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.

Sorry missed the post where you said the 5 mins exam was a visual fields test - 5 mins time for that is totally normal.

We’ve used SpecSavers for years but have recently switched to Asda Optictians. DH’s variofocals were £84 iirc compared to the £300+ we’d previously paid at SpecSavers.

Our children had regular eye tests at SpecSavers. We’d been told that DS1 had perfect vision and no problems whatsoever. However, when he went for his 2 days of tests to join the army they tested his eyes and found he was so severely colour blind that the jobs he could do are limited and he was on the borderline of being allowed to join. SpecSavers hadn’t picked that up.

I've always found them to be very good.

I suffered a scary episode 6 years ago when I visited an independent optician and ended up in hospital with a suspected brain tumor (turned out not be be, but a medical condition). Came off medication etc. after a few years, but then last year started getting symptoms again. Went to my GP to see if he could put a referral into the hospital for me but shrugged me off saying I didn't need it. Went to Specsavers (for an eye test) and mentioned my past issues as was a new branch etc. Set up a referral for me straight away and was seen at a hospital within a few weeks. Can't thank them enough for referring me back to the hospital when my GP wouldn't even entertain the idea.
Examinations are always good and professional and never had any 'sales' people help me pick frames, always been told to pick the frames myself then discuss options with a member of staff.
£350 for your highly specialised prescription is not OTT.

My local Specsavers is great and I've been using them for years. Thorough eye exams, no pushy sales techniques, friendly assistants willing to spend ages helping me choose frames etc

My spec savers is great!

Tbh for me I can’t really say much against them. Last year they spotted I had a very serious eye issue and they effectively saved my sight by sending me straight to eye hospital.

Specsavers has completely ruined the optometry industry. They have out-priced optometrists with years of experience of the profession, as they subsidise university graduates and then tie them into the franchise, paying them tiny salaries. The optoms who deserve good salaries and should be earning them cannot earn what they are worth, as Specsavers have overhauled the industry for years and salaries are reduced.
I hate them and everything they’ve done with a passion.

I found them really good and not at all pushy! I came out with a pair of glasses and a pair of sunglasses (both with anti glare coatings) for £100 and I am very very happy with them!

I always used to find them awful until I moved to my current town and they’ve not been so bad. They ask some weird questions though like ‘have your eyes always been so small?’ and whether I want my contact lenses to be an incorrect prescription so they can be the same in both eyes or if I’m happy to have different (but correct) strengths’.

I think their is a great variance of expertise & customer experience between different stores.

Not read the thread but I don't like them either.

Cursory eye test and they dont even fit the glasses to your face.

My local Boots spends about 30 mins doing visual field tests, glaucoma test, etc. Then they take measurements of your face and the glasses are made to fit too.

ChuffMuffin yes, it was a visual fields test that took about 5 minutes, but that was all the tests the optometrist did. That was what concerned me.

To the other poster who asked - I haven’t had a check in about two-ish years, so I don’t think that’s the issue.

How common is it now for high street optometrists to have an OCT scanner in their practice and someone with the expertise to use it competently?

I have always found Specsavers to be brilliant. I recently had an ulcer on my cornea diagnosed by one of their opticians. She referred me straight to Moorefields and has since given me very intensive aftercare.

I have also never had the hard sell for glasses. In fact when I did buy some they gave me a nice discount.

Vision Express, on the other hand, are useless.

They are terrible, I was refused a contact lens trial because my eyes are too small?? And I was rushed to choose my specs and ended up with a pair that I don't wear because they really don't suit me or fit well at all they are very heavy and hurt my nose and pinch behind my ears, but they won't let me swap them even though they are just no good for me. I will be going elsewhere next time.

I’ve found my local branch ok, but the mobile opticians to be shit. We were waiting in for them and got a call from the guy
“errr, when’s your appointment?”
“Two TIL four”
“Errrrr I have six people in a care home to do so I may be late so I don’t know what to do”
“So what are you saying then?”
“Errrr I have to go to a carehome I may be very late so it may not be inconvenient time”
“Ok do you want to reschedule”
“Errrrr. Well you see it may be inconvenient for you”
“Ok so we can reschedule”
“Errrrr I can call head office if you like”

So now my dad is booked into the local opticians for next week and I have paid for childcare for the kids so I can take him down.

I have had poor service from my local branch, including waiting half an hour to be told they don't supply the lens I wanted in my prescription. My daughter was dispensed glasses with incorrect astigmatism adjustment which gave her frequent headaches at a critical point in her schooling, and this wasn't picked up when we brought them in and complained (next optician queried it as soon as he looked at them).

Friends are very happy with the same branch.

Have used independents for years but went to specsavers last time as needed reading and distance sorted out and independent very keen on varifocal, Specsavers also suggested but were happy to give me separate glasses. Ended up with distance for driving, same as sunglasses and reading glasses (averaged for screen and paperwork). So three pairs and I paid £273 all in. Totally happy and would certainly go back to my local branch

MY local spec savers is lovely - small, friendly staff who really know how to do their job properly and are always very helpful. However for my last pair of glasses I went to the spec savers closest to work work instead. They were so bloody awful. Long waits, pushy sales tactics and the cherry on the cake: they couldn't adjust my glasses for shit. I went back 11 times to have them adjusted and eventually just left with two uncomfortable pairs of glasses (BOGOF). They bollocksed the fittings up so much I had to have both pairs replaced at fittings number 6 and 8 because they were twisted beyond repair. I will never go there again.

ohforfoxache

An optician also suggested to me that my ADs were unnecessary! That was SpecSavers too.

He wanted to know why I was on them, and wasn’t I a bit young to be taking them?!