Boots Opticians

I'll never use this place again. The staff there buzzed around me like a team of confidence tricksters, determined not to let me leave with the basic glasses I'd chosen. I've worn specs for 45 years and have never had my lenses thinned. Nobody has ever mentioned how thick one is, compared to the other and the weight of a couple of tiny pieces of glass is of no consequence to me. When the girl dealing with me advised me to have them thinned this time, I told her that aesthetically speaking, thin lenses were the least of my worries and that they were only for work anyway. She nodded to a colleague and in a well orchestrated act, they took turns to look horrified each time I insisted on not adding £60 to my bill for thinned glass. However, after a few minutes of sharp intakes of breath each time I refused, they convinced me that I'd look like a freak with normal lenses, so I agreed to pay the extra. If they can pressure me and force me into submission, I wonder what extras they force onto older customers?
After paying, I left the shop and was told I'd be called or would get a text when the glasses were ready to collect. Needless to say, that didn't happen and after a couple of weeks, I went back.
Fortunately, they were there, so I put them on and immediately said to the lady who was serving me that they felt too powerful. She did the usual, "It'll take a while to adjust" routine. Having looked at the new lenses and realising they weren't noticeably thinner than my old, supposedly thick ones, I raised the issue with the suit wearing, seemingly senior member of staff as I left. I suggested I'd been duped. He then gave me a load of flannel about the merits of thinned glass, but I refused to accept it. As far as I'm concerned, I was taken in by their, "We don't get commission" routine. I felt conned.
In the end, I left the shop, shaking with anger, vowing never to return. However, later that day, I switched to my new glasses and they were unbearable. Everything was blurred. I knew they weren't right, so went back to the shop just before closing time. They said it was too late to do anything, so I now have to go back next week. The optician who conducted my eye test there had said that my prescription hadn't changed that much. As I'd had no problem with my old specs, maybe I shouldn't have bothered buying new ones, but because my prescription HAD changed slightly, I felt I SHOULD get new ones. That was a mistake and using this place was a bigger one. Maybe an eye test should be a simple YES, YOU NEED NEW GLASSES or NO, YOU DON'T NEED NEW GLASSES.

As you would expect, fairly good prices and rarely busy

After ordering glasses, my wife found that they would not be suitable due a medical condition. Went to get a refund today and the lady who dealt with us was very friendly, polite and helpful. She did try to sell us on an exchange (it's her job so not complaining) and didn't take offence when we declined. Overall this was a positive experience.

Accompanied my elderly mother here. It was no trouble to allow her to use the lift and she was given a very comprehensive re-test when the vari focals weren't right for her. Very polite, patient & helpful.