A question about : Specsavers sell used frames
I bought new glasses recently from Specsavers, picked them up yesterday. I went back into the store today because one of the pairs looked very different to how they looked last week and I thought they might have made them up in a different colour to the ones I chose.
I was told that they are 100% certain that my glasses are the same colour as the ones I tried on last week. The reason they know this is because my glasses are the ones I tried on last week. They are the display frame that was in the shop.
Now this surprised me. Perhaps I'm a bit naive but I assumed that when I hand over a not insubstantial amount of money for new glasses that I would actually get new glasses. Not a display frame that has been tried on by dozens of people, dropped, trodden on etc. I saw someone tread on a pair last weekend when I was in there. And there were kids playing about with them as well. Some of the frames I tried on were bent out of shape, probably by people trying to make them fit better, or ramming them back into the display racks.
The Specsavers lady I spoke to today said it's standard practice. When someone chooses a frame, they make up the actual frame that they chose. I'd assumed they would get a new frame from stock (or order one) and the display model would go back out on the floor.
I said I'll think twice about using Specsavers again in the future if that's the case. But I wonder, is this standard across the industry? Am I being unreasonable in expecting to get a brand new frame?
Best answers:
- Standard practice in all the opticians I have ever been in.
- Isn't it just the same as buying clothing etc? How do you know how many people have tried them on? The glasses have been tried on, not 'used'.
- I think your experience is normal and you are being picky. It's not like glasses are made of absorbant material!
- Thanks for the opinions folks. I don't think it is the same as buying clothes, where you choose an item and take it away there and then. With glasses you're ordering a pair to be made up for you. I don't think its too much to expect that they take a new pair from stock rather than give you a pair that may have been out on display for weeks or months. But maybe I am being picky. Thanks again for your opinions.
- I think the OP is right. It's not like clothes where you choose whether to buy what's in your hand/on the hanger.
If they're ex-display then they should be labelled as such and offered at a discount.
OP's been robbed! - I agree with OP I would have also assumed that the glasses would have been made up with a new frame. Especially considering the cost of frames! So does this mean you would never get a brand new frame if they always make up your glasses from the display set?
- because the styles change rapidly? 200 shops x 200 frames per season = 4k useless frames a year x twice a year. It's just not economic.
- I have to admit, whenever I have picked out a frame for my reading glasses, I always assume that the pair I have picked (off the racks,) is the one that I get. I thought that was the same in all the opticians.
Have you had glasses before starrystarry? What usually happens?
I agree that most 'display' stuff is not given to you when you buy one (eg a telly or washing machine or cooker etc,) but with glasses, it's always the one off the display rack. (At least I think so.) - Yes I've had glasses before and now I assume this is what has happened before as well. I've only ever had glasses from Specsavers though, which is why I asked whether this was standard throughout the industry.
- I ordered new glasses from Boots yesterday. I specifically asked if I would get a new frame (not the display one) and they said yes.
- I use an independent optician and have always had the frame off the rack.
- I guess it varies then starrystarry. But if SS said that your frame would be new, then it should have been.
Have you challenged them? - Never buy from the high street, I don't know why people still do it. Half price on the web, no quibble returns, free trials.
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