My LensCrafters saleswoman tried to up-sell me numerous unnecessary lens treatments without disclosure. Her initial quote included a charge of $300 for the lenses alone, with no description of what that included. When I offered as how that price was absurd, she sort of shrugged her shoulders like a dispassionate teenager. It wasn't until I insisted on being shown a schedule of charges that I discovered her quote had included not only an upgraded lens material that I hadn't asked for but numerous special treatments, none of which would have been covered by my insurance. She said that the optometrist had "prescribed" treatments like glare protection and scratch-resistance. I then specifically said I wanted absolutely basic plastic lenses—the kind my insurance would pay for—at which time she presented me with a LensCrafters price schedule listing basic plastic lenses at $120.
Several weeks later I received a document from my insurance provider explaining what was covered and what wasn't and noticed a line item for "scratch protection coating" (a treatment I had specifically declined), charged at $20, of which I paid $15. The lenses themselves, the absolutely basic plastic kind I asked for, the ones that are covered by my insurance provider, were listed at just $100. Nice, LensCrafters. Enjoy that extra $20 you weaseled out of me, because your ethicallychallengedbusinesspractices guaranteed I'll never come back.
I always ask for a breakdown of charges when buying things like eyeglasses, but at LensCrafters even that kind of diligence doesn't save you from extra expense, because they apparently build superfluous charges right into their official price schedule.
LensCrafters home office should look into the practices of the Regional Directors in New York City. So many unethical practices are going on and employees are afraid to speak because of retaliation. "Open Door" policy? Doesn't exist!!! I fear for my life in speaking out!!!
I recently got a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses at Lenscrafters. I have always worn RB and know they are a good product. Well after 2 months the lens got watermarks on the back of the glasses. No mater how many times I tried cleaning them with lens cleaner the marks wouldn't go away. SO I took them back to LC figuring they would swap them out. After 2 Salespeople and one tech looked at them they said that it appears the Anti reflective film was messed up. They said they have never seen it happen. So at that point I figure they say they will replace them...instead the girl tells me to go online and let Ray Ban know....I was furious... I will never buy from LC again..and I make it a point to tell everyone I know not to shop there.
All you people who talk about poor quality and customer service I am sorry but most people are complete idoits who come into purchase glasses! For one thing everyone has an attitude about glasses that are wrong! Eye exams, and making glasses are not an exact science and everything is different for everybody, from rx to frame selection. Glasses consumers need to realize that their eyes are important and not just an after thought! Everyone needs UV and scratch resistant coating on their glasses and since those things are so important they are bulit in standard to every single lens that LensCrafters sales, the same goes for the lenses the doctors office sales. Most people have no clue about how the optics of their glasses work! As for Insurance they will always cover the most basic lenses and frames you should just be happy that you have coverage at all! LensCrafters have developed Eyewear consultants (we are not salesladies or salesmen anymore) to help the customer discover their eyewear needs and educate them on their needs. All of you complainers need to pull your heads up out of the sand and realize that you don;t know as much about your eyes and eyewear needs as you think you do and let us in the optical field do our job to help you see!
i don't get what you are saying " 2 yrs later they want to charge me 200 bucks to replace my lenses in their frame - WHAT DOES using their frame have anything to do with it ?
I will say - that it depends what discounts or insurance you used on that 1st pr - ALTHOUGH i am sure the lenses might have gone up in price - JUST LIKE EVRYTHING ELSE - however maybe 20-40 bucks - but what you need to look at is
many discounts (( such as aaa they offer - and others ) - are set up to give deeper discounts on complete ( frame and lens ) sales - aaa for example - is 15 % on lenses in your own frame or 30 % for a complete pr - this is actually set along with the person offerign the discount --- 2nd ly - YOU SHOUld look at it this way - it is a no win with you -
frames are not lasting the 3-4-5 years - and lets say - ok they use your own frame several things can easily HAPPEN _ more then you think -
1- frames are placed under stress during the manufacturing phase - and could break - ( at which i could tell u would say - u broke it - you need to replace it - when in fact there is a risk - and should not e their cost - to replace it -
2- say ok -they make the lens in old frame - and 3 mnths down the rd - a acident - happens and the frame broke - well 3 years later - from org purchase - I WILL BET YOU 80 % of the time - that frame is no longer being made form the manufacturer ! SO i guess this will be LC fault in your eyes also - at that time - you will have to buy new lenses and frame - since your lenses can not be just cut down to fit any frame -
3- as for the issue with basic plastic - that 15 dollar charge I would bet is just a portion of the lens - and how insurances are billed out - that is what it comes out to - As for uncoated products - i can not think of any half way decent optical that woudl sell this product - you have a product - that has no knd of protection - you are dealing with plastic here not glass - so I am sure that the 1st or 2nd time you clean them - and scratch them - it will be there fault - !! and you would expect them to replace them for free - right >
anyways - i woudl suggest going to a onlne rip off artist - is you are this concerned - but be prepared to NOT have any of those warrt. and you buy them they are yours - no proper fittings - no adjustments - no return policy - no doctor change policies - nothing -- YOU GET what you pay for and it appears you want somethign that you will pay noting for - BUT REMEMBER - you get what you pay for - ----
and i love these folks - that goto these cheap- places - and then go into a higher quality shop wanting to know - \
1- whats wrong with your glasses if you can not see
2- you need a nose pad or adjustment -
3- u need glasses asap -
lastly - this compalint with having to wait 10 days - DID IT take that long for them - ?? Why did you not tell them - to pick you out a product that you could get today - !! this does not just go for the lens - but depends on the rx - and also the FRAME -- you just can not get whatever you want - due to maufacturing issues -
most places do not even offer a lab on siye - and if you are so blind why woudl you only have 1 pr of glasses ?
Lenscrafters $120.00 basic plastic lens includes a scratch resistant coating. It is called a Duralens. At LC, you CANNOT even get a basic plastic lens without scratch coating. It is not available. The 120 lens she sold you is the most basic she could get you. If this is a problem, there are places that will order a basic plastic lens with nothing, but be prepared to wait a WHILE to get it. It will be a special order
people who come in and want basic plastic lenses are the worst kind of customer for any optical shop. Why? Because they think they know all about your job and how to do it. In reality they know nothing. They don't realize that with basic plastic lenses there eyes are not safe. A little safer than glass material, anything that hits that plastic lens will shatter it and send it into your eye. Oh, did I mention UV protection. No you must want the lens in your eye removed 30 years from now because you cannot see from cataracts. But thats ok, because you saved $25. You showed those salespeople and opticians who the boss was.
people who come in and want basic plastic lenses are the worst kind of customer for any optical shop. Why? Because they think they know all about your job and how to do it. In reality they know nothing. They don't realize that with basic plastic lenses there eyes are not safe. A little safer than glass material, anything that hits that plastic lens will shatter it and send it into your eye. Oh, did I mention UV protection. No you must want the lens in your eye removed 30 years from now because you cannot see from cataracts. But thats ok, because you saved $25. You showed those salespeople and opticians who the boss was.
The main purpose of this company appears to be customers dissatisfaction. Long story short: bought 2pair glasses from L.C.; here it is 2yrs later and they actually want to charge me nearly $200 to replace the lenses in EACH frame. This is after arguing and defending myself to the saleswoman that these were indeed L.C. frames! Bad Business is what they should be called.
10. Written by An informed optician, on 02-03-2008 00:56
Unfortunately for people who want the cheapest vision product possible, the advances in technology have affected lens production much like the technology of computers or t.v.'s in recent years. Lenses now have "scratch resistant coating" as a standard componant of lenses (much like a keyboard coming with a new computer or a remote with a t.v.). Eyeglass insurance is simply like any health insurance, offering you discounts on things you will be getting when you get a rx filled or medical treatment. I pay a seperate charge to have an x-ray perfomed, then a charge for that x-ray to be read by a radiologist...and so on. Standards accepted in medical practice are for some reason mocked as a "sales job" by an "eyeglass woman" (who has probably passed several board exams by state and is knowledgable about much more than picking a pretty frame and sticking you with a $$ tag). I recommend to all consumers of eyeglasses to do a bit of self education of vision products now available. There are so many advances out there to assist our tech savvy lifestyles and we know so much more now about how to help reduce loss of sight due to environmental exposure. It still amazes me when someone comes in to fill a rx that works on a comp. all day or drives for a living or loves to sew, read, golf, etc. and they drive a Lexus, have expensive accessories, obviously spend on manicures or hairstyling and yet immediately assume we as opticians "not saleslady" (try calling your pharmacist that next time at Walgreens while filling a rx) are trying to sell you a bunch of "unethical" extras when we suggest something that might cost as much as the jeans you are wearing. Try not to think of eyeglasses as a retail item only, even though they are now fashionable and (gasp) available in designer frames, remember they are assisting you to use one of the most valuable senses you have - the ability to see the world clearly.
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