How to stand up to the optician and walk away with only a copy of my prescription?

[ineedareasonto]

Off for an eye test this morning because I’m getting headaches at work when looking at my computer for long stretches. I do not want to purchase glasses there because they’re extortionate and I’m probably going to get them online. How do I make sure I get a copy of my prescription? Posting here for traffic

I’ve never had them try to upsell me anything, but I have had them tell me to come back in 2 weeks because they’re going to have a special offer on.

Can I just have my prescription please, thanks?

I hear that sentence everyday of the week as I work in an opticians, doesn't bother me in the slightest. You don't need no excuses!

Tell them their frames are really boring and you will look elsewhere.

My last pair of glasses from them was £250. They said I “had to” get the ultra thin, coated, scratch resistant lenses (that are now scratched!). I stupidly also got a prescription pair of sunglasses. £270 or something silly on top. Again, I must get polarised, thinned, coated lenses.

£39.70 from Firmoo for two pairs of glasses - thinned lenses, actually nice frames and trendy sunglasses.

I rang up specsavers and asked for a copy sent over to me a few days later. Then bought my glasses on firmoo, absolutely no regrets

My 16 year old managed this the other week. She just said that her mum told her just to get the prescription. You could try that?

Just bought two pairs for less than the cost of a pair of frames from specsavers

Ask
Other people have done it.
Is there a more budget but ok version they supply?.
I would tell them without guilt it is cheaper to buy online.

I go to a local branch of a national chain. They have been fantastic in a crisis and always just hand me the prescription. I’ve never had to ask.

I’m a long term glasses wearer.
Opticians have to give you your prescription by law, but not your pupillary distance.
I’ve tried local my local independent optician - lovely, nice shop, cool frames - no change from about £600 for my varifocal prescription, even with cheaper frames. DD(14) gets her glasses from there - single vision with an NHS kids voucher is much more affordable.

I’ve tried online - even with my PD they were never right. There’s quite a bit difference between my eyes and my glasses really need fitting personally.

I’ve tried chains - fine when I single vision lenses, but costs ramped up once I went into varifocals.

My favoured opticians is actually Asda Opticians! They have 3 price points, buy one get one half price, don’t charge extra for varifocals, thinning, anti scratch etc. The prescription they gave me was exactly the same as from my local independent, and I got two pairs of varifocals for £140! Those glasses are now nearly three years old and not started delaminating yet, which has always been my experience with all my other glasses. And they’re open on Sundays.

Our local Specsavers give it to you un-asked and then ask if you want to get your glasses there?

Just ask for your PD. You’re paying for the test so the information is yours - that’s what my optician told me when I asked!

I completely agree with this - we used Asda for eth first time and were hugely impressed. . i got 2 sets of varifocals, one of which was prescription sunglasses , for £140.) they'd have been £500 + at Vision express where we usually go

😂
And shout "Should've gone to Specsavers"

I just started going to Asda opticians, they just give you your prescription and you’re not hounded by them.

Specsavers are annoying as hell, never again.

Because the place I buy from only supplies frames and lenses it doesn’t do eye tests.

I order my glasses online, there's an app that measures pupil distance. I'm never paying optician prices for glasses again, although my prescription is very uncomplicated.

This was true un my case, as my sight was so poor I didn't know what the frames looked like on me; so I needed a second opinion!

Is there a reason you anticipate this being a battle or even an issue OP? I've never experienced any pushback from making this request, across a range of high street opticians.

If you find being direct about it difficult then I'd just say that I don't have time to select frames today as I'm due back at work (or insert whatever commitment you prefer) so would like to take the prescription away and will return another day. If they pressed I would just repeat myself more firmly and prompt that I'm short on time and would like a copy of my prescription.

It’s great isn’t it! Had loads of questions about my new frames and it feels like no one has ever heard of firmoo! 🤣 I’ve also used glasses direct before.
Cannot imagine ever shopping in store for glasses now.

I’ve been using them for a while (they’re the only optician in my town), and I’ve always found them really pushy before

I don't think I've ever felt pressured into buying glasses straight after an eye test. If you really feel the need to say something just say you don't have time to look at the moment.

Just ask!

I just ask for my prescription.

If you need an excuse, my husband gets his glasses from the optician as it’s a very complicated prescription and needs to be checked on him, but he only shops for frames with me because he is so blind. He can’t see himself in the frames he tries on because there is no correction. So he always comes back separately to shop with me. It’s pretty common so they won’t immediately think you are lying.

I always ask if my current specs are ok to drive. If they are, I say “that’s great” and leave.