... Over a week later as I still hadn't heard anything I phoned Optical Express' Head Office to see what was happening and they told me that their refunds take 28 DAYS!! Not being particularly impressed with this after all the hassle and a credit card bill to pay for the glasses which I no longer ... Read review
Advantages: great customer service in York branch Disadvantages: unable to produce undamaged frames or lenses
...hadn't heard anything I phoned Optical Express' Head Office to see what was happening and they told me that their refunds take 28 DAYS!! Not being particularly impressed with this after all the hassle and a credit card bill to pay for the glasses which I no longer had I queried why it would take so long - I was told I was in a queue (makes you wonder how many other people have had the same problems as glasses aren't really something you change your ... ...fantastic but if the end product cannot be produced in an undamaged condition and their Head Office policies on refunds are absurd then unfortunately I cannot recommend Optical Express.
Thanks for reading - and the Prada frames were rimless VPR52F if you want to avoid those too! ... more
I went into my local store in York a few weeks ago and chose a pair of red Prada frames and a pair of free sunglasses - all of the staff were very helpful, extremely knowledgeable and friendly and made the process very easy. A few days later I went to pick up my new glasses, quickly tried them on, thanked the staff and then took them home...
Hmmm... on closer inspection on the free sunglasses I noticed two big scratches on the metal frames but thought oh well, I suppose they were free and I would just be wearing them for driving.. Then on the Prada glasses I firstly noticed a big scratch through the red colouring down to the bare metal on the front of the bridge and then as I looked closer and closer I realised that the entire frames were covered in tiny scratches, the most noticeable being on the inside of the bridge where there was hardly any paint left, on and around were down to the bare metal - obviously not happy with this I then looked at the lenses. Both lenses had a ridge on the top and bottom, the coating had started to peel away on one lens and when I looked at a certain angle there were about 10 curved cracked lines across the entire lens! 1 - this is not the quality I would expect from a genuine pair of Prada frames (perhaps if I had bought them from a dodgy seller on Ebay and knew they were fakes then fair enough!) 2 - how on earth did this amount of damage on two pairs of frames and lenses get past their quality control or even the person who made them?
I returned to the store and explained the problems and they told me that they would 'sort them out'. 3 phonecalls later I found out that the frames were actually discontinued and they had tried to find a pair at another branch but had been unsuccessful. I was offered a few options - one being to have the frames for free and just pay for the lenses (which were also damaged) I turned this down obviously, said I would just like a refund and that I would pop in in a few days to get this. I was then told that their Head Office would send me the refund instead so I thanked them for their help and left it at that. Over a week later as I still hadn't heard anything I phoned Optical Express' Head Office to see what was happening and they told me that their refunds take 28 DAYS!! Not being particularly impressed with this after all the hassle and a credit card bill to pay for the glasses which I no longer had I queried why it would take so long - I was told I was in a queue (makes you wonder how many other people have had the same problems as glasses aren't really something you change your mind about and pop back to the shop for a refund are they?) I told them I was near the shop that afternoon and asked them to inform the branch I would be going in for a refund - they told me that this wasn't possible and that their 'machines don't do refunds' (hmm.. I have worked in retail for years and have never come across a machine that wasn't set up for this..) To cut a long story short I got a bit cross as I think under the circumstances they should have gone out of their way to make the refund as quick and easy as possible and they 'rushed' my refund through and I received a cheque by special delivery the day after.
All in all the staff at the branch were fantastic but if the end product cannot be produced in an undamaged condition and their Head Office policies on refunds are absurd then unfortunately I cannot recommend Optical Express.
Thanks for reading - and the Prada frames were rimless VPR52F if you want to avoid those too!
Advantages: Great service Disadvantages: Camp baby sitter
...i decided to pop into optical express. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First impressions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was very bright in there. It seemed very welcoming as you walked in the door. A lot of space, and very tidy. You are surounded by lots and lots of frames. They even had designer ones. There are two little desks with computers on, and a smiling receptionist behind the desk.
As I walked in the door, i was greeted by a very polite and friendly receptionist. ... ...smile. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nhs Optical voucher
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You have to fit into a certain criteria to be elligable for this. I have done some research, and found out what the criteria is.
FREE EYE TEST
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are entitled to this if:
You are over 60
Aged under 19 and in full time education
On income support
On income based Job seekers allowance
On disabled persons tax credit, and getting less than £70
Registered as severly ...
rosebud10 10.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Optical Express
Advantages: Great service, good range of glasses Disadvantages: None really. The appointment was a little late I suppose
...have just come back from Optical Express with a brand new pair of specs. Not only is this a new pair, but my first ever pair! At the age of 29 I thought it time I got an eye test. Optical Express were offering a free test if you buy your glasses there and then. As I intended to do this I thought I'd go along. If you don't purchase the test costs £15.00. Now, the last time I had an eye test was at primary school where you have to read the letters ... ...me - both on an optical and fashion conscious level. I was incredibly fussy both with style and some of the ludicrously inflated prices that I criticised constantly. They were nothing less than patient and courteous to me. I finally found my frame (the cheapest there at £60 and that was with a 50% discount) after a long consultation with everyone in the shop as to a) whether they suited me and b) whether they were sure this particular pair were not ...
Nixu1980 10.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Optical Express
Advantages: Amazing customer service Disadvantages: The equipment isn't as hi tech as other places
...prices, I booked myself into Optical Express which is where Andrew gets his contacts from. The price of the eyetest was half the price of D&A (£15) to start with and if you purchased glasses afterwards then it would automatically be free.
The eye test didn’t seem as hi-tech or extensive as D&A and nor did the equipment seem as up-to-date but the optician was friendly, made conversation and was just a genuinely nice guy and whats more important, ... ...at D&A; I need glasses and I have a stigmatism.
The staff here are absolutely amazing and I can’t praise them highly enough. They were not only friendly and personal but they also couldn’t do enough to please me. There were four ladies in the shop and they were all helping me choose my frames and they were completely honest. I have a narrow face o everything that I tried on looked too wide. They ended up directing me to the children’s glasses even ...
claribella 28.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Optical Express
Advantages: Very professional and friendly Disadvantages: Can try and pressure you into extras
I used Optical Express for laser eye surgery after my brother had his eyes done.
He had the Lasek procedure carried out, which left him with dry eyes for a couple of months but almost perfect vision.
After a couple of months of dithering, and after a trip to Rome getting infuriated with seeing fantastic sites through misty lenses, I decided to go ahead with the procedure.
I went to the consultation in the bright an clean Leeds clinic. I was very ... ...the surgeon adn given the go ahead to go home.
Uncomfortable couple of hours, but was watching TV by the evening - without glasses!!
In conclusion, a very good, honest service. They were professional and friendly at all times and I would thoroughly recommend both Optical Express and the procedure. ...
bllward 30.06.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Optical Express
Advantages: plenty of choice and individual attention to begin with Disadvantages: Complaints resolution is clumsy and downright odd
Went to Optical Express in the Trafford Centre, Manchester. Very bright, clean shop with lots of frames to choose from. Initial meet-and-greet was good with staff helpful but not pushy when told I only wanted to have a casual look today;planned to return the following week or so when had more time. Went there because was working in Manchester, my local opticians carried little choice and the nearest Optical Express (Middlesbrough) had provided an ... ...prescription I queried it with Optical Express, and in so doing learned that they had two prescriptions for me. Concerned about my eyesight I felt compelled to go to an independent optometrist for another test and what do you know, my eyes had not changed significantly from the test he had conducted some 4 years ago.
No worries says the store manager, come back and we'll do another test and get everything sorted out, we value your custom and so ...
traffordexperience 13.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Optical Express
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Advantages: Very efficient and knowledgeable staff, good layout and painless service Disadvantages: Not the most friendly service - emphasis on efficiency, prices nothing special
These new Vision ExpressOptical Lab places seem to be popping up all over the place these days, don't they? Walking around a shopping mall, bam! There's a big shiny white temple of eyewear where you'd normally see the Gap or something. Well, I broke my glasses the other week, so I had to take them back to Vision Express. So here's my opinion on the chain.
Appearance and Layout
As I said - shiny white temples of eyewear. The first thing you notice is how clinical and, well, white the shop looks. The reception desk along the front rather puts me in mind of a health spa or something of the sort. Two walls are abolutely stuffed with glasses - at a guess, I'd say there must be about five or six hundred pairs of specs - quite a few. In the middle (on full display, unusually) is the lab, where the lens-making takes place. There ...
Advantages: Opening Hours, Prices, Special Offers, Staff, Convinence Disadvantages: Lack of Privacy. Not very quiet enviroment
, Supra frames are all avaloable. The choice is almost too good. There is also a childrens range of frames as well for the young ones!
There is a huge range of lenses avaliable but the main thing to remeber is that the price you see on the frame at Tesco also includes standard single vision lenses free of charge, so no nasty hidden extras! They offer a range of lens options according to prescription. Again I am not going to give prices because everyone has a different need for eye wear, but the prices certainly compete in the middle market (Vision Express, Dolland and Aitchison). Asda offer an Optical service which is cheaper but it does show in the facilities and choice when i visited one our of curiosity in Aberdeen.
Lens options avaliable include (prices are approximate and vary according to perscription)
Bi-Focals , Vari ...
Advantages: Market leader in health & beauty, excellent pharmacy Disadvantages: Cheaper medicines sold at Tesco and Asda
a Boots dentist than my local NHS one. The business has now been acquired by OpticalExpress. I would like to see Boots develop an in-store GP service in future. It takes a couple of weeks to make a non-urgent appointment with my GP by which time the symptoms have disappeared. Since taking my latest anti-anxiety medication the totty at the surgery has improved. I feel like voting at the Japanese election.
Apart from in London I have only ever consulted dentists in Hull. The dentist on Hessle Road is one of the nicest people in this or any parallel universe. Conversely his wife is a bit of a spoiled battleaxe. Both of my parents only ever saw the dentist when suffering toothache. They thought that the 6-monthly check-ups were a waste of money. My visits became rarer after watching 'Marathon Man' with Dustin Hoffman.
An interesting event ...
mrpaella 20.05.2001 (16.07.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Boots (Shop)
