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Forum Thread

Glasses Lenses Starting to Delaminate - Lab Refusing to Replace Them. What do?

15,176 2,874 October 1, 2014 at 10:55 AM in Help
I need some advice on how to handle a situation with customer service from a company.

I bought some glasses in February of last year. The lenses are now starting to delaminate (the back of the lenses appear to almost be separating from the rest of the lens). Considering how much I paid for the lenses because of my prescription (high-index polycarbonate), I strongly feel like they should last more than a year and a half.

However, the lab that made the lenses is stating that they're now out of warranty because it's been over a year, and that the delamination is probably just due to heat. This is what the optician's office says, anyway. The optician wants me to pay for a new set of lenses and get another eye exam since it's been over a year. My position is that in the 15 years I've been wearing glasses, I've never had this happen. It seems to me like a defect in the lenses or the lab process.

I went back to the optician's office after they called me informing me that the lenses wouldn't be free (after I was assured it was going to be a free replacement). I told them that I'm not sure why they would expect me to continue to use their services if the first time I used them, I'm having issues and they refuse to stand behind their products. They told me that they could have the supervisor from the lens lab call me, and that she could explain it to me. I agreed, and they said that I should get a call from them tomorrow morning.

Am I out of line thinking that I should be able to get a replacement at no cost to me? It doesn't seem like something I should be penalized for. What would be the best way to address this with the supervisor?

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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
Quote from LordOfChaos :
How long do you expect a pair of glasses to last? How long is reasonable for a company to warrant such products vs your expectations?

Just curious...

I would probably be upset if my expensive only lasted a 1.5 years... well... unless it were a steak... if an expensive steak lasted 1.5 years that would be CRAZY!
I'm not talking about everyday wear and tear. If I scratch up my glasses or something that was equally my fault, then that's fine.

However, this appears to be something more like an issue with the lab process. The optician said he's only seen this a couple of times before, and was sure that the lab would replace it for free - only the lab is now refusing because it's stating that it's out of warranty. I think 2-3 years would be more the appropriate lifespan for a pair of glasses, especially on the more expensive end of things.
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Joined Apr 2006
First Out
> bubble2 683 Posts
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euuser104047
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
Did you pay with AMEX? I think they double your warranty.
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
10-01-2014 at 12:41 PM.
Quote from fsyowad :
If its a minor change,(most likely), it would be very, very expensive to buy eyewear yearly. Progressive lenses, astigmatisms , some people need sunglasses also, you could easily be out $700.00 plus.
Iagree

Quote from U-Turn :
Did you pay with AMEX? I think they double your warranty.
I did not. I believe I paid cash, unfortunately.
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Last edited by PaintTheSkyGrey October 1, 2014 at 12:42 PM.
Joined Aug 2003
L9: Master
> bubble2 4,298 Posts
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fsyowad
10-01-2014 at 01:04 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:04 PM.
These new thin plastic lensed can be heat damaged very easily. They WANT you to replace them every year. Its their business model.
I had a pair of prescription sunglasses crack on me after leaving them in a hot car. I had never had a problem like that before. They were about 18 months old. Lenscrafters initially told me I would now need a new exam and at least new expensive lenses in my regular glasses and sunglasses. It would have been cheaper just to redo everything. I then said all I really need is the lense that cracked replaced. They said they had to at least redo both lenses.

I called corporate...

My lenses were replaced with the same perscription free of charge within about a week.

The markup on these things is very high. It does not cost them alot to make things right.
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Joined Feb 2008
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> bubble2 4,384 Posts
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jeepdog
10-01-2014 at 01:07 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:07 PM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
They're the same kind of lenses I've gotten for many years - a high-index polycarbonate that keeps them from being super thick because of my high prescription strength. Definitely not cheap lenses, either. A few hundred dollars for the set.
Gotcha. I have a rather mild prescription so I have never had to consider those. I would expect a pair of prescription glasses to last several years, but I can see them listing a warranty at a year. I would expect any reputable shop to stand behind their product for longer than a year and a half.
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,164 Posts
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emelvee
10-01-2014 at 01:12 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:12 PM.
Why'd you get laminate glasses to begin with? Everyone gets granite these days.
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 01:18 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:18 PM.
Quote from emelvee :
Why'd you get laminate glasses to begin with? Everyone gets granite these days.
I thought it would accent the backsplash. Frown
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
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Iaaaiws
10-01-2014 at 01:21 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:21 PM.


Maybe I should make one of these for z2g Scratchchin

I could replace the biker with a Prius and make the light beam in the shape of eyeglasses. bulb
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,164 Posts
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emelvee
10-01-2014 at 01:25 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:25 PM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
I thought it would accent the backsplash. Frown
I hate those foreign backsplashes with the heavy accent. Mad
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 01:27 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:27 PM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :


Maybe I should make one of these for z2g Scratchchin

I could replace the biker with a Prius and make the light beam in the shape of eyeglasses. bulb
I was hoping he, or other eye people might stop by.

Scratchchin Doesn't CC work in an optometrist's office?
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,164 Posts
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emelvee
10-01-2014 at 01:29 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:29 PM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
I was hoping he, or other eye people might stop by.

Scratchchin Doesn't CC work in an optometrist's office?
Huh
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 01:29 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:29 PM.
Quote from emelvee :
Huh
Right. Valid point.
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
> bubble2 31,436 Posts
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Zoe Moon
10-01-2014 at 01:36 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:36 PM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
They're the same kind of lenses I've gotten for many years - a high-index polycarbonate that keeps them from being super thick because of my high prescription strength. Definitely not cheap lenses, either. A few hundred dollars for the set.
Did you leave them in a hot car? That's the only reason I can think of that a high end set of lenses would delaminate.

DH always buys Carl Zeiss lenses and he's never had trouble with his. You might want to look into that brand for your next set of lenses. He has really bad eyesight too.
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-01-2014 at 01:42 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:42 PM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
Did you leave them in a hot car? That's the only reason I can think of that a high end set of lenses would delaminate.

DH always buys Carl Zeiss lenses and he's never had trouble with his. You might want to look into that brand for your next set of lenses. He has really bad eyesight too.
laugh out loud

My glasses never leave my face except for shower time and swimming, mostly. (And sleep)
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,164 Posts
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emelvee
10-01-2014 at 01:50 PM.
10-01-2014 at 01:50 PM.
are your contact lenses busted?
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