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 ?

@pigsDOfly

it isn’t just the mask it’s the whole forcing elderly people to wait outside in the freezing cold with no seats, often for up to half an hour. Okay it’s warmed up a bit now but they’ve done that all winter. You then walk into the most unwelcome of atmospheres whilst the staff wear masks/visors/aprons and gloves. You have baskets for the “contaminated” glasses and there is only one seat inside with a “just been cleaned sash”.

There are no offers for childrens glasses at all because of covid and the sheer lack of frames to choose from whilst they’re all off getting cleaned, sorry not cleaned is ridiculous.

Embarassing. I am certain they must have lost a lot of loyal customers over their ridiculous covid policies at this stage in the pandemic.

Was at dentist last week and did not need to wear a mask and no signs about wearing a mask. And this was in Scotland which has been OTT throughout. We also commented on stupid Specsavers recently.

I work in a very similar private healthcare setting and we ask that masks are worn. We have to get very close to patient's faces to do our job, all day, every day. 98% of patients are understanding, because they realise it's an attempt to protect both them and us. 1% are medically exempt. 1% of patients are petulant foot stompers who like to complain about it for the sake of making some kind of point, and we refuse to treat them.

Yay I am a proud foot stomper then !

I think people are going to have to start voting with their feet, so many people go along with it because they see Specsavers as the best (cheapest) option. Vision Express and Boots both seem more reasonable in my town, although they were recently still wanting masks worn in the consulting room, which I'd probably comply with for an easy life.
As for dentists, it's ridiculous as obviously you need your mask off for the most risky (in a germ spreading way) part.
I feel so sorry for the staff at these places too, they never signed up for any of this. I felt the same for McDonald's staff, working in the unbearable heat of the kitchen all day, but at least they are mask free now.

FYI www.college-optometrists.org/news/2022/may/covid-19-agreement-on-transition-to-green-phase

We no longer have to wear masks at our dentist. Not been to Specsavers since last summer but while I had to wear it most of the time, I could take it off to try on glasses (which, I agree, negates the point of wearing it).

The only remaining pharmacy/chemist in my town insists on masks still, and won't let you in without one even if you are exempt - they make you stand outside and they fetch things in and out to the street for you. Consequence being I drive ten miles to the bigger town that has a Boots.

@catsonahottinroof

Yes after 32 years of going there and taking all 3 of my kids I’ve gone elsewhere. Same as my parents as my elderly mother was forced to wait for 30 minutes last time standing out in the cold in the city centre. They then refused to adjust the glasses for her. Total shambolic service of late all blamed on covid.

I get the mask wearing in the consultant room but Susan on the front desk wearing a mask/visor/apron and gloves is a tad embarrassing.

I'm an Optometrist, as a regulated healthcare profession, we don't choose the COVID regulations unfortunately, they're imposed.
We've moved onto Green tier as of today, but we still need to wear masks, lateral flow twice a week and ask people who have respiratory tract infections to not come in (which I welcome as I'm forever asking ill people to come back when they're well).

We get very close to people, so more caution is needed. I will often take off my mask when I'm not getting close, as I think it's more difficult to communicate otherwise. But, it's a choice now if patients wear them or not, and I don't mind either way.

I suspect they'll become commonplace when we're performing clinical assessment close to patients as we don't want to infect anyone with anything and I also don't want to be infected!

I went to independent opticians recently and all the staff were wearing masks. I didn't, but nobody said anything so they are clearly leaving it to personal choice. I wanted to ask the optician to remove his mask too, but bottled it! But we all know masks are pointless, of course.

We've swapped to Vision Express. I think it's probably a bit more expensive but you can just walk in off the street with no mask on, no appointment needed, and try glasses on at your leisure (no putting glasses in trays etc).

I have seen people waiting outside to go in. Ridiculous.

I thought all medical businesses were still insisting on masks. I've been to the optician's , the dentist and the audiologist in the last few weeks and been asked to wear a mask at all of them. Apparently it's still medical guidelines.

You can take your business wherever you like but yabu to expect special treatment. I’m not a mask wearer but will don one if asked in a place of business etc.

Personally think it’s quite selfish to not wear one, unless exempt of course. Opticians, optical assistants, dentists etc. all still have to stay off work for 10 days if they have Covid. If you’re still testing positive by the end of the 10 days you still have to wait until you have a negative test before coming back. Most optical assistants earn minimum wage. For me, that’s 10+ days without pay. Sole earner in my household. Baby on the way. Just because somebody is fed up of wearing a mask. Completely understand if you’re exempt. Otherwise spare a thought for the staff, or the patients currently going through chemotherapy etc. that have risked a visit to store after 2+ years. I can assure you the staff aren’t wearing them for fun, and if they give you a bit of attitude they’re probably fed up of being sworn at, spat on, threatened etc.

I went to boots opticians and didn’t wear one and wasn’t asked too. I’d be very cross of someone asked me to wear one there not compulsory. I also don’t wear one in the Docters.

Dh and I went to our local Specsavers this week. All staff wearing masks but we weren’t asked to. Were asked to sanitise hands but that’s all.

I was told the same over the phone to wear a mask. I didn't as I no longer have any and they said nothing. We also don't have to wear them in our dentist and the last time I went to docs for LO jabs no one had them on there either.

This! 👏 Don’t think people realise that any optical staff who catch covid are unable to work until clear. Most of whom won’t be eligible for sick pay.

At least masks do actually do something when worn correctly. The hand sanitising and temperature checking drives me nuts.

Ours has masking tape boxes on the floor. The desk is in the doorway and once you are granted access from the street you are told to stand in a masking tape rectangle. Then you may proceed to a lettered corridor chair outside the room you going to have your appointment in. All facing the same direction like a lonely train carriage.

I am so unhappy with the glasses I bought last time I went to specsavers, and they put them in mismatched cases, glasses are the one thing I spend quite a bit of money on because I wear them all day every day. No objection to wearing a mask when I get my eyes checked, but I’m not buying glasses anywhere I have to wear a mask to try them on ever again. You just can’t see whether they suit you properly.

When I had my eye test, last year, masks were compulsory.

When I went in the actual room for the test...I was told to remove my mask .

I was bloody uncomfortable, room with no windows, and some Man breathing in my face.
Yes this was Specsavers.

We have been given guidance from all our governing bodies (General Optical Council, College of Optometrists, Assosiation of British Disensing Opticians after consultation with UKHSA). We still need to wear masks and patients are recommended to wear them. So please don't be rude to us, we are doing what we are told.

We still wear them at work