assistant had followed me round and looked really crestfallen when I said I wanted to go away and think about it.

They were £200.

I came home and I can get the same frames with the same lenses for £76 and a 100 day no quibble money back guarantee.

I rang and tried to change the order but was told it was too late - 2 hours after I had paid for them - because the order was already with the supplier. Customer services said the same thing.

I'm really upset, I know I shouldn't have let myself be pressured and should have followed my instinct and taken a bit more time to think and find out if I was getting a good deal.

I'm posting this to warn anyone else.

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 21/09/2013 17:14

I went to Boots for my sons eye test.

I will stick with Vision express in future. They were awful.

EmeraldJeanie · 21/09/2013 17:15

Have Boots seen this yet I wonder?

CaptainCupcake · 21/09/2013 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontmindifIdo · 21/09/2013 17:45

Well, thanks for the tip, need to get my eyes tested and was thinking of using the Boots in our town to save having to go to the next biggest town for more options, but think I'll give them a miss...

RubberBullets · 21/09/2013 18:16

I always go to Specsavers but they measure your face when sorting frames so surely if you bought them online you would be taking the risk that they wouldn't fit you properly?

Shapechanger · 21/09/2013 18:23

lougle I agree with you but a contract also has terms and conditions that they should have made we aware of.

At first I said I would prefer to go away and think about it because I didn't usually buy things based on an instant decision. The girl in the shop sort of went silent rather than saying 'that's fine' and I'm a bit of a people pleaser so I stupidly went ahead and bought them. But given my indecision at first I think they really ought to have made clear that, once placed, an order could not be revoked at all.

I accepted the 10% off. I will find it embarrassing to go in and get them and ask for the money to be refunded to my card.

Even with the discount (and I get CTC so had an NHS voucher that knocked £37.50 off) the glasses will have cost me £170. That's ninety five pounds more than the same frames with the lenses and the same coatings on the internet. With a 100 day no quibble money back guarantee.

This has been very salutary. I have always wanted to support the High Street and had a certain affection for Boots, but not any more. Complete fucking rip off.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 21/09/2013 18:34

I hate boots with a vengeance after they are sold my hubby glasses, what started out at 200 frameless glasses ending up costing about £650 for the thinner lenses, the coatings, the varifocal etc etc this was about 6 years ago, we've never been back.

kali110 · 21/09/2013 18:52

Personally i think they were generous to give a deduction, lot of places wouldn't of refunded either, this is coming from a people pleaser

Silvercatowner · 21/09/2013 18:55

I had brilliant service at Specsavers today. I have very wonky eyes and had to spend quite a lot of money for 4 pairs of glasses. I was helped to make the right choice and I felt looked after.

EmeraldJeanie · 21/09/2013 18:57

Well people will vote with their feet.
Boots customer unfriendly policy has surprised me.
Much more understandable with a smaller firm. Short sighted of them and I wonder if their optician business is suffering compared to more customer friendly policies at other opticians.

EmeraldJeanie · 21/09/2013 18:58

Te he- amused at myself- 'short sighted of them'...

Viviennemary · 21/09/2013 19:03

I think I'd do this. Write saying you were unfairly pressured into paying for them on the spot by the Sales Assistant. Even after you said you wanted to think about it. And you will be reporting them to Trading Standards for bad selling practice.

diddl · 21/09/2013 19:03

"The girl in the shop sort of went silent rather than saying 'that's fine' and I'm a bit of a people pleaser"

Well in fairness to her, she doesn't need to give permission, & it's not her fault that you're a people pleaser!

Perhaps try preempting in future with "I'm just looking"-or "I'll let you know you if I need anything"?

Gracie990 · 21/09/2013 19:09

God I wasn't impressed with boots.

They had a cheap test online voucher with a number to ring. I rang the number and surprise surprise when I came to pay it was full price!!!

They tried to pressurise me into buying designer glasses when I said three time I just wanted cheap ones. ( I don't look after them) then they tried to push me into a contact lense deal.

Honestly won't go back. Shame as the opt guy was lovely.

The women on the desk asked if paid for my test and I said yes I don't work she said. " oh your JUST a mum" I exclaimed loudly.

Off topic but where can I buy contact cheaply online anyone..Grin

lougle · 21/09/2013 19:11

The onus isn't on them to tell you. It's on you to ask. The vast majority of companies will not refund for 'bespoke' orders. This is bespoke.

Shapechanger · 21/09/2013 19:22

lougle I wanted to cancel just under two hours after I placed the order, not trolley up for a refund weeks later. It's not like having a suit made then refusing to pay for it.

OP posts:
Shapechanger · 21/09/2013 19:25

It's not bespoke. It's standard frames that have had some lenses put into them. Apart from the lenses they are resellable. I haven't even had my hands on them. I asked for a refund on the frames only and it was refused.

OP posts:
EmeraldJeanie · 21/09/2013 19:29

Is Specsavers out of step with their policies compared to other opticians or is Boots?
I got refund on complete pair of glasses just because I decided I didn't like them when received them from specsavers.
Suffice to say they have my continued business due to good customer service.

FluffyDucky · 21/09/2013 19:43

I think specsavers can afford to do this because they own Pentax lenses and of what I understand, the majority of stores do their own glazing. I don't know of any other opticians who offer it.
It's like pretty much all companies, some branches are crap and some brilliant!
People who want to order online, just be careful. Lots of prescriptions need extra measurements, if they are put in wrong/glasses made wrong you will have a lot of problems with them!

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 21/09/2013 19:48

I have been happy with specsavers too. Last time I got new specs (only a tiny prescription just for driving and teletext in the old days ) I was choosing frames and loved some Missoni ones.

A lovely lady steered me towards some different, cheaper, frames, because although I loved the Missoni frames, they looked fucking awful on me Grin She was totally right Sad

lougle · 21/09/2013 19:54

They are entitled to do that. You said you wanted them. You paid for them. You have no right to a refund unless they are faulty.

MistyB · 21/09/2013 19:58

Keep pushing for a refund on the frames.

Magicjellyflood · 21/09/2013 20:40

Lougle do you work for boots Hmm

BigPawsBrown · 21/09/2013 20:43

Not read whole thread but am a lawyer. Under EU legislation pretty sure you get a cooling off period as a consumer.

makemineamalibuandpineapple · 21/09/2013 20:47

So your order was so important that it went to the top of the queue in front of all the other glasses they had to make [sceptical] Definitely think there should have been more they could have done. Order may be with supplier but surely they wouldn't have already started making them.

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