To think they've lost their minds?

[OneTiredMam]

During the pandemic specsavers have been a bit OTT.
Locking customers in the store, taking temperatures etc. i could deal with that.

Now they have a new policy where they refuse to see children until after 3.30pm during weekends and weekdays.
My DS needs his glasses, but they are refusing to give him a mid day appointment despite it being half term.
My DS has autism and relies on routine, they know this as I explained and was given a eye test in the day time and it was fine they were happy to adjust for him.

Now they are being awkward and won't let him collect them till 4pm and he won't cope with his routine being changed. I've explained to the manager and they are still being awkward as hell meaning either my DS will have a absolute melt down and probably refuse to collect them or he goes without his glasses that he needs.

AIBU to think there discriminating?

Did you completely miss the bit about the OP’s child being autistic, only being able to cope with appointments in the morning due to need to stick to a routine?

No I didn’t miss it but even if the appointments were all day it doesn’t mean there would be any free slots.

Do you realise how many autistic kids there are?
Chances are they’re not going to all be able to get the slot they want.

Yes they like to stick to their routine but it’s impossible for it to always be possible so they need to learn to accept that.
Yes it might result in a meltdown but over time they will start understanding that sometimes these things happen.

Going on Twitter and writing to the paper accusing them of discrimination is disgusting.

We've just to specsavers during the weekend for a routine check up for our dc and they were fine. It was around 1.30ish and other slots were available for us to choose from. They are franchisees so I don't think there is a headoffice you can complain to as far as I am aware ( I could be wrong there though). I used to go to Boots Opticians and whilst they have a good selection of frames, I found the two stores I have been to very sales oriented. They were trying to sell , sell and sell to me while Specsavers never do. One of my apponitments with Boots last for 30 minutes during which my consultation/tests lasted only about 5-7 minutes and the rest of the time the "consultant" kept on at me trying to sell me a monthly subscription for contact lenses even though I've told him several times that I hardly use them. They were like used car salesmen so I changed to Specsavers.

Do they still lock people in? I should think the Health and Safety Exec, the fire service and the insurers would'nt be happy with that.

Oh I have had enough with them too. You now have to have an appointment time to collect glasses or even go in and make an enquiry, but they don't have anyone answering the phone in my branch. I left my phone on speakerphone on hold for an hour recently. They also would only offer directly after school appointment for my teenager which I can't do because I have other children with SEN in different schools and no other childcare. I asked if my 15 year old could collect herself and they said no. I have switched to a smaller independent branch now which has much less choice in glasses but at least I can communicate with them.

@Topsyturvy1

I wanted to take my daughter to specsavers so she could choose frames for a spare pair and we were not allowed in to browse because we didn't have an appointment

Similar to me, I called at our local Specsavers first thing one morning and asked if I could order an extra pair of glasses as spares (bought original pair from them only two weeks before) Was told I would need an appointment, this was despite me telling her that I did not even want to browse or touch the displays, I just wanted to order another pair of exactly the same frames. The shop was empty and staff were standing about just chatting.

@Featuredcreature

Yanbu so many so called services seemingly taking delight in being awkward and obstructive. I swear to god during the the whole pandemic have been barked at by fucking idiots for existing or standing in the wrong space, it's emboldened many to be the twats they always wanted to be but weren't brave enough.

This is so true!

How petty and obstructive.
Go over their head to the manager, head office, anyone.

@Nosnogginginthekitchen

Can you collect without him? It does seem a bit dictatorial - ask to speak to the next person up? Perhaps whoever you spoke to isn't 'powerful' enough to go against policy

You can't collect children's glasses without them because they have to be signed off for fit by an optician. Maybe that's why the after 3.30 rule, because the opticians have back to back appointments through the day? And allow space in the diary for children after 3.30. Still seems they could be more helpful though.

I have had trouble with specsavers and find them really rude. In my area they have always done kids after school time.so from.3.30 on wards which sometimes is not suitable. And they are also owned independently aswell so more than likely the manager owns that store that is why they don't have a head office number..

They are the same in Ireland - or at least my local branch. Luckily it was inside a shopping centre but I always go with DM to help her pick her frames as she literally cannot see what they look like on her.

She made an appointment and asked that I come to her appointment- nope, nobody else allowed inside the door, only the patient. No exceptions. While I'm sure they do get abuse for their policies but we were really polite and they were just rude and abrupt from the very start.

So instead she made an appointment with a local indie optician who had no issue with the two of us masked and vaxxed picking out her specs and I'll be taking my business there as well just because of how bloody helpful they were to my mum.

My local optician has no such rules. Just a request to wear a mask unless you are exempt. Write to their head office and complain

Does sound like it’s a franchise issue - I was in mine for an appointment last weekend and was sat in the seat waiting for my appointment with a child there as well. No taking temps or waiting outside. The only thing was not putting back glasses if tried on.

@WonderfulYou

Did you completely miss the bit about the OP’s child being autistic, only being able to cope with appointments in the morning due to need to stick to a routine?

No I didn’t miss it but even if the appointments were all day it doesn’t mean there would be any free slots.

Do you realise how many autistic kids there are?
Chances are they’re not going to all be able to get the slot they want.

Yes they like to stick to their routine but it’s impossible for it to always be possible so they need to learn to accept that.
Yes it might result in a meltdown but over time they will start understanding that sometimes these things happen.

Going on Twitter and writing to the paper accusing them of discrimination is disgusting.

It’s not because it’s exactly what they did..

The OP explained the need of a ay time appointment due to her dc autism. They had given her a day time appointment before. And they didn’t refuse on the ground that there was no appointment but in the ground that he was a child.
The refusing to be flexible IS discriminatory.

Tweet them. Even if you don't have Twitter, set one up just to contact them publicly. Ime companies hate being publicly shamed for being the arseholes they are.

My ExHs housemate works at the local specsavers, he says they have a rule of appointments for children after 3.30pm because local schools where complaining about missed education.

But apparently if the parent says school are ok with it, or it's half term or similar they just book the child in for whenever.

@BattenbergdowntheHatches
I am also a parent of a child with SEN and also work with children with SEND. Or do you think you’re the only one?

It is impossible to always stick to a routine and implying so just makes you look stupid.

Do you know how many times fire bells go off, trips are cancelled, staff or classmates are off sick, taxis are late or go a different route etc etc - all of which mess up their routines but that is life.

Preparing any child for adulthood means helping them manage their emotions and how to deal with the unexpected.
I can guarantee that every child that leaves us in year 11 copes better with something messing up their routine than they did in year 7.

But no you continue deluding yourself that it’s impossible for something to happen which changes a routine.

Im still wearing glasses that are too big because they wouldn't let me in for a fitting. But its ok because I can order a smaller pair at 50% off
They are a pain. Still OTT in full ppe at the door, making everyone queue outside. I won't be going back there.

Your posts perfectly illustrate why both remain absolutely essential.

Your posts say that you think nothing can ever crop up and change a routine which is pure lies.

How about we agree to disagree - that you think it’s impossible for things to happen which changes a routine and that I think these things happen all of the time.

They did this pre covid at my local one.

Businesses like this are using covid as an excuse for poor customer service.

should avoid unlawful discrimination by making a perfectly reasonable adjustment to their (manifestly draconian anyway) rules. And that routine changes should where possible be confined to the genuinely unavoidable.

It’s not discrimination.
There are probably hundreds of children with SEND that use that particular opticians.
What happens if there was no daytime slots left? Should they open the store early for one person or cancel someone else’s appointment?

If they don’t have a time slot that you need, you go somewhere else.

Am I going to run to the paper now saying it’s discrimination against teachers as adults can only have daytime slots? Of course not.

You said my choice of words were chilling (“need to learn” and “start understanding”) - so you’re saying you think kids with SEND are incapable of learning or understanding. Which tells me you have an ulterior motive as I don’t believe you genuinely think that.