I look damn good (Specsavers Opticians)

Member Name: freediveheaven

Product:	Specsavers Opticians
Date:	24/08/08 (612 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Professional eye test

Disadvantages: May not get the same optician on each visit

When I first realised I might need glasses I went to Boots to get a eye test, mainly because they had a shop next door to where I worked in London and also because by firm paid for both the eye test and subject to a form being signed a contribution to the cost of any glasses, for four years and various opticians this was not a problem until one decided that they would not sign the form, after a short argument I took my business off to Specsavers and have never looked back. I currently use the Specsavers in the Milton Keynes Shopping Centre as I used to work in Milton Keynes and despite moving jobs I have seen no reason to change as I have always been impressed with the service and quality of their tests.

Specsavers are a high street retailer who provides an eye test service and the company also provides other screening processes like hearing tests in some centres. They have a wide range of lenses and contact lenses available and they seem to permanently have some sort of offer available to customers.

The Milton Keynes site is located in the main indoor shopping centre nearer the Marks and Spencer end of the precinct, it is on two levels with the ground floor containing the frame displays and the upstairs suite is where you have your eye consultation. I have my eyes tested every two years with them, I always get a reminder about six weeks before the test is due and reminders if I'm slow to book up for a test. The actual test takes about twenty to thirty minutes; once you have registered there is an initial screening process with a member of staff who will check out the health of your eyes including the horrible test for glaucoma where jets of air are aimed at your eyeball. Not I have a thing about touching eyes, it just sets me on edge hence I will never wear contact lenses so I hate this part of the test as it brings me out in a cold sweat but thankfully the rest of the process is smooth and stress free.

After the health test you are passed over to your optician, they will have the results of your health check and I liked the fact that after a couple of pleasantries they immediately conformed that everything was fine just to put your mind at rest. They will also want to see your current glasses before starting the test and usually there are a few screening questions to answer as well.

The actual test makes use of a number of different individual assessment techniques, everything from the reading of letters to comparing depth of colour and clarity of dots, I find the whole process very relaxed and each of the step were explained to me beforehand, also you will get to compare different types of lenses to find which one is right for you to get your final prescription, now this is rather subjective as it relies on your responses but the process is repeated often enough to ensure a consistent response.

What I really like about Specsavers is that there is no hard sell, my optician was very honest in confirming that my sight had only had a negligible change and did not warrant new glasses however having recently broken the pair I use for driving I opted for a replacement pair. After the test I was asked if I wanted to select from their range and was then passed to a sales person on the shop floor, the whole handover was very smooth and all my personal details from the test were handed to them at the same time. The available offers and pricing structure were then explained and I was left to browse in peace. I hate having someone watching over me so I liked this part of the service.

All of the frames are arranged in price categories starting from £49 and rising to £125 for designer frames. The other two price categories were £75 and £99. They had an offer of buy one get another pair free on fames from the £75 and up category. These prices include the cost of the standard lenses by the way and the offer allowed you to pick from two frames from different price categories if you wanted with the cheaper one free. You could also use this offer to buy sunglasses as one of the options which was what I decided.

The have plenty of frames to choose from in a wide range of styles and colours, in the end I opted for a set of Calvin Kline frames for my glasses and a different frame from the same designer for my sunglasses. There were plenty of mirrors to check out your new purchase and the staff are always available to give an opinion, I usually arrange to meet a friend for lunch when I go to get a second opinion but this time my meet was not until later so I had to fly solo and rely on the sales person being honest.

Once selected they then sit you down to do a fitting and you also get to decide on what tin you want for the sunglasses, you can also select from different lenses for the glasses as well which can increase the overall price. Once you are happy then you pay and I was advised that my order would be available the following week to collect. Unfortunately they do not offer an on the spot service but this is not really a problem for me. Upon collection the glasses are again checked to ensure they fit and I liked the fact that they came not only in the designer box but an additional protective outer case.

I must admit I'm more than happy to recommend Specsavers, the range of frames is pretty good and well within my budget, I bought two sets of glasses and with the test included it cost me £143 however it could have easily been under £100 if I had gone for a cheaper frame design. They offer a range of men and women frames as well as a selection for children that were far removed from the nasty NHS specs I remember kids having to wear at school.

More impressive is the fact that I'm confident in the quality of the staff that provides the eye test; I like the fact that they are not merely pushy sales people but maintain a professional approach with a personal touch. The only downside is that you would not expect to see the same person on each visit unlike a local optician.

The shops sell a range of eye care products but again the staff do not try to push the sale of these and when buying new specs you can always go back at any time to get them adjusted free of charge if you need to.

Overall an impressive retailer ho delivers on its advertising promises.

Thanks for reading and rating my review.

Summary: Well run opticians chain.