Replaced two bi-focal specs this morning... £585. One pair for everyday use £165 plus whatever the lens cost and the other just £85 plus lens for my iMac. No need to pay anything fancy for those as they stay permanently on my desktop. The computer specs required three upgrades. I haven't had new ones for about 4 years. My eyes get tired and, no doubt, account for the typos on here.
Not complaining about the cost..my wife paid £400 for one pair and her friend who had a sight issue had to pay £850. People do pay a lot. However, after choosing them, the dispensing optician "suggested" I could benefit from a coating that enhanced light at the back of the eye. If scratch-resistant lenses weren't standard I would happily pay extra for that coating but I've read some horror stories about these add-ons .I recall reading about the story of a lady whose elderly mother expected to pay about £40 for her glasses because she had an NHS voucher and another discount, something like that but after agreeing to the 'suggestions' by the dispensing optician came away £280 the poorer. I told the chap, this morning, that I didn't want coatings of any kind. I didn't want anti-glare if he was thinking of suggesting that,too. I got that hard-sell last time. It was a female dispensing optician who told me she.. "wouldn't be without it". On and on he went explaining how much better my sight would be with the extra light getting to the back of the eye AND... it's cheaper overall because I could have the second pair done at half price. He kept pushing that and the second time I was fed up and I told him that not having it would cost even less overall. Undaunted, he continued telling me about the benefit of this coating and I had to say. "Would you please stop. I've haven't had any trouble with light issues, the ones I have are fine could you please just measure up the bi-focals" What does he say..? "Yes, of course,no problem".My wife is sitting a few feet away listening to all this. I think we do need our wives or partners help us choose the specs that suit us best. I certainly do.
On one occasion, at Specsavers, years ago, the dispensing optician, a young man in his 20's, tried very hard to sell me variable focals rather than the bi-focals I was used to and very comfortable with. I just went to replace my regular specs. He told me if I wasn't comfortable with them they would replace them. They actually say "If you have any concerns within 100 days of purchase we will put it right" which isn't the same as replacing a pair you're not happy with. Anyway, I said I'd think about it. His reply ? He was clearly annoyed. "You'll just go home and won't come back " I should have asked for the prescription and walked out after making a complaint.
It can be quite stressful battling with these people ,with any purchase ,who want to upsell. A Currys chap once tried to sell me the extended warranty for an OLED LG TV and I said,no, pointing out to him that TVs..especially LG TVs have a 2% chance of going wrong and if it does it's most likely to do quite soon and, anyway, the LG warranty is for 5 years.. He then sighed and, with unnecessary force, hit his PC 'Return' key..to conclude the sale. and issue the receipt. I had the same with another of their sales assistants when I declined the extended warranty. He finished the paperwork and slammed the folder closed. It was just before I'd paid and afterwards I wished I'd just left the store...after telling the manager why. I suppose it's a case, these days, of c'est la vie.
My brother-in-law is an academic, wrote courses for the Open University and a retired Squadron Leader so, no slouch..It's often the way.
