What Opticians Deal With Frames Bought Elsewhere?

Luxy

Does anyone know of any opticians who'll put lenses in glasses bought in other shops/online?

I can't afford a new pair right now, so a friend sold me a pair she'd bought online but wasn't using. I told Specsavers I wanted to use these frames & they flat out refused.

I understand some opticians will refuse to deal with frames purchased elsewhere on the grounds that they don't wish to deal with stolen or fake merchandise.

But is there anywhere else that will change these lenses for me?

ha-ya-said-what

There shouldn't be an issue with replacing the lenses as alot of people do source frames from elsewhere now. I did, I bought all mine online, off down to Mullins & Henry & they fitted them no problem.

Misticles

What kind of frames are they?

Plastic?
Metal?
Half frame?
Rimless?

Specsavers usually do- but depends on the frame (possibly why they said no to you)
Cost is 45e for standard lenses.

Luxy

They're just plain old metal frames, very similar in shape to the glasses I bought in Specsavers a few years ago & wear now. They agreed to fit lenses into my old ones because they're Osiris, which is their own brand. But the frame shapes on both are basically the same, so I don't see why they wouldn't do the new ones.

I found it a bit strange too, because they questioned me quite a bit about where I got the empty frames from in the first place. I told them I got them from a friend. Then they asked if I had a receipt. I said how could I, they were given to me by someone, I didn't ask for a receipt!

But what difference would a receipt have made? That's why I figured they thought they were fake or stolen, I got the impression they might have done them if I had produced a receipt.

Where abouts is Mullins & Henry? I might pop into them during the week.

ha-ya-said-what

Maynooth
Leixlip
Rathfarnham
Lucan

You could try ringing some other optician if you aren't near any of the Mullins & Henry ones. I've used them for years & wouldn't go anywhere else, was my first time using the one in Maynooth since I moved & they fitted the lenses no prob, granted they did ask where I got the frames, I told them one pair I got as a gift the other I bought myself & then that was that.

Some places are like that where they will refuse to fit lenses into frames, it's not cos they are fake/stolen more so cos they're losing business on not selling you the frames as they tend to be the most expensive half of the glasses in some cases. Kinda their way of saying if you want to use us you have to buy all from us or get nothing!

Luxy

ha-ya-said-what wrote: »

Some places are like that where they will refuse to fit lenses into frames, it's not cos they are fake/stolen more so cos they're losing business on not selling you the frames as they tend to be the most expensive half of the glasses in some cases. Kinda their way of saying if you want to use us you have to buy all from us or get nothing!

I can see where they're coming from I suppose, but they'll lose business in the long run, because I won't be going back there in the future! Seriously though, they expect me to pay a few hundred euro for two pairs of glasses & lenses, one I want & one I just don't need. It's hard enough for people to try to make ends meet, without being cut off everytime they try to save themselves a euro! Feckers!

Misticles

Don't know what branch you went to Luxy but the one I work in, we would take the metal frame and fit it with new lenses.

Don't why they didnt just do that actually.... hhhmph.

If the frame had of been plastic, half frame or rimless, we wouldnt unless they were bought with us for technical reasons.

Luxy

Oh really? Maybe I should give the manager a call & suss them out. I don't mean go off on one, I'm not irate over it! But I'll ask, as if I don't already know, if they'll put lenses in metal frames bought elsewhere.

Maybe the technician just wasn't in the mood that day!

Daisies

Some stores have a policy of not doing a reglaze (putting lenses into a person's own frame) in case the frame breaks. If it is a Specsavers frame at least they can replace it, if it's not, they cant. Also a LOT of frames are stolen and again some stores have a policy of asking for a receipt. It does depend on store policy though

Luxy

Daisies wrote: »

Some stores have a policy of not doing a reglaze (putting lenses into a person's own frame) in case the frame breaks. If it is a Specsavers frame at least they can replace it, if it's not, they cant. Also a LOT of frames are stolen and again some stores have a policy of asking for a receipt. It does depend on store policy though

Oh yes, I never thought it might break. That's understandable too. Still, I don't like the idea of being suspected of spectacle related crime, I never have stolen, & never will steal, a thing in my life!

CyberDave

...and how about the policies opticians have on replacing rimless frames/styles?

endplate

Some online stores do reglazing too;)