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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 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
10-02-2014 at 08:47 PM.
10-02-2014 at 08:47 PM.
Quote from fsyowad :
I use a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid under warm water, using my fingers to clean . Then I dry with a fine microfiber lense cloth. Walmart used to sell large ones , I still have a few. Is Dawn considered hand soap?
I would recommend using mild hand soap and very little too. I only use dishwashing soap every so often when my glasses are covered in grease if I was frying something in the kitchen with my glasses on. And, I would even dilute the dishwashing soap to clean my glasses.

Dishwashing soap is a bit strong. Hence, auto detailers often will tell you to NOT use dishwashing soap to wash your car.
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Last edited by z2g October 2, 2014 at 08:55 PM.
Joined Aug 2003
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> bubble2 4,298 Posts
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fsyowad
10-02-2014 at 08:49 PM.
10-02-2014 at 08:49 PM.
Quote from z2g :
I would recommend using mild hand soap and very little too. I only use dishwashing soap every so often when my glasses are covered in grease if I was frying something in the kitchen with my glasses on. And, I would even dilate the dishwashing soap to clean my glasses.

Dishwashing soap is a bit strong. Hence, auto detailers often will tell you to NOT use dishwashing soap to wash your car.
So what hand soap do you use?
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Joined Jul 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
10-02-2014 at 08:55 PM.
10-02-2014 at 08:55 PM.
Quote from fsyowad :
So what hand soap do you use?
I use just basic mild hand "soft soap" that my wife buys for our house....I think it's the Dial frothy brand. And, I will dilute it too for my glasses.
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Joined Aug 2003
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> bubble2 4,298 Posts
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fsyowad
10-02-2014 at 08:56 PM.
10-02-2014 at 08:56 PM.
Quote from z2g :
I use just basic mild hand "soft soap" that my wife buys for our house....I think it's the Dial frothy brand. And, I will dilute it too for my glasses.
Thanks
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Joined Jul 2009
Permanently Bland
> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-02-2014 at 09:01 PM.
10-02-2014 at 09:01 PM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
Yes I do. But you won't like what I have to say.
lol, go ahead!
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Joined Jan 2009
I’m evil.....
> bubble2 12,738 Posts
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cupcake42
10-02-2014 at 09:06 PM.
10-02-2014 at 09:06 PM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
lol, go ahead!
Ask up front what the warranty is. If you don't like it don't use them. 1 year is the norm. You will pay more for a longer warranty.

Poly and high index are different. I think that was already covered.

BTW, I'm sorry that you are having issues. Comfort
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Joined Feb 2004
Eat a rock!
> bubble2 13,790 Posts
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mrlaugh
10-02-2014 at 09:18 PM.
10-02-2014 at 09:18 PM.
Even in the Texas heat, I've had good results with Crizal coatings lasting well past three years, whatever that's worth Dontknow
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-02-2014 at 09:28 PM.
10-02-2014 at 09:28 PM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
Ask up front what the warranty is. If you don't like it don't use them. 1 year is the norm. You will pay more for a longer warranty.

Poly and high index are different. I think that was already covered.

BTW, I'm sorry that you are having issues. Comfort
The thing is, I've never had issues with glasses before. I think it's kind of shitty that they only last 1.5 years when I paid several hundred dollars for them, and the reason they're messed up looks more and more like a lab error that just took a while to manifest.

I get what you're saying, but you'd think that they would stand behind their products, even if they were a whole six months out of the traditional warranty period. The glasses don't even have scratches. Because I pay so much for them and I can't see without them, I baby them. It's just a shitty situation.
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Joined Jan 2009
I’m evil.....
> bubble2 12,738 Posts
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 05:24 AM.
10-03-2014 at 05:24 AM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
The thing is, I've never had issues with glasses before. I think it's kind of shitty that they only last 1.5 years when I paid several hundred dollars for them, and the reason they're messed up looks more and more like a lab error that just took a while to manifest.

I get what you're saying, but you'd think that they would stand behind their products, even if they were a whole six months out of the traditional warranty period. The glasses don't even have scratches. Because I pay so much for them and I can't see without them, I baby them. It's just a shitty situation.
As a person I agree with you 100% and I feel bad for you. But think of it this way.......you pay lots of money for your car but when the warranty is up they won't continue to fix it for free and you can't live with out your car either (For the most part).

It's a money making business with no real shortage of customers. So providing it's doing good business one less customer isn't going to impact it very much at all.

Don't hate me I'm just replying as if I was answering for the company. I've seen this kinda situations occur over the many years That I have been in the optical business. Doesn't mean that if you push the issue you won't get any compassion. Good luck and let us know what happens. Comfort
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,164 Posts
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emelvee
10-03-2014 at 05:26 AM.
10-03-2014 at 05:26 AM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
As a person I agree with you 100%
You mean you don't agree with him as a tasty snack?
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Joined Jan 2009
I’m evil.....
> bubble2 12,738 Posts
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 05:40 AM.
10-03-2014 at 05:40 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
You mean you don't agree with him as a tasty snack?
He might eat tasty snacks so I'm speaking as a person versus a retailer or tasty snack.
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Joined Jan 2009
I’m evil.....
> bubble2 12,738 Posts
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 06:09 AM.
10-03-2014 at 06:09 AM.
Quote from z2g :
Considering your experience in the optical industry, I'm am actually a bit surprised to hear that you automatically blamed it on a lens defect in this scenario. Approaching the 2 yr mark, it's more likely that it's a wear and tear issue rather than a lens defect which would have manifested within the first year.
This I agree with. Defects should have manifested within the first year.

Often people leave glasses in hot cars (not saying you did that paint) and damage occurs to them and they scream defective lens. When it was how the glasses were treated that caused the damage to the coatings. People always blame it on a lab issue. Most of the time its not. IMHO.
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Joined May 2009
Go for it!
> bubble2 1,233 Posts
Brattles
10-03-2014 at 06:37 AM.
10-03-2014 at 06:37 AM.
Is this an antiglare coating from PxxxxVision? If so, you are NOT alone!

Look into a credit card extened warranty claim.
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Joined Sep 2007
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> bubble2 19,049 Posts
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wizard7926
10-03-2014 at 07:01 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:01 AM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
It's a money making business with no real shortage of customers.
This, this, this. Just a general PSA to all, since I can't morally pass by an eyeglasses post without mentioning it..

Every major glasses shop (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Oliver Peoples, Sears Optical, Target Optical, Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Chanel/Prada/Dolce/etc) is run by the same conglomerate monopoly, Luxottica.

They are a cutthroat business that basically dictates the price of frames, and are the sole reason why we have accepted as a nation that frames/lenses costs are just going to be unreasonable and that's that. You may think that you have choices, but in actuality, you don't.. not to mention Luxottica owns the second-largest vision insurance, EyeMed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stick...10-2012/3/

OP, I highly recommend ditching a traditional shop (particularly THIS traditional shop), and going with Warby Parker, an online glasses shop. I have had nothing but an excellent experience. I showed them to my optometrist upon my last exam/fitting (which, btw, a fitting should not be more than $100, ever), and she couldn't believe they were bought online. My frames only cost $125, and that's with high-index lenses.
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Joined Jan 2009
I’m evil.....
> bubble2 12,738 Posts
11,124 Reputation
cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 07:08 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:08 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
This, this, this. Just a general PSA to all, since I can't morally pass by an eyeglasses post without mentioning it..

Every major glasses shop (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Oliver Peoples, Sears Optical, Target Optical, Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Chanel/Prada/Dolce/etc) is run by the same conglomerate monopoly, Luxottica.

They are a cutthroat business that basically dictates the price of frames, and are the sole reason why we have accepted as a nation that frames/lenses costs are just going to be unreasonable and that's that. You may think that you have choices, but in actuality, you don't.. not to mention Luxottica owns the second-largest vision insurance, EyeMed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stick...10-2012/3/

OP, I highly recommend ditching a traditional shop (particularly THIS traditional shop), and going with Warby Parker, an online glasses shop. I have had nothing but an excellent experience. I showed them to my optometrist upon my last exam/fitting (which, btw, a fitting should not be more than $100, ever), and she couldn't believe they were bought online. My frames only cost $125, and that's with high-index lenses.
It's like going to a doctor. Must of us agree they charge way to much. But you need them so what are you to do? It's what it is.
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