Specsavers Sly €25 extra charge

Berberis

Just a heads up for anyone planning on using Specsavers.

Booked an appointment for last Friday and it was only when I was sat down having my Pre test, that the Optical assistant informs me that there is now an extra €25 charge for them having to use the ophthalmoscope, what with covid and all (her words)

Very underhand in my opinion to only inform customers as the test is about to begin instead of letting them know through their web site , or booking confirmation email or even when they first arrive.

I'm sure they have used the same machine on me in all my past eye tests over the years without any extra charge

Bikerman2019

Berberis wrote: »

Just a heads up for anyone planning on using Specsavers.

Booked an appointment for last Friday and it was only when I was sat down having my Pre test, that the Optical assistant informs me that there is now an extra €25 charge for them having to use the ophthalmoscope, what with covid and all (her words)

Very underhand in my opinion to only inform customers as the test is about to begin instead of letting them know through their web site , or booking confirmation email or even when they first arrive.

I'm sure they have used the same machine on me in all my past eye tests over the years without any extra charge

Refuse it. My wife went in for free eye test and glasses and they upsold her a second pair with this superduper coating etc etc. Total 250 euro or so.
She was sent back the next day to cancel it.

Darc19

Had two pairs of specs delivered from glassesdirect for £64

1 x timberland
1 x hackett

The timberland ones are €189 on specsavers. Even at two for one, the saving was over €100

greenttc

do spec savers give you a copy of your prescription after you buy your glasses? or how do you know your prescription for glasses direct?

florawest

greenttc wrote: »

do spec savers give you a copy of your prescription after you buy your glasses? or how do you know your prescription for glasses direct?

No, but you can ask for it, have done so with other opticians before and got it no problem.

s8n

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

Refuse it. My wife went in for free eye test and glasses and they upsold her a second pair with this superduper coating etc etc. Total 250 euro or so.
She was sent back the next day to cancel it.

...as in, you sent her back ??

lucky woman

HeidiHeidi

I had an eye test with specsavers a while back and was given the prescription without asking for it.

Anyone who's used Glasses Direct - do you know if they do a sunglasses offer at all? Their website isn't clear (on the phone anyway) - I'd like to get one pair of reading glasses and one of sun lenses.

Bikerman2019

s8n wrote: »

...as in, you sent her back ??

lucky woman

She was a lucky woman. Because of that, she was able to pay her mortgage (which is in special arrangements)


Gotta prioritise.

Stephen A Smith

Darc19 wrote: »

Had two pairs of specs delivered from glassesdirect for £64

1 x timberland
1 x hackett

The timberland ones are €189 on specsavers. Even at two for one, the saving was over €100

Did you provide them your own prescription?

ka2

greenttc wrote: »

do spec savers give you a copy of your prescription after you buy your glasses? or how do you know your prescription for glasses direct?

They give you the prescription but it’s incomplete, the pupil distance is missing. At least it was the last time I got one.

flazio

Generally, I find Specsavers to be one of the more upfront and transparent opticians to deal with. The way they deal with free PRSI eye checks is excellent and many other providers of health care could do well to follow their lead.
The glasses price models are really easy to understand, even if they aren't always the cheapest, usually any after care repairs or adjustments to the frames are free.
That said, the new "health screening" equipment which isn't included and does cost extra, is an optional extra, but the optometrist I dealt with wasn't a pushy sales person and took my no thanks very respectively.
I certainly don't think Specsavers are rip off merchants in general.

Mrcaramelchoc

ka2 wrote: »

They give you the prescription but it’s incomplete, the pupil distance is missing. At least it was the last time I got one.

Its very easy to measure your pupil distance.just you tube or Google it.plenty of guides.

FluffPiece

Yeah, last time I went for an eye test, I was asked to try some samples of frames.

I tried some one but only really liked one kind of style in there and wanted to look at another time as I was busy that day. Said I didn't want any and that I would be back in a week or two to settle on a pair. A week later I got a call to say my glasses are ready and it'll be x amount.

I collected my prescription only instead and shopped online solely because of that. I've since heard it's a common enough tactic in my town as some people feel pressured into having to pay for the glasses that were made for them.

antix80

if it was a PRSI or medical card eye-test I'd assume that was part of the examination and they should not add an additional charge. Get it refunded.

If you are paying them privately, it's a private business and you should agree the charges in advance.

Widdensushi

Rip off merchants, they are known for it, better off supporting the smaller opticians, better value also.

Bikerman2019

antix80 wrote: »

if it was a PRSI or medical card eye-test I'd assume that was part of the examination and they should not add an additional charge. Get it refunded.

If you are paying them privately, it's a private business and you should agree the charges in advance.

In my wifes case, it was a free glasses and free eye test on medical card. But they upsold her and shegot a bill for extras. She is to soft to say no.


I sent her back as she didnt have the spare cash for it on mortgage week.

Drumpot

Darc19 wrote: »

Had two pairs of specs delivered from glassesdirect for £64

1 x timberland
1 x hackett

The timberland ones are €189 on specsavers. Even at two for one, the saving was over €100

How do you work out your eye prescription?

I’m getting a bit fed up with Specsavers

FluffPiece

Drumpot wrote: »

How do you work out your eye prescription?

I’m getting a bit fed up with Specsavers

If you are buying online, you usually select the frames you like and proceed to the next page which should have labelled boxes for each eye such as;
"Sphere"
" Cyl"
"Axis"

These will be listed on your prescription for each eye so just enter as appropriate. It's usually laid out neatly and very easy to follow. There are others boxes and options also, not always applicable so just enter what it says on your prescription. You will need the pupillary distance and this is not always supplied but you can see youtube videos on how to get it yourself.

FluffPiece

Widdensushi wrote: »

Rip off merchants, they are known for it, better off supporting the smaller opticians, better value also.

In my case, it was a small local optician that pulled the stunt.

NewClareman

ka2 wrote: »

They give you the prescription but it’s incomplete, the pupil distance is missing. At least it was the last time I got one.

They have to give you all information, including pupil distance. If they refuse, like my local store did, just submit a request online.

I requested a copy of all my information, including dispensing information. This not only gave me the pupil distance but also the various frame types and sizes they had supplied previously. The response took less than a week. (Maybe some day I will get around to actually using the information.)

NewClareman

flazio wrote: »

Generally, I find Specsavers to be one of the more upfront and transparent opticians to deal with. The way they deal with free PRSI eye checks is excellent and many other providers of health care could do well to follow their lead.
The glasses price models are really easy to understand, even if they aren't always the cheapest, usually any after care repairs or adjustments to the frames are free.
That said, the new "health screening" equipment which isn't included and does cost extra, is an optional extra, but the optometrist I dealt with wasn't a pushy sales person and took my no thanks very respectively.
I certainly don't think Specsavers are rip off merchants in general.

The senior staff in my local store are pushy as hell, and aggressively try to upsell - from the type of frame to the optional extras. The pricing model is designed with a low "lead in" price with very expensive add ons. The end price is generally multiples of the basic price. I would expect the after care repairs or adjustments to the frames to be free, from any reputable supplier.

On my last visit I asked for a copy of the PD and the salesperson, who is there years told me they couldn't as there were multiple values. I insisted and she had a deep conversation with the manager for a good five minutes. She then said she would post out the prescription with the PD on it. They eventually posted out a prescription without the PD.

When I went to collect the glasses the young girl serving me threw the bag they had come back in, which included a label with the dispensing information, in the bin. I asked her for it but she said she wasn't allowed give it to customers. She was very apologetic and embarrassed- I felt sorry for her.

I cannot understand why anyone would suggest that "other providers of health care could do well to follow their lead", at least based on my experience. Just to be clear, I was very happy with the ophthalmologist and the junior staff. The issue was with the senior salesperson and the manager. Once I asked for the PD, in a very friendly manner, she lost all interest in dealing with me.

(I still left over €500 with them, but it will be the last time.)

Darc19

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I had an eye test with specsavers a while back and was given the prescription without asking for it.

Anyone who's used Glasses Direct - do you know if they do a sunglasses offer at all? Their website isn't clear (on the phone anyway) - I'd like to get one pair of reading glasses and one of sun lenses.

Yes, extra £10 to have dark lens. One of my pairs is sunglasses.

Widdensushi

Widdensushi wrote: »

Rip off merchants, they are known for it, better off supporting the smaller opticians, better value also.

Smaller ones are as bad.

Darc19

Drumpot wrote: »

How do you work out your eye prescription?

I’m getting a bit fed up with Specsavers

I got it from the optometrist in specsavers. It was given on a specific card with all the details.

lazyman

Berberis wrote: »

Just a heads up for anyone planning on using Specsavers.

Booked an appointment for last Friday and it was only when I was sat down having my Pre test, that the Optical assistant informs me that there is now an extra €25 charge for them having to use the ophthalmoscope, what with covid and all (her words)

Very underhand in my opinion to only inform customers as the test is about to begin instead of letting them know through their web site , or booking confirmation email or even when they first arrive.

I'm sure they have used the same machine on me in all my past eye tests over the years without any extra charge

I had an eye test with them last week and this was very much optional and I was under no pressure to have it done.

How has Covid 19 made it an extra €25 to use anyway? Big stink of cash-in off it, and we’re going to see more and more places screwing people with C19 as the catch-all excuse (see vulture like hairdressers charging customers for PPE). Stuff like this will be remembered by people I hope.

GerardKeating

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

see vulture like hairdressers charging Customers for PPE

Well, in fairness, it is an extra cost, they did not use PPE pre-covid

ka2

NewClareman wrote: »

They have to give you all information, including pupil distance. If they refuse, like my local store did, just submit a request online.

I requested a copy of all my information, including dispensing information. This not only gave me the pupil distance but also the various frame types and sizes they had supplied previously. The response took less than a week. (Maybe some day I will get around to actually using the information.)

Good idea, never thought of that!

GerardKeating

GerardKeating wrote: »

Well, in fairness, it is an extra cost, they did not use PPE pre-covid

So pay for it then, that’s running a business. Customers have had to buy their own PPE through all this.

GerardKeating

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

So pay for it then, that’s running a business. Customers have had to buy their own PPE through all this.

All business pass their costs on to customers, it's how the world works.

Assuming the extra charge is disclosed upfront, there should be no issue. Dentists are doing the same, charging extra for PPE.

Just more reason to shop online or use services outside the country where possible.

Diziet

NewClareman wrote: »

They have to give you all information, including pupil distance. If they refuse, like my local store did, just submit a request online.

I requested a copy of all my information, including dispensing information. This not only gave me the pupil distance but also the various frame types and sizes they had supplied previously. The response took less than a week. (Maybe some day I will get around to actually using the information.)

Exactly that, only I made the request verbally in the store. 'You have this information on my file, so I would like a copy please'. I had to repeat it twice but I got the full file. They don't make it easy though.

MOH

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Just more reason to shop online or use services outside the country where possible.

Any good deals on online hairdressers?

MOH

MOH wrote: »

Any good deals on online hairdressers?

I don’t use hairdressers but I’d definitely go for cheaper dental work in the UK if that’s the way it’s going to be.

They all cry to buy Irish but we were shafted by years and now they’ll use this excuse to shaft us more.

I had my eyes tested in Specsavers Liffey Valley a few weeks ago and I was advised of the €25 charge at the time of booking the appointment and was also told that part of the test and was completely optional.

michellie

I had an eye test in specsavers last month and was offered that €25 euro test. I wasn't pressured into it and could have declined it.

I was left on my own then to try any glasses I wanted

silent_spark

I find Specsavers good to deal with. Yes, they go through the different offers etc, but if you’re not adult enough to say no thanks to items you don’t want, then perhaps you’re not adult enough to be shopping by your self. I go to the one on Dawson Street, they’re pretty decent in there.

Darc19

silent_spark wrote: »

I find Specsavers good to deal with. Yes, they go through the different offers etc, but if you’re not adult enough to say no thanks to items you don’t want, then perhaps you’re not adult enough to be shopping by your self. I go to the one on Dawson Street, they’re pretty decent in there.

They are all franchise operations, so different stores will have different levels of hard sell.

I used the branch in Donegal town about 18 months ago and the service was exemplary, but herself used one in Newbridge and the hard sell was all guns blazing and that was just reading glasses.

So it will be down to how different franchisees operate, but the profit on the extras is immense and as such the sales patter is in many cases ott

rock22

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

She was a lucky woman. Because of that, she was able to pay her mortgage (which is in special arrangements)


Gotta prioritise.

Yes, as s8n said, lucky woman

daheff

GerardKeating wrote: »

Well, in fairness, it is an extra cost, they did not use PPE pre-covid

and is the actual cost of the PPE 25 EUR per customer? I'd imagine its not.

Xterminator

Look, you are a consumer and can choose to go elsewhere.

Their equipment does not clean itself. PPE is not free. They cannot process as many customers a day, and so income is down and costs are up.
Is the extra cost as much as 25 euro - i don't know. In fact it would be impossible for a customer to quantify the cost.

So if you can find a better price elsewhere, tell them so. And if they dont match the price, go elsewhere.

I personally have used vision express last 2 times i went for glasses prescription. But bought my glasses in specsavers. You can go where you choose.

Darc19

Darc19 wrote: »

Had two pairs of specs delivered from glassesdirect for £64

1 x timberland
1 x hackett

The timberland ones are €189 on specsavers. Even at two for one, the saving was over €100

how do you get the right size and fit online?

11wingnut

Went in looking for eye test should be free for Prsi,, But got charges as they said approval had not come. I said i only need prescription as my employer needs it for safety glasses .I had every member of staff try and upsell me .This happened twice in different stores . I used it to buy online and happy .
My have also had a bad experience with an independent who had been trained by Specsavers charged 610 euro for a pair of glasses most expensive i ever bought and the worst . they lasted a month .

L1011

SoulWriter wrote: »

how do you get the right size and fit online?

You measure your existing glasses, basically.

L1011

L1011 wrote: »

You measure your existing glasses, basically.

OK thank you.



Anyone bought from espyandiris.com?

Jim_Hodge

11wingnut wrote: »

Went in looking for eye test should be free for Prsi,, But got charges as they said approval had not come. I said i only need prescription as my employer needs it for safety glasses .I had every member of staff try and upsell me .This happened twice in different stores . I used it to buy online and happy .
My have also had a bad experience with an independent who had been trained by Specsavers charged 610 euro for a pair of glasses most expensive i ever bought and the worst . they lasted a month .

Any optician will have to charge if your PRSI approval hasn't come through.

Quackster

The €25 charge is for an OCT scan which isn't part of the free PRSI/medical card exam. It has absolutely nothing to do with covid.

It's good to shop around. Vision Express, for example, charges €10 for the same test.

Also, if you have private health insurance, don't forget to submit the receipt as you'll get a portion back (subject to any applicable excess).

Rket4000

My mother was offered the optional €25 OCT scan and agreed to it. They then refused to sell her any glasses because the scan showed up something that new glasses wouldn't help with. They sent a full report to the mater hospital where she was given an appointment within a week. €25 well spent in her opinion.

Gadgetman496

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/113663044#Comment_113663044

That link you posted is for the UK site.

The link to the Irish site is HERE:

They also state the following:

"NOTICE:

If you would like to request a copy of your prescription or change your contact details, please contact your local store."

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117336200#Comment_117336200

If you have an existing pair of glasses there should be 3 numbers visible on them-on the arm(the part that hangs on your ear.1st no is lens size-diagonal measurement,2nd no is distance between each lens-for your nose and 3rd no is the length of the arm.

NewClareman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830616#Comment_117830616

The link I posted was valid for Ireland at that time and I used it to get full details of my Irish prescription. The corresponding page for Ireland no longer contains the online form, though it is still referred to in the privacy policy for Ireland.