Specsavers, what to do next?

[mathepac]

I'm shocked to hear of the poor experiences with SpecSavers. I've been using them at 3 different locations over the years and have nothing but good to say about them.

I understand that each outlet is owned and operated independently, but my experiences have been consistently good.

I usually get two pairs every two years or so, both varifocals, one pair tinted to operate as sunglasses, and adjusting the arms where they go over my ears is always a process that takes a bit of time in the shop and assistants have proven unstinting in their help. I always get an invitation to come back if the fit is not to my satisfaction. I pay about €350/400 depending on frames, testing covered by "stamps".

 

[ClubMan]

I pay about €350/400 depending on frames, testing covered by "stamps".

Treatment Benefit should also cover €42 towards the cost of the glasses too.

Treatment Benefit Scheme

Treatment Benefit may help meet the cost of dental or optical care, hearing aids and hair replacement products. You claim through your dentist, optician, audiologist or hair replacement provider.

www.gov.ie

Choosing frames

Basic frames are free. If you choose more expensive frames, the department will pay €42 towards the overall cost and you pay the balance.

 

[Salvadore]

Treatment Benefit should also cover €42 towards the cost of the glasses too.

On that issue, I recall getting a letter some years ago from the Department of Social Protection advising me that my application for a free eye test was rejected. This came as a surprise given that I hadn’t made any such application and that I knew I wasn’t eligible.

It turned out that specsavers had made an application on my behalf, effectively wasting DSP’s resources of what I would have known was a fruitless exercise.

I presume they did the same for many other of their clients as part of some sort of marketing campaign.

I felt it was a bit disingenuous (and probably a breach of GDPR) and I really didn’t like getting correspondence in respect of applications I wasn’t aware of. I haven’t gone back to specsavers since.

 

[Cervelo]

I'm shocked to hear of the poor experiences with SpecSavers

I'm the same, can't believe the poor service some people are having
Don't use them myself for many reasons but not customer service or badly made lenses
Mrs C does use the branch in Stillorgan and has never had a problem

With regards to the OP or indeed anybody who orders a pairs of glasses that for any reason not perfect
Demand (nicely of course) what you ordered and if they can't do that then ask for a refund and take your business elsewhere
Can't believe people are accepting this level or lack of service from a business, would you pay for a meal that is inedible in a restaurant??

 

[Peanuts20]

Never had an issue with Specsavers in the past but to me, there would be a couple of key questions to be asked
Firstly, are the glasses in line with the perscription/form that was filled out on the day?. It could have been a manufacturing issue
Secondly, was that form filled out correctly by the optician. ? Mistakes happen. Good customer service would have been a resit test "just to make sure"

Speaking as someone who got varifocals a couple of years ago, it did take a bit of getting used to, especially when reading but I got there after a few weeks

 

[mathepac]

Speaking as someone who got varifocals a couple of years ago, it did take a bit of getting used to, especially when reading

Yes to all of the above but especially the part I quoted which reminded me - they do take time and practice to adjust to.

 

[JoeRoberts]

There is more to an eye test than just getting the prescription. If over 50 it is sensible to use same optician every year so they can track changes in the other tests such as glaucoma etc

 

[ClubMan]

For what it's worth the National Optometry Centre in TU Dublin Grangegorman Dublin 7 are often looking for volunteers for free eye examinations by students which are also supervised and double checked by qualified optometrist.

Student Clinics

Receive a free, comprehensive eye examination at TU Dublin’s National Optometry Centre, conducted by supervised optometry students. Appointments last up to two hours and include vision and eye health checks, with discounts available on spectacles.

www.tudublin.ie

Funnily enough I have had four eye tests in about 5 months this year:

1. Stood in for a family member who had volunteered for the final year student exam but couldn't make it on the day
2. Specsavers test
3. Specsavers retest to double check the prescription
4. Was called and asked if I would volunteer at the National Optometry Centre for a test of a foreign qualified optician looking for certification to practice in Ireland - I did not get a prescription from this one but did receive a €50 One4All voucher

 

[Peanuts20]

There is more to an eye test than just getting the prescription. If over 50 it is sensible to use same optician every year so they can track changes in the other tests such as glaucoma etc

Especially if there is a family history of some of those ailments

 

[ClubMan]

Especially if there is a family history of some of those ailments

In my experience any reputable optician, including Specsavers, will do a general eye health check and ask about personal/family history when doing an eyesight test. Certainly my experience with all four of my tests mentioned above. Specsavers did offer some more detailed eye health check for an additional fee but I declined that and they didn't do any hard selling.

 

[Cervelo]

If over 50 it is sensible to use same optician every year so they can track changes in the other tests such as glaucoma etc

For me this is something I've done or try to do with all my medical practitioners,
it's something that I feel, I get a better service from somebody who is familiar with my history and one that I've built up a relationship with

Funnily enough I have had four eye tests in about 5 months this year:

Something I've always wondered about with regarding my eye tests, is if I had to repeat the test would I get the exact same result
@ClubMan was there any difference in your test results or were all four the exact same ??

 

[ClubMan]

Something I've always wondered about with regarding my eye tests, is if I had to repeat the test would I get the exact same result
@ClubMan was there any difference in your test results or were all four the exact same ??

As mentioned earlier one of the four tests didn't give me a prescription because it was a test of a foreign qualified optician/optometrist looking to get certification to qualify in Ireland. The other three gave the same short-sightedness prescription except for a -0.25 diopter difference in one eye for one of them as I mentioned. And this is on the margin and not an "error" as such. I think that the reading prescription was identical but I don't use reading glasses so it's moot in my case. I didn't check other parameters on the different prescriptions to compare them. I might check if I get a chance.

 

[landmarkjohn]

For a finish I got refund on the super duper upsell nonsense and went with my old prescription from 2 years ago into the new frames for reading.

God only knows what the results from 3 separate eye tests were giving.

 

[LarryScott]

Have been doing this for years - zennioptical.com Top quality 1/3 of the cost.

Is there anywhere you can go to just get an eye test in order to buy online glasses, without the pressure to get glasses there?

Maybe I just need to be more forceful .

 

[ClubMan]

Is there anywhere you can go to just get an eye test in order to buy online glasses, without the pressure to get glasses there?

Any/every optician as far as I know. I've never had problems with hard selling or just saying "no".

 

[DannyBoyD]

anywhere you can go to just get an eye test

Any optician; they must give you written prescription on request.

 

[LarryScott]

Any optician; they must give you written prescription on request.

Fair enough, I would prefer if there was a place where they split the eye test from the selling of the glasses.

I wonder if the optometrist will discriminate (especially on future tests) if you don't get the glasses too.

It feels like going to a GP who has an office at the back of a pharmacist. It's hard to trust.

Honestly, I would pay more for a standalone test, if it was formally standalone.

 

[ClubMan]

Fair enough, I would prefer if there was a place where they split the eye test from the selling of the glasses.

Just tell the optician that you want an eye test and the prescription and that's all. What's the issue with doing this?

I wonder if the optometrist will discriminate (especially on future tests) if you don't get the glasses too.

They're regulated professionals so, no, they won't risk their careers by breaking the law.

S.I. No. 455/2015 - Optical Registration Board (Regulation and Control of Prescribing and Dispensing of Prescriptions and Sale of Spectacles) Bye Law 2015.

The electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) comprises the Acts of the Oireachtas (Parliament), Statutory Instruments, Legislation Directory, Constitution and a limited number of pre-1922 Acts.

www.irishstatutebook.ie

Penal Bye-Laws​

13. This bye-law shall be considered a penal bye law and a dispensing optician or an optometrist who contravenes a provision of this bye-law is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a class E fine in the case of a first offence and, in the case of a second or any subsequent offence, a class C fine.​

It's hard to trust.

Sounds a bit paranoid to me to be honest.

 

[Cervelo]

Especially if there is a family history of some of those ailments

Or just for general "Macular degeneration"
There are two areas I kind of prioritise over others when it comes to my general health
First and foremost is the heart, simply because if its not working neither or you
And secondly is my eyesight, I could do with out a limb or limbs and feel I survive okay without my other senses
But when it comes to my eyesight I don't think I'd get over the loss of losing it, so it's an eye test every two to three years for me

 

[Dinarius]

I've been using Specsavers in Dundrum for some years. Picked up my latest glasses just today, as it happens. I've never had an issue with them. But, it is important that, if you're being tested for reading glasses, that you agree with the optician what is a comfortable reading distance for you. I was once caught out with a prescription that focused too close and my eyes felt under strain. But, they sorted it.

D.