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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be surprised Specsavers insist on wearing masks in store?

99 replies

DigestiveBiscuit345 · 21/09/2022 05:44

Went to local Specsavers yesterday and was advised that wearing masks in store is compulsory. AIBU to be surprised at this as no other shops are doing this. Its been a very long time since mask wearing was required when out in public generally.

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 21/09/2022 08:36

I thought it was so if an individual had sold you very expensive frames/coatings you wouldn't be able to recognise who it was if you later complain.

Shiningstarr · 21/09/2022 08:47

Brefugee · 21/09/2022 08:10

tbh? i think it's great and should carry on for ever and ever. People go out and about with all kinds of illnesses, and the staff at Specsavers (other opticians are available) come into very close contact.

Well the good thing is that this will never happen.

stillherenow · 21/09/2022 08:48

Staff wear them at mine not customers

averageavocado · 21/09/2022 08:51

I didn't need one last week at my apt?

BerriesOnTop · 21/09/2022 08:53

lannistunut · 21/09/2022 06:35

Compliance will only prolong this whole thing. 🙄Yes, making the optician ill with flu/COVID will show them who's boss.

Oh yes because the medical mask has definitely been proven to work 🙄 come on, haven’t we shifted to the whole ‘only N95s work’? by now? Haven’t you got the memo?

SD1978 · 21/09/2022 08:53

It's a healthcare setting- and you're right in their face depending on what they are doing. It's completely reasonable.

BogRollBOGOF · 21/09/2022 09:14

Between background noise from an open window, a glass screen and the absence of any facial movement concealed behind a mask it took me a while to register that the GP receptionist was attempting to talk to me last week.

Face to face communication is so important and it's depressing that in 2022 people still disregard its value. Should we really never see the faces of our healthcare providers again for a false promise of being safe from a common, usually mild illness that can be aquired every few months from anywhere.

I have finally been to the opticians and got an up-to-date pair of glasses which were no longer scratched to the point that they were better not to wear at night last winter because they made the light spread worse than my natural vision. I can legally drive without glasses, but my reactions are sharper with my vision corrected. It was entirely masks and Covid hygiene performance that made me delay my eye test until we reached a stage that I was confident that asking practicioners to remove their masks so I could see and hear what they were saying would not be interpreted as a death threat. As it happens they were rather happy to oblige and have proper uninhibited interactions.

I've only had one person harumph about it when asked (ironic as it was parents evening and she'd spent 6 hours with my child and 29 others that day). Everyone else I've asked has not only been obliging but lightened up in tone, and are glad of the reason to take the awful things off and interact normally.

Hbh17 · 21/09/2022 09:19

It's crazy. I went to my local independent optician a few months ago and he was wearing a mask. I wasn't, I didn't and at no point did he ask me to wear one, so I remained unmasked.
I seriously considered asking him to remove his mask, so that we could have a proper interaction, but I bottled it. I figure that as he was respecting my choice then I should respect his.
But kudos to the guy for not imposing unnecessary "rules!

DillDanding · 21/09/2022 09:19

I had my eyes tested at specsavers last month and my son had his contact lens check there last week.

Neither of us were asked to wear masks.

Jenn3112 · 21/09/2022 09:24

Our local Specsavers has the NHS contract to run an eye clinic, so they require masks same as local GPs at the moment.

starfishmummy · 21/09/2022 09:25

None of my local Specsavers ask this. They can't insist, they can only ask and you can say no.

They can't insist but if you say no, then they can refuse to see you. Simple.

10HailMarys · 21/09/2022 09:32

I was in Specsavers last week. They weren't asking anyone to wear masks and the staff weren't wearing them either. Maybe it's up to each branch to decide.

capricorn12 · 21/09/2022 09:34

I went to Specsavers for my eye test last week and was not asked to wear a mask. None of the staff were wearing them either so it can't be company policy. I can only assume as pp have said that there is a clinically vulnerable member of staff at that branch?

LauraJaneJones · 21/09/2022 09:37

No, it's not. Just say no.

MumsHairnet · 21/09/2022 09:38

I’ve been in my independent opticians and dentists in the last two weeks both are still requesting that customers wear masks. I don’t have a problem with it, beyond remembering to take a mask with me, I’m only wearing it for a short time they are still wearing them all day every working day.

Strawblue · 21/09/2022 09:40

A year ago I took DS to Specsavers for an eye test. Each desk had a laminated Covid hygiene sign on it saying whether it was sanitised and ready for a customer or was used and required cleaning. We were directed to sit at one with a ‘clean’ sign on it and the staff member flipped it to ‘needs cleaning’ when we sat down. When we were finished she led us to the test machines but out of the corner of my eye as we turned to go she leaned back and flipped the sign to ‘clean.’

I was really annoyed at their claims that they were sanitising surfaces between customers when this was a blatant lie. I spoke to a few people about to and their attitude was ‘meh’ so I didn’t contact the branch to point this out. I’d like to hope it was just this one staff member who was doing this, but for those who could really suffer if they got Covid this makes a mockery of claiming to be all sanitised and clean.

Shiningstarr · 21/09/2022 10:10

starfishmummy · 21/09/2022 09:25

None of my local Specsavers ask this. They can't insist, they can only ask and you can say no.

They can't insist but if you say no, then they can refuse to see you. Simple.

Of course, but nobody is doing that either.

Shiningstarr · 21/09/2022 10:13

We have just come back from the GP surgery, there are three practices there all under one roof. So three large reception areas, full of receptionists, dispensary staff, porters too as it's a community hospital.

We sat there waiting, and the receptionist was saying to each patient that walked in, 'can I ask you to put a mask on'.

No problem you think..... but not one single member of the staff had a mask on. None of the reception staff, porters, other staff members.... so how can they tell you to wear one if they don't have one on?

BaileySharp · 21/09/2022 10:16

I knewbthis because I've been, but they asked me to remove my mask for parts if the test anyway

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 21/09/2022 12:20

Perhaps one of their staff is immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. It won't kill you to wear a mask but it might kill them if you don't.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/09/2022 12:21

Not in my branch they don't.

Magenta82 · 21/09/2022 12:26

I'm currently sat in a spire hospital waiting for DP to have a procedure, no one is wearing a mask, staff or patients. The only time covid came up was when we were asked if we had covid symptoms, but not to take a test or anything else.

BerriesOnTop · 21/09/2022 17:17

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 21/09/2022 12:20

Perhaps one of their staff is immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. It won't kill you to wear a mask but it might kill them if you don't.

This really seems to place masks as lifesaving when they are not proven as such. This mentality means that the people you mention can literally never take a mask off 😓 and at best gives people a false sense of security

dementedpixie · 21/09/2022 17:18

Magenta82 · 21/09/2022 12:26

I'm currently sat in a spire hospital waiting for DP to have a procedure, no one is wearing a mask, staff or patients. The only time covid came up was when we were asked if we had covid symptoms, but not to take a test or anything else.

I've taken my mum for a cataract operation today in Scotland and everyone (patients and staff) are wearing masks

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 21/09/2022 18:40

We had this about Boots Opticians the other day.

Just think about how close they have to get to your face OP.

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