Dodgy optometrist practice?

gawky on 06/06/2014 - 14:33
Last edited 07/06/2014 - 02:07

Hey guys,
Girlfriend purchased a set of expensive frames and lens.

6 days later the order came in, i picked it up for her.

To her surprise, she noticed that the frames that i picked up was the display model she tried on… (with new prescription lens)…

Is this optometrist dodgy or is this a common practice among optometrist?

I.e. Keep stock levels for frames at 1 = display model.

NB:
There was sticker residue on the nose bridge of the frame. My girlfriend tested the display frames with a set adhesive silicon nose pads. It helps elevate the frame from face.

General Discussion

Comments

  • m2000 on 06/06/2014 - 14:56
    -2

    I believe it's common practice, unless you specifically request a new set.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2014 - 17:05
      +2

      Not at the optometrists I've been to.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/06/2014 - 21:18

        Well I thought this said Doggy optometrist and was wondering why the OP picked up glasses for the gf's dog. I just rolled with the whole dog's wearing glasses idea

  • aliocroc on 06/06/2014 - 17:13

    Yeah, I've not heard of that before! Even if you think of how many times have they been dropped or stretched with all those other people trying them? Surely that's not cool!

  • jzdhgkd on 06/06/2014 - 17:48
    +1

    If you go buy shoes, hats, shirts, pants etc and there's only one left on the shelf you'll still be paying full price for the "display model" unless otherwise specified.

    I think it's reasonable in this case. Unless there's visible damage or something along those lines, you can't always expect a shop to keep extra inventory of everything, especially if they're as expensive as you say.

    • gawky on 07/06/2014 - 02:24
      +1

      If the clothing were untouched (I know it is extremely unlikely), then I am inclined to agree with you.
      They (optometrist) should have at least given us the option to at least order in a new frame with new lenses and not just order new lenses placed in display model frames.

      Found the same model online for ~ 75% off what we paid at this optometrist (exclude shipping).
      Good times..

  • kpl69 on 06/06/2014 - 21:24

    I have been to several optometrists and they all do the same thing unless I ask them to order in a pair of frames they don't have stock of then it is brand new.

  • mooney on 06/06/2014 - 21:30

    I work for opsm. We either supply fresh frames from our lab with the prescription lenses already inserted (our preferred option as it means we don't take a commercial style off our shelf) or we have to take the style off the shelf, send it to the lab for the lenses to be inserted and then handed over to a customer.

    This is absolutely common practice amongst all optical retailers, I promise you nothing untoward had occurred. Actually wherever you went were pretty good to let her try adhesive nose pads on an expensive unsold frame.

    If the residual adhesive is a pain my suggestion is to take it into a sunglass hut store and ask ever so nicely if they can get rid of it for you. They use eucalyptus oil to clean sticky residue off their sunglass frames and it's highly effective.

    Hope this helps and your girlfriend likes her glasses.

    • fruit on 06/06/2014 - 23:21
      -1

      Why are you not upfront with your customers about this?

      • mooney on 07/06/2014 - 00:21
        +3

        Eh? Did you read my post above?! Its not a secret, most times if its floor stock it'll get bagged up right in front of the customer. Please also note OP has not said where his girlfriend bought her frames. I was just trying to pass over an informed, reassuring, viewpoint.

        I know we prefer not to use the frame from our shop floor, it can take a week to turn around a pair of glasses so if that item is winging its way to the lab its not available for the next customer to buy.

        Using floor stock is much more frequent in small, indie, chains. Stock investment is a major cost for any organisation so for small, or one store, optical chains it's simply not sustainable to invest in duplicate, reserve, fresh stock.

        Plus, and this may shock you, some people explicitly WANT the one off the floor as they know it fits them properly!

        I hope this gives you some additional insight that my prior message failed to convey. If you're still unhappy I'd genuinely appreciate you taking the time to articulate why (rather than just give me another -1)

        • gawky on 07/06/2014 - 02:06
          +1

          Thank you mooney for your insight.
          It was a small local optometrist. They had leftover adhesive nose pad strips, which I asked if we could get a cut out of to stick onto the frames.
          I just wish they had been a lot clearer on what we should be expecting during the process, especially when the frames alone were $450.
          I would have been none the wiser if the residual was not so evident.
          Lesson learned.

        • Dumax on 07/06/2014 - 15:32

          The best thing to do is ask. Most places will be upfront about the fact that you're getting the shelf frame - but some will only tell you if you ask them.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/06/2014 - 03:23

    I've bought new prescription frames every year since I was a kid. Every time, they give me the frames right off the shelf - the ones on display. They set it aside in front of me with my details attached. Seeing as I've always been aware of that practice, if I really like a pair that have some cosmetic damage, I will ask for a brand new pair. They're happy to oblige if they can order in a new pair, but sometimes (if I've chosen a pair that's on special, or on clearance) that's not possible so you either take the display pair or choose something else.

    Tbh, I don't ever recall them explaining to me that I'd be receiving the display pair. I just noticed it over the years as being the way it works. NOTE: I haven't bought a pair from a large chain like OPSM or Specsavers etc… only smaller chains or independent optometrists.

    Thinking about it now… it would be nice if they gave us a nice discount for taking the display pair, since they're never as perfect as a brand new pair. hmm

    • gawky on 07/06/2014 - 21:24

      Yeah, never realised before now.
      Ah well, would be nice if they were upfront about it.

  • wbeer on 07/06/2014 - 22:54

    Im with the OP - its abit weird and should of been explained to the customer.

    I would expect something that would come into contact with my nose, ears, face, hair - to have not been in contact with random strangers.

  • mooney on 07/06/2014 - 23:05
    +1

    I love Ozbargain. Not only do I get to purchase stuff that I don't need at great prices, I've also gotten some great insight into one aspect of my job that I had never realised had such a negative impact on the customer experience.

    Thanks for posting the question gawky!

    • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2014 - 04:40

      +1 to you for genuinely caring for your customers :)

    • gawky on 08/06/2014 - 18:52

      It goes both ways, mooney.

      Very therapeutic to see people's experiences in this matter.

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