to think Specsavers suck?

[TheClaws]

...because the optometrist only spent 5 minutes examining my eyesight before announcing my vision was worse and I needed multifocals, and that was it

... because he also tried to sell me contact lenses (very unsuitable for my vision)

... because I was then immediately transferred to a salesperson, who pushed any number of frames on me

... because after choosing my frames, I was told the multifocal lenses come in three levels - basic to elite (I simply want to see, safely)

... because then I was given a price upwards of £1000. Again, I just want to see. This isn’t a fashion accessory and I didn’t choose expensive frames

I didn’t purchase the glasses I needed, but I’ve gone back, asked for my prescription (it was given to me without a smile) and I’ll be going elsewhere.

1000 😱 these big opticians are very sales orientated tho I thought specsavers was cheapest of the bunch.
I went to optical express got told I needed reading glasses and was quoted 179 just for the lenses - went to primark and got a pair for a quid!

I have never ever had that level of service from specsavers. It’s almost been the opposite- such in depth eye examinations including some weird peripheral vision test that feels like a game of alien blasting plus colour blindness testing (hello? I’m almost 40... don’t you think I may have picked this up prior to now?) etc etc.
So YABU to tar all of them with the same brush. And you should have complained at the time.
Oh and plus my thinner lense style glasses for short sightedness were £59.99 all in as well.

The optometrist I saw there the last time was obviously enormously overqualified for the job. Not only did he examine my eyes, but he also told me that I needed to stop my antidepressants because I didn’t need them.

So not only an optometrist but also a consultant psychiatrist with a sub specialty in PND

I complained vociferously and have not returned.

Colour blindness and the visual fields test (a.k.a. "game of alien blasting") can diagnose much more serious illnesses such as brain tumours.
In fact this exact thing happened to my friend who went to Specsavers after almost going blind and his GP insisting it was depression. The optician gave him an urgent referral to hospital where a brain scan revealed the tumour that was causing his vision loss. So hurrah to Specsavers.

That does sound rubbish.

The last time I went to Specsavers I thought were good actually. They spent ages testing my eyes and made no effort to sell me anything, they just asked what I’d like to do with my prescription; have it written down to take away or try on some frames in the store. I did the former and bought some online cheapies fwiw - my last pair of expensive glasses got destroyed by my toddler!

I've always found them good whichever branch I go to. Sounds like you've had a rubbish experience but I don't think it is true of all Specsavers.

Also, they didn't try to sell me anything. In fact they were blown away that my eye sight hadn't changed at all and told me it still wasn't worth getting new glasses even though mine are about ten years old.

My experience with them has been fantastic it has to be said.

Ds is autistic and not the easiest to test, she couldn’t do the full test in one go so booked him back in with her soon after to double check and finish the test. Noticed things not quite right and so did a referral to the hospital who realised he has a pretty rare problem with his eyes (missed by the hospital ophthalmologist twice previously...)

Went to specsavers to sort his glasses and the staff again went above and beyond and where exceptionally patient with him

@Chrys2017 thank you- I honestly didn’t know that about the testing. Just thought SS were being thorough- which they were.

I have to say that my local Specsavers are excellent. There is an Optometrist there who is so in demand that everyone wants appointments with him. Poor man looks like he's run ragged.

Agree it may not be true of all Specsavers. But it is true - and I am clearly foolish - every time I go there, I come out feeling frustrated and angry.

Specsavers is a franchise operation. To me, all employees have sales targets and milestones to hit. This means the customer isn’t their focus - it’s the sale. I feel this very keenly when they shuffle you from retina scan to optometrist, from optometrist to salesperson. Do I really need two pairs of glasses? Then suddenly, those two pairs of glasses need thinning - that costs more. Then an anti-glare coating. That’s extra! Etc. Then you are out of pocket much more than you intended.

I think maybe you should try a different branch. It sounds like yours isn't good enough.

Your branch of Specsavers may suck, my branch has been very good since Christmas. They spent a total of 20 minutes examining my eyes before telling me I needed varifocals (which I had already guessed). I was left to choose which ever frames I liked, until I chose to approach the sales staff. The explanation of the different sorts of lens was clear and simple - I chose the middle range because I wanted to reduce the thickness of my lenses as my prescription is very strong. They offered me two sets of glasses for the price of one - which I happily accepted. So I bought two pairs of varifocals for £300, which I was able to pay in installments. And they delayed making up the second paid until I confirmed that I was happy with using varifocals (if not, they would have just made up my usual prescription). It was all very easy and not as expensive as I had feared.

I've found them to be fine - I've had my glasses for 30 years now. My prescription has always come out with thin lenses - I know I don't need to pay to make them thin. They always are convinced I will have glasses that are like the bottom of a bottle unless I get the super-thin lenses. I show them my current glasses - they say - "you're going to find it difficult to adjust to the much thicker lenses you will get with your new prescription..."
I say - "I'm willing to take that risk"
My glasses always come back with thin lenses.
One day they will be right and I will be wearing these meowsandblebs.wordpress.com/tag/blindness/

I've switched from specsavers to vision express, specsavers got my prescription horribly wrong and kept denying it saying it would be fine I just needed to give it time and just kept pushing different frames when I went in, I didn't want new frames! Just my proper prescription! Found vision express much better, the appointment didn't feel rushed and they sorted out my prescription, but think both vary a lot from town to towns.

I have used specsavers for 10 years and never had a problem. Before that i used a local independent one and they were horrible and so expensive.

I would not tar specsavers as a company just because your branch is rubbish.

I've been really impressed with our local Specsavers. Both for me and the kids. I've tried other independents when we've been tight for an appointment and they really haven't been as thorough or as good so back to Specsavers!

They ve been ever so thorough and understood some complicated eyes one of us has. I imagine like and shop the sales people want to sell you glasses, but the actual opticians aren't- they're amazing.

I often come out wondering if I should have trained as an optician! I hadn't even thought of it at 17.

My experience was exactly like yours OP. Except they refused to give us our prescriptions. And they tried to sell 20 different frames to DD2 whilst. DD1 was being tested. We complained and got absolutely nowhere. Would never go to this branch again.

I've been with them for years and never had this experience. In fact when I lost some monthly contact lenses before Christmas and asked for something temporary to ride me over, they gave me free samples boxes rather than sell me expensive dailies.
Are the branches all independently run though? If so it might be worth trying out another branch?

I’ve found them fine, so it seems like you’ve just got a crap branch.

Multifocals/varifocals just are really expensive though, and unless you’re properly broke it’s normally worth going for the most expensive lenses because if they’re wrong then you may never adjust.

I’ve used them for years in two differenr cities with no problems at all. I can’t understand how you were going to pay £1000. It was half that for dh and I for four pairs of glasses with the maximum thinness of lens. When I was stuck between frames they recommended the cheaper ones because they looked nicer.

I can’t understand why you continue to use an opticians that you don’t think is very good.

My experience of Specsavers has generally been excellent in every respect apart from one rather long wait for the actual specs, though it wasn't really a problem.

I'm off to Specsavers this morning to pick up my first every reading specs. The optician was very thorough, I told her my issue was reading small print but she did a full eye test and reassured me that my distance sight was fine, did the puff of air in the eye thing, and took photos of my eyes.

Yes I was passed to a sales person for frames but her first words were "as they're reading glasses and you won't be wearing them all of the time I'd suggest you look at the £69 or £89 ranges" and those were on a BOGOF so I got 2 pairs for £89.

My local Specsavers is amazing. I went with DD to have tests and her first pair of glasses and I was so impressed I sent their head office and email saying how great they were. It takes a lot for me to write a complimentary email.