Did you go to Specsavers?

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colinuu

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#280608 28-Dec-2020 22:21

My long time optometrist retired recently and sold his practice. The new guy charges $100 for an eye exam, and has very small discounts for super gold card holders (and I didn't like him a lot on meeting him).

OTOH, Specsavers advertise $60 exams, and more generous discounts. A big plus being that my AA membership will cover the exam cost once every two years.

So - how have you found Specsavers, would you recommend?

TIA, Colin

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#2627535 28-Dec-2020 22:26

If you're already unhappy why not just give them a go. Already sounds like the better deal.

qwertee

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#2627536 28-Dec-2020 22:31

Both my wife and myself have been going to Specsavers for our checkups in CHCH

I have no problems with the service and like my optician. I get the AA checkup for free.
I have a copy of the prescription and I might seek to buy the glasses elsewhere as I need a really light rimless frame.

Give them a go

DjShadow

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#2627537 28-Dec-2020 22:33

I've used Specsavers for many years now and happy with the Eye Tests and Sales Service. At my most recent test they found my prescription hadn't changed from my previous test so there was no pressure on me to buy new glasses which was good.

The AA member benefit gets you a free test every 2 years, if you go in November they tend to have a promo running for free polarising on the second pair.

SATTV

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#2627552 29-Dec-2020 06:37

My wife has complicated eyes, she loves specsavers ( New Lynn ) and is seen by the practice owner. Often they will get glasses made, she will try them and they are not quite right, he will fully redo the test and then some, and get the glasses changed ( as I said my wifes eyes are complicated )

They also referred my wife to Ophthalmology when her Dr and Neurologist had not for over 10 years and she had been suffering from sever double vision.

Me, I dont like them and I pay about $130 for an exam

John

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Eva888

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#2627560 29-Dec-2020 07:55

OPSM do free eye tests for Southern Cross members. When I bought new glasses for my granddaughter, they did her test for free and were very thorough and impressive. I don’t know if free applies to adults as well.

jonathan18

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#2627561 29-Dec-2020 07:56

Just like you’ve found, a big part of the equation is whether you like/trust the actual optometrists, not just whether a sample of a website’s users have have had positive experiences across the brand. I would choose to remain at my local SpecSavers branch even if I lost the free exam via AA, simply because I like my optometrist there and think he’s excellent. If you’re happy to let people know your approximate location you may get feedback on specific branches/optometrists.

As for the overall experience, like a poster above, my latest test last month showed little change -TBH I’d kinda expected a hard sell afterwards to push me to get a new pair, but absolutely nothing.

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tdgeek

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#2627564 29-Dec-2020 08:09

I concur. I just have reading glasses that I dont use much, but Specsavers have a model of being cheaper, and happy friendly service, without the hard sell aspect. They are obviously qualified and have the right gear so why not.

sbiddle

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#2627571 29-Dec-2020 08:42

Wow. I guess my terrible experience across multiple branches stands out as an exception.

I had an eyesight check and they recommended a change in my prescription for my contacts.. Ordered some new trial lenses in and they ordered the wrong ones. Ordered some more and still managed to order the wrong ones. Said they couldn't get a trial set in my prescription and I'd need to just get a box of each eye (toric disposables which were around $60 per box each). These finally turned up nearly a month later after being shipped from Singapore to their store (most stock comes from Singapore). I found out after a couple of days the new prescription was terrible and gave me nausea and headaches.

Went back to the store who did another check and insisted the new prescription was good but said they'd order new lenses of my old prescription (after 6 weeks of them messing me about I'd actually run out of these). You'd never believe it but they then ordered the wrong lenses again and refused to even take back the wrong disposable lenses as the boxes had been opened. I basically lost it then and went to another store to see if they could sort things out.

They couldn't understand why the other store changed my prescription and weren't surprised it caused issues. Managed to get me some temporary lenses in about 2 days later so I at least had some, and they said they'd get my normal lenses back in in a week or so. They couldn't credit my incorrect lenses either as they were a different store but gave me contact details for Specsavers so they could follow up. Multiple emails and calls to both NZ and Aussie never got a single response from them.

After a week they then said my lenses would still be at least another 2-3 weeks away as they had to come from Singapore!

I then went to another optometrist who I still use who had my lenses at my door the following morning shipped for free from Adelaide via DHL, and the price was around 20% cheaper than Specsavers. Every time I reorder now providing it's by around 3pm they are here the following day on DHL from Adelaide (one exception was a few months ago where they actually took 2 days to arrive!).

My lenses from Specsavers finally turned up around 3 weeks later and I've still never heard back from anybody in the company.

Rikkitic

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#2627594 29-Dec-2020 09:53

I tried Specsavers after failing my driver's license renewal because they were the first optometrist on the street. The shop was hectic, a bit chaotic, and the person I saw was not particularly helpful. They weren't horrible, but I didn't like the 'vibe' of the place and I left. I then found a much more expensive practice that gave me the royal treatment - comprehensive tests and a referral for cataract surgery. You get what you pay for.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

FineWine

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#2627599 29-Dec-2020 10:08

Been going to SpecSavers since coming home from Aus 2014. AA discount every two years is great. The one thing I would point out, is that there are so many possible add-ons to spec's these day for which you pay a lot for (lens script, anti-glare, anti-scratch, transitions, progressive, sports lens) just double check the order before you leave the premisses. Also ensure they get lens to facial position mounting correct and you really really tell them what you use your glasses for; near work, far work, combination, how far away normally is your computer screen.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

Mehrts

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#2627606 29-Dec-2020 10:21

I go to Specsavers in Palmerston North and I can't fault the service from my experience. The only thing I don't like about it is the location, right in the middle of the Plaza shopping mall. It just feels a bit cramped & people walking past looking into the store as you're waiting for your appointment.

If there was a second Specsavers location in Palmy, then I'd rather go to that to avoid the crowds passing by.

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Stu1

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#2627668 29-Dec-2020 11:10

Mehrts:

I go to Specsavers in Palmerston North and I can't fault the service from my experience. The only thing I don't like about it is the location, right in the middle of the Plaza shopping mall. It just feels a bit cramped & people walking past looking into the store as you're waiting for your appointment.

If there was a second Specsavers location in Palmy, then I'd rather go to that to avoid the crowds passing by.

Totally agree the one in Lower Hutt queens gate the same as well, really hate being in a fish bowl

tdgeek

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#2627681 29-Dec-2020 11:34

I guess what this all means, is that like any Telco, bank, electronics store, it comes down to the employee that you interacted with

JaseNZ

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#2627693 29-Dec-2020 11:51

Wife and I have used them for years, just book online and go in when need to.

Prices are fine for what we need, no fuss no muss.

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floydbloke

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#2627702 29-Dec-2020 12:00

My experience with the Lambton Quay branch has been excellent (so much so that I took them in a box chocolates to thank them for the customer service I had received from numerous staff members there).

Long story short, bought new glasses (with progressives, cost >$1000) but the frame was irritating my nose. Went in about four or five times over about 6 weeks to have some tweaks and adjustments made, they'd be comfortable for half an hour or so but then felt sore or itchy again. I went in again and said these are no good, response was "no problem, pick a different frame and we'll make you a new pair". Only thing I had to pay was the difference in price of the frame, as the new one I chose was more expensive.

One thing I do recommend is to grab their lens pricing pamphlet and get an understanding of what you might be up for if you've got a reasonable idea of your prescription, anything outside a pair of stockstandard short-sighted lenses and the price goes up quickly.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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