What's with Specsavers and masks ?

[LeftFootForward]

Semi lighthearted, but what is it with Specsavers and masks still ?
I was told over the phone earlier in the week that it's not compulsory to wear a mask in their shops anymore. I want some new specs and have been holding off until this was the case as I really want to see what my whole face looks like when trying on glasses.

I went to the shop today and wasn't allowed in unless I wore a mask. Do you have an exemption I was asked, we are NHS so you have to wear a mask. (They aren't NHS they're a private business that offers some NHS services but I digress).

Then box of masks and hand gel shoved my way. I was told I could pull the mask down to try on glasses, which begs the question why bother wearing one then ?

Didn't want to be that person arguing at the door so I left and went to another opticians.

AIBU to think they should have let me in without a mask ?

They’ve been hysterical and embarrassing I mean who do they think they are ITU?

My local Specsavers did not insist upon masks during the eye test.
Two weeks ago I went for my Covid booster and the person at the door asked me to wear a mask. I said that as far as I knew it was no longer a legal requirement, he then said I did not need to wear one.

When will we move forwards?

I went to vision express on Saturday. No masks. They wore them but never mentioned to me to wear one and I never even thought about it

GP surgery too. I have an overwhelming desire to refuse. But I haven't.

Healthcare setting following UKHSA guidance on universal masking.

I'll be honest, I prefer it this way. If I am trying on frames I want them to be clean, covid or no covid. And it's less crowded.

When I had an eye test at Specsavers last year they weren't even using the proper chair and desk set up. I had to sit on a normal plastic chair and lean forward over a low table because it was easier to wipe down because of covid. I'll be going elsewhere if they're still being that stupid this year.

I think it depends where you live. I went for a hospital appointment a couple of weeks ago and didn't bother with a mask. No-one said a word and all the reception staff had them under their chins.

@TabithaTittlemouse that is te exact and only reason I didn't want to wear a mask because I wanted to try on frames and had been told I didn't have to wear one anymore.

I'm due a Specsavers eye test and this thread is really making me reconsider!

I went into my appointment at SpecSavers without a mask on this week. When I went in I saw all the staff were wearing masks, so I put mine on. Thinking about it they get quite close to a lot of people all day every day - if they want to wear masks, I am happy to do likewise.

I'm guessing in GP/hospital/care home/dental environments everyone - professionals and patients - are still wearing masks whenever they can. I think that's a good thing.

Being ECV, my OH would only go into places like that if there were precautions like mask wearing. It's entirely right that places where vulnerable people have to go, continue to take precautions. After all, it's not like a shop or theatre where it's optional to go into, vulnerable people need at least a minimal level of precautions to go into places they have to go into, i.e. most healthcare related settings.

I wondered about them saying that they are NHS, because they are not!

That's reassuring. We switched to Specsavers from Vision Express because of their mask policy. Maybe go to Vision Express instead?

It's an NHS setting, same as doctors, hospitals ect.. Currently in Amber stage within NHS settings which states masks should be worn unless exempt.
Optical governing bodies make the rules, not Specsavers. If other places don't care/ask you to wear a mask, that's up to them and if you feel more comfortable, I'm sure you can go to those places.
They have said you can pull the mask down if you want to try on frames.
Its not really a big ask to protect those vulnerable (or those that don't see the problem in wearing a mask) or the staff.

I think ours has a good balance, mask for the appointment then don't have to wear it to try on new frames.

TBH if they were like this with me when all I wanted to do was try on some frames they might be expecting you to wear full PPE for an eye test 😅

Why didn't you just say you were exempt?

Never had an issue without a mask in two years. Only said I was exempt once at a tube station. Rest of the time no one said a word.

It does seem to depend where you live.

A lot of people still wearing masks in shops here.

My local Boots, both opticians and pharmacy still ask you to wear masks as does my vet and my local library.

My library is very strict about it.

When I was there last time a woman was insisting that masks were no longer obligatory so she wasn't going to wear one. She was told that because the library belongs to the local authority they could insist that masks are worn. And no she wasn't allowed in without one.

I only went to Specsavers because my employer sight test voucher is only to be used there. The most ridiculous part was the basket to hold "contaminated" frames, so I'm trying to take my own glasses on and off while holding a basket to try on frames. My prescription is -7 so I am really short sighted so can't walk around without my glasses on! I couldn't sort out what was rejected and what I wanted to keep. So I gave up and ordered from Glasses Direct. Also insulted to be made to queue outside to be invited in, and had to take my mask down for the close up visual checks - pure theatre. I gave full and frank feedback. I'll be paying for my own sight tests and going elsewhere in the future.

Boots opticians ‘insist’ as well. Hey ho

Can't get worked up about it tbh.

If they want me to wear a mask I'll wear one. It's hardly infringing my rights and it's doing me no harm.

Can't understand all the indignation about it.

I can't lie and keep a straight face very well and tbh as I'd been told by another member of staff I didn't have to I thought I was in the right.

I only went to Specsavers because my employer sight test voucher is only to be used there. The most ridiculous part was the basket to hold "contaminated" frames, so I'm trying to take my own glasses on and off while holding a basket to try on frames. My prescription is -7 so I am really short sighted so can't walk around without my glasses on! I couldn't sort out what was rejected and what I wanted to keep. So I gave up and ordered from Glasses Direct. Also insulted to be made to queue outside to be invited in, and had to take my mask down for the close up visual checks - pure theatre. I gave full and frank feedback. I'll be paying for my own sight tests and going elsewhere in the future.

Exactly my employer is Specsavers users , but I ordered my glasses from glasses direct.

If your prescription is strong or out of the ordinary spec savers will charge you the world.

I went for an eye test about a month ago and had to wear a mask but when I had the test they said I could pull it down if it rode up and was in the way and when I tried on my new frames they just steamed straight up!
You didn't have to stand outside though thankfully.