Complaint Review: LENSCRAFTERS - Lafayette Indiana

I currently work at Lenscrafters, as an eyewear consultant. My job is to sell you the best product for your needs. I am not some person dragged off the street to coerce innocent customers into forking over too much money. I AM trained in what lenses are best for what type of use, and I take a lot of time with each customer to try to find what will best suit them. Contrary to popular belief, we do NOT always push the most expensive lens. If you are a little old lady, and have been wearing a certain type of lense for 10 years, i WILL NOT try to force some $700 Varilux DST on you. What works best for you is what you are adapted to, and happiest with. But the fact is, the best of anything costs the most. The best shoes, the best electronics, the best watches, whatever. Anything that uses some kind of technology has VARIOUS levels. You don't just have TV. you have tubes, HD, etc. So guess what? The best lenses, and the most technologically advanced ones, COST THE MOST. So when the average person walks in, and says i need glasses, you tell them about what will give them the clearest, sharpest, and most comfortable vision. Which is the newest lenses. Which cost more. And while I do not go to school for A YEAR (yeahh... a whole year) to learn how to measure eyes and fit contacts, that part of the sale is NOT DONE BY ME. I am trained in fit, in different lenses, and in customer service. ultimately you will be seeing a liscensed optician during your visit! And they will be going over your lens choice, and will be performing all measurments. My job is to sell, and yes, like any sales job we have to work to meet a quota, but our commission is THE SAME whether you buy $100 or $1000. It's per unit. Don't demean my job. I may not have a degree, but I am trained, and also know the limits to this and work WITH the opticians to help you get the best vision possible.

QUOTE" After some time of can and can't,have and have not I ordered my glasses. I paid them with a check , she made one last check and returned to tell me they were out of that lens but I could have something else for $20.00 more. During the sale her push was to sell not please. All I wanted was to use my old frames and fix the lens. I didn't want to spend a lot of money,or waste my time. I just wanted to give my insight on this - since it has come across to folks i know - and i did look into this - and i can almost ASSURE you it is not a Bait and switch - and let me shed some info i gained - 1- I can easily see a lens BEING OUT OF STOCK - and it appears from the info you provided - it is almost the same situation - as i came across - That a particular lens was out of stock - and it was aval. in stock in a better product - ( in our case it was dealing with the AR coating - the regular ar coating was not in stock but a prem, Scotch-guard product was - a simple way to deal with this was - to ask them to order it and FOR YOU TO WAIT for it to come in - however - I THINK THIS IS PROB. not the case - YOU prob. wanted them that day - and did not want to wait the 7-10 or 14 days --- (( sound right ? maybe ? )_ why did u not want to wait for the other product Myself being in the field - ( but not for tha company - ) -there is almost NO WAY - for everyone to carry every RX - and many folks going there - are very impatient - and refuse to wait a week or so - they are used to getting the instant grad. 2- as for just wanting to use your old frame - for my shop - this is all well and good - but I understand that based off your 20 dollar comment - you bought them during their (50 % off lens promo )--- RIGHT >>>>?? same issue that i had -- anyways - this sale - clearly states - that it must be a frame and lens purchase - ( no hidden agendas there ) - and i am so glad we do not offer SALES what so ever - over prices are full price - no discounts - ect but anyways ) - I too try to Educate MY pts - about using OLD frames - and the issues that come up - the main one is that frame manufacturers - discontinue there models yrly almost - and lets say you come to me - and decide to use your old frames - i tell u - NO problem - but if this frame should break on you say in 1 day - 1 week - 1 mnth - ext -- THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE the older the frame - the less likely I can replace it for you - and therefore the 300 -- 750 dollars you just spent on lenses - will be thrown out and you will need to purchase new lenses -as well as a new frame - I DO NOT EDGE old lenses down - to fit other frames - EVEN IF SOME SAY - "OH THEY ARE CLOSE " - since there are to many issues with comprising optics - or even ensuring they meet ansi standard - ( our governing standards for quality ) - some opticians - will do this to make the buck off you - and do not care that they do not meet quality standards -- BUT I WILL NOT !!! IT is not the right thing to do - and lastly - to my understanding - from what i looked into - IT IS UAULLY CHEAPER to buy a complete frame and lens under that sale then just updating the lenses in your own frame -- say your lenses retail for 300 bucks - and you have a frame for 120 bucks - well under that sale - to my understanding - reading the the sale - it would come out to be 150 for lenses - ( reg 300 - but at 50 OFF - ) 120 FOR FRAME (( HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR FRAME UNDER SALE )- TOTAL OUT OF POCKET FOR YOU IS 270 IF YOU WHERE TO JUST TO DO YOUR LENSES - YOU WOULD PAY 300 !!! SO WHATS THE BETTER DEAL ??? I OWUDL SAY THEIR SALE !!! NO ? FOR OUR SHOP THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE - SINCE WE DO NOT OFFER SALES - BUT I CAN SEE HOW IT IS CHEAPER - WITH THERE SALE - JUST MY THOUHGT S

I know this post is really old, but I just had to say... Janet, I'm an ABOC optician too, and you're just ridiculous. You think you're God's gift to optics or something. Come down. Deflate your head just a little bit. I'd hate to work with you... I hope you don't try to make the "frame stylists" at your store feel as horribly as you try to make them feel on here. The frame stylists at our stores are as important to the team as you or I are and the team would not function without them. So knock it off. Quit telling customers to avoid the frame stylists at all costs. All of my frame stylists are proficiently trained and have a broad knowledge in optics and are fully capable of helping a customer from beginning to end, and I know that's the case at most stores. If that's not the case at your store perhaps you should step off your pedestal for a little bit and lend some of your "knowledge" and "experience" to them and help them out a bit. Just my honest opinion.

I know this post is really old, but I just had to say... Janet, I'm an ABOC optician too, and you're just ridiculous. You think you're God's gift to optics or something. Come down. Deflate your head just a little bit. I'd hate to work with you... I hope you don't try to make the "frame stylists" at your store feel as horribly as you try to make them feel on here. The frame stylists at our stores are as important to the team as you or I are and the team would not function without them. So knock it off. Quit telling customers to avoid the frame stylists at all costs. All of my frame stylists are proficiently trained and have a broad knowledge in optics and are fully capable of helping a customer from beginning to end, and I know that's the case at most stores. If that's not the case at your store perhaps you should step off your pedestal for a little bit and lend some of your "knowledge" and "experience" to them and help them out a bit. Just my honest opinion.

I know this post is really old, but I just had to say... Janet, I'm an ABOC optician too, and you're just ridiculous. You think you're God's gift to optics or something. Come down. Deflate your head just a little bit. I'd hate to work with you... I hope you don't try to make the "frame stylists" at your store feel as horribly as you try to make them feel on here. The frame stylists at our stores are as important to the team as you or I are and the team would not function without them. So knock it off. Quit telling customers to avoid the frame stylists at all costs. All of my frame stylists are proficiently trained and have a broad knowledge in optics and are fully capable of helping a customer from beginning to end, and I know that's the case at most stores. If that's not the case at your store perhaps you should step off your pedestal for a little bit and lend some of your "knowledge" and "experience" to them and help them out a bit. Just my honest opinion.

I know this post is really old, but I just had to say... Janet, I'm an ABOC optician too, and you're just ridiculous. You think you're God's gift to optics or something. Come down. Deflate your head just a little bit. I'd hate to work with you... I hope you don't try to make the "frame stylists" at your store feel as horribly as you try to make them feel on here. The frame stylists at our stores are as important to the team as you or I are and the team would not function without them. So knock it off. Quit telling customers to avoid the frame stylists at all costs. All of my frame stylists are proficiently trained and have a broad knowledge in optics and are fully capable of helping a customer from beginning to end, and I know that's the case at most stores. If that's not the case at your store perhaps you should step off your pedestal for a little bit and lend some of your "knowledge" and "experience" to them and help them out a bit. Just my honest opinion.

I think it's pretty funny that you are defending this company. It's even more HILARIOUS that you have to put me down in order to do it. The fact is. Lenscrafters wants to get away from having to have opticians. They only want frame stylists BECAUSE frame stylists sell EVERYTHING to make a company profit and fatten their pockets as well. An optician hopefully will sell only what the PATIENT (i'll come back to that) needs and not what the company wants us to sell. At the great world of Lensrafters the bottom line is the BOTTOM LINE. What should be your eye opener in this case is that everyone who walks through the door is known as a CUSTOMER and not as a PATIENT. Nicole lets talk, stop defending the company and be a real optician OR are you a FRAME STYLIST

I USED to be a regular customer of theirs, but the last few times Ive been there all's I've received were excuses as to why I can't get what I want. Every time I've tried to get replacement lenses, frames, or repairs made for frames I previously purchased from them, they tell me they "can't" do anything but sell me new glasses. It didn't used to be like that, and I didn't purchase anything exotic so repairs shouldn't be all that hard to come by. Maybe once, I can understand, but this happens every time, so I've written them off as just another company that doesn't respect the concept of customer service.

I USED to be a regular customer of theirs, but the last few times Ive been there all's I've received were excuses as to why I can't get what I want. Every time I've tried to get replacement lenses, frames, or repairs made for frames I previously purchased from them, they tell me they "can't" do anything but sell me new glasses. It didn't used to be like that, and I didn't purchase anything exotic so repairs shouldn't be all that hard to come by. Maybe once, I can understand, but this happens every time, so I've written them off as just another company that doesn't respect the concept of customer service.

I USED to be a regular customer of theirs, but the last few times Ive been there all's I've received were excuses as to why I can't get what I want. Every time I've tried to get replacement lenses, frames, or repairs made for frames I previously purchased from them, they tell me they "can't" do anything but sell me new glasses. It didn't used to be like that, and I didn't purchase anything exotic so repairs shouldn't be all that hard to come by. Maybe once, I can understand, but this happens every time, so I've written them off as just another company that doesn't respect the concept of customer service.

I USED to be a regular customer of theirs, but the last few times Ive been there all's I've received were excuses as to why I can't get what I want. Every time I've tried to get replacement lenses, frames, or repairs made for frames I previously purchased from them, they tell me they "can't" do anything but sell me new glasses. It didn't used to be like that, and I didn't purchase anything exotic so repairs shouldn't be all that hard to come by. Maybe once, I can understand, but this happens every time, so I've written them off as just another company that doesn't respect the concept of customer service.

Hmmm, where to begin. O.K. the Scotchgard lens happends to be the best lens LensCrafters has to offer and I must add that it is a great lens. It beats Crizal, Zeiss you name it if you can. In case you forgot YOU are in a SALES enviroment. That means the company YOU work for wants to sell products. If you are consistantly being talked to about your sales or lack of, maybe your boss is trying to get rid of you. Also, by the way you sound it seems as if you have a piss poor attitude and the other optical companies that Luxottica owns (not LensCrafters) would not even want you. As a state licensed Optican you should not be complaining about what commision you are not making. You do get paid a better hourly rate than a Framestylist would make. Maybe you have the option to demote yourself. Oh thats right you don't believe in the products you sell therefore we want you to talk to as few customers as possible. My advise, I understand there are always postions avaliable for ditchdiggers.

I curently work for Lenscrafters and am astounded at what happens in this organization. Let me first say that I work for them because there is really no where else to go in the Optical field. They are buying out everyone. Luxottica currently owns SEARS, Sunglass Hut, BJ Optical, and Pearle Vision to name a few. So going elsewhere is pointless. This "Bait and Switch" that you speak of was not and is not accidental. It happens daily at the store I work for. Lenscrafters wants you to buy there "NEW" lens the SCOTCHGARD lens. Which if it is ordered in anything but a single vision lens (meaning no bi-focal) then you have to wait up to two weeks to get the lens. So much for glasses in about an hour. Now, don't get me wrong. You can still get most glasses in an hour but they push US to get YOU to go for the Scotchgard. You will also notice that whenever you come into Lenscrafters you will be hounded to purchase more than one pair. Thats because we get graded weekly on our sales goals for the week/month. One through four. How much you sold, how many MULTIPLES (more than one pair to one person), how much SCOTCHGARD, and how many of the people who entered our store actually bought from us, this is known as conversion. If you consistently rate a 1 or 2 you get written up then terminated. Lenscrafters in all of its BOLDNESS actually sent out a memo right before Christmas to all of its stores telling us that prices were going up 10.00 for the most popular brands of lenses (SCOTCHGARD). WHY, because you the consumer were buying it like hotcakes and they wanted a more profitable end of year. I have made copies of it and will post it if needed. In the state of Ohio. You must obtain a state license in order to repair or dispense glasses. Which, to me is one heck of a smart idea. I have that license. Well, be weary of when you walk into a Lenscrafters store. Look clearly at the NAMETAG of the person who is helping you. It must clearly state if the person is an APPRENTICE OPTICIAN (working towards a license), or a LICENSED OPTICIAN. However, if to your wandering eyes appears that you see none of those words on the nametag, but it says FRAME STYLIST, back away quickly. This is a person that has been hired in off of the streets to simply sell you, the unsuspecting consumer, the BEST pair of glasses that LENSCRAFTERS thinks you should have. In short they know very little about the eye or anything else regarding prescriptions. The basics, that's all. Just enough to sell you a pair or hopefully TWO pairs of glasses. We that have a state held license can do nothing but sit and replace your nosepads, bend your frame back into shape, etc. While we do some sales. Lenscrafters has us around because each store MUST have a licensed optician on hand at all times while the store is open. The frame stylilsts are the ones, along with Lenscrafters, that are making the money. If you want a real set of glasses, that will work for you and not just something that they want you to buy. SEE THE LICENSED OPTICIANS. We are the ones who spent the time and effort to learn our trade, and know what YOU NEED, not what they WANT YOU TO NEED. So why do I work for them. I ask myslef that question everyday. Lets see the drone reposnes from other employess that are PAID to search forums like this and give GREAT REVIEWS when something bad is said.

At what point did a bait and switch occur? A sales associate cannot possibly know if the lenses required to process your specific prescription are in stock as soon as you decide on what you want. Many factors are involved in determining the lens base needed, including the prescription, type of frame, and material of lenses. The sales associate SHOULD have checked with the lab to make sure the lenses were in stock after sending the order back to the lab but prior to running your check, which WAS a mistake on her part. This does not, however, mean she pulled one over on you. It simply means she made a mistake. She offered other lenses for more money because that's what they had. She could have ordered the lenses, but then you wouldn't get them that day. "Fixing lenses" is almost impossible. There's not a magic solution that takes off scratches or chips, so new lenses are almost always the only route that can be taken. As a Lenscrafters employee, I apologize for the perception of the associate as being pushy rather than pleasing. We're not trained to be pushy, so maybe you got an overzealous associate. You were NOT given the bait and switch though.