Shoulda gone to specsavers (urgh, how original)! (Dolland & Aitchison)

Member Name: katyboo123

Product:	Dolland & Aitchison
Date:	02/11/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Aftercare Service, but tried to dupe me in to spending more money

Disadvantages: Price

I got Contact Lenses by Post (CLBP) for about 2 years from Dolland and Aitchison. It all began about 4 years ago when through Nectar I was sent a voucher for a free eye test, free contact lens assessment and trial and 50% off glasses when signing up to the CLBP. I went along to my appointment, I was first impressed by the cleanliness of the store and the friendliness of the staff. Only trouble was, there was no waiting area and I was about 10 minutes early for my appointment, so they asked me to have a look at the glasses while I waited. I seemed to be in everyone's way in a really small store and there's only so long you can stand and look at frames for, so I did not enjoy this element of the experience.

My eye test was first, this was pretty uneventful, within the same appointment, I then had my contact lens assessment, again, this was fine, the optician was very kind, gentle, etc. I chose a pair of glasses and sure enough, all I paid for was 50% of the price of the glasses, setting up a direct debit for my contact lenses. I got 2,000 nectar points (enough to purchase a CD album) and I was given one set of contact lenses, a small solution and a case by the optician, until my first shipment was dispatched.

At this stage, and for about 12 months following, I would definitely give the initial appointment, service, aftercare, etc 5 out of 5. Even value for money, as although I was paying £20 per month for the contacts, I got £100 off my glasses. So this cancelled out the contact lens payments for the first 5 months!

I then received a letter to say that I was due a routine contact lens assessment and could not be supplied with anymore lenses until I attended, due to some kind of law or something. So I went for my assessment, everything was fine, but they suggested that my prescription had changed. This meant I had a totally different prescription on my lenses to my glasses. After about a month, I started getting really bad headaches, so I contacted D+A to let them know. They said they didn't have an appointment for 8 weeks, so I would have to just stick to one or the other in the meantime - i.e. glasses or lenses, they also said it would be advisable to get new glasses as the contact lens sight test was the most up to date. There was no way I was going to pay for 8 weeks worth of lenses and just wear my glasses, so I rang around a few other stores in the area. I eventually got in to a shop 25 miles away from my house. I drove there and I attended the appointment. They decided my vision had not changed or worsened, so I was back to the original contact lens prescription.

Perhaps D+A were trying to get an extra pair of glasses out of me?

I carried on my CLBP subscription for another 12 months until my next sight test was due, so I had had them 24 months in total. I was invited for another sight test, and my contractual free contact lens assessment. I shopped around this time as the sight test was going to be £27.50 and I discovered Specsavers and Vision Express both had substantially cheaper contact lens offers, as well as glasses. Even taking in to account the 50% discount D+A offer. I have since tried Specsavers, Vision Express and Asda contact lenses. I get better quality lenses now, cheaper than I can at D+A, even taking in to account the Nectar Points I received.

For me, loyalty gives no benefits at Opticians, and you should shop around, questioning everything they tell you. If D+A had been a little more transparent, or perhaps tried to sell me a better quality lens, rather than a different prescription, to make money out of me, then I wouldn't feel so taken advantage of in my experience with them.

Thumbs down from me, sadly!

Summary: Opticians should, like a doctor or dentist, be trusted they are not just there to make money outta u