Dollond & Aitchison - Bad service my eye! (Dolland & Aitchison)

Member Name: Teteenlair

Product:	Dolland & Aitchison
Date:	12/12/08 (425 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly and efficient service

Disadvantages: Pricey, but no more than anywhere else. All eye-care is expensive.

I didn't intend to write a review on Dollond & Aitchison, but browsing the categories and coming across some of the opinions and experiences here, I felt I needed to redress the balance a little bit.

I first registered with D&A about 8 years ago, when a money-off voucher tempted me away from a local independent (overpriced) optician. I'm short-sighted and get both my specs and contact lenses from them (via the Contact Lenses by Post scheme). Over the years, I have moved around a lot and transferred my records between Middlesbrough and Newcastle a few times without any hassle whatsoever. I have also lived abroad twice during this time and have been able to arrange for them to send me a few months' worth of contact lenses in advance, making a one-off payment for the bulk-buy and then suspend my account and my direct debit until further notice (ie. 'til I moved back to the UK) - then just a simple call to the contact centre to reactivate it.

I tend to buy a new pair of specs about once a year and never have I paid full price for them - being a CLBP customer I get half-price frames, and I always manage to secure a deal for a cheap pair of prescription sunglasses and a few extras thrown in too, such as scratch-resistant and anti-glare coatings. The assistants always take the time to cross-reference all the different offers that are available on the products I'm buying to get me the cheapest possible combination.

I have read a few reviews where people have complained about miserable and unhelpful staff but I have never found this to be the case (bear in mind however that I do live in the NE where we're renowned for our friendliness, and I know a couple of the reviews to which I'm referring concerned Central London). The opticians I find are always really friendly and will have a joke and a chat with you. They enquire about your experiences and your needs and sometimes recommend new products which they think you might be interested in. I say 'recommend; rather than 'try to sell', because if you say no they never pursue it. The shop staff, with whom I tend to spend more time, are even nicer if anything. I'm terrible for umm-ing and ahh-ing about clothes and things and especially glasses because I'm sure my face is a bit wonky and most pairs just don't seem to 'sit' right. The ladies are always patient with me and offer their opinion, even if it's to say they don't think I suit a particular pair, which I really appreciate.

As well as help from the assistants, D&A also have digital cameras with which to take your photo in your shortlist of frames, which are them displayed on one screen to compare. Cringeworthy as this is, it can help when you've tried on so many glasses that you really DO start to feel four-eyed!

I have only good things to say about the Contact Lenses by Post scheme as well. Every month, my two pairs of lenses, a new container and some saline solution drop on the mat like clockwork and the money goes out of my account. It's that simple. I filled out a short direct debit form when I decided to sign up to CLBP and D&A did the rest. Whenever my prescription changes, the optician notifies them and my next pair of lenses will be stronger. If there's any amendments I need to make, such as changing my bank details or payment date, or even more complicated things as I described above, it's just a quick call to friendly people up in Scotland and everything's sorted instantaneously. As part of the CLBP scheme, you are given free bi-annual contact lens checks, where the optician checks the health of your eyes rather than your sight. If you don't go for these checks, they stop sending you the lenses - which could seem a bit draconian but I guess they'd be getting sued left, right and centre if people developed problems due to wearing contact lenses, and it's in your interests too. They send out postal reminders when these checks and eye tests are due, and even call you on the day of the appointment to make sure you're still ok for the time.

Summary: Take the bad reviews on here with a pinch of salt, I've never had a problem in 8 years.