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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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wizard7926
10-03-2014 at 07:13 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:13 AM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
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.
But it's not like going to a doctor, in that you have choice of which you may not be aware. It's more like paying $240/mo for Verizon service when you could get by just fine with T-Mobile for $60/mo, but not realizing they're even an option. It's a matter of understanding what's going on and the options you have available.
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
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emelvee
10-03-2014 at 07:19 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:19 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
But it's not like going to a doctor, in that you have choice of which you may not be aware. It's more like paying $240/mo for Verizon service when you could get by just fine with T-Mobile for $60/mo, but not realizing they're even an option. It's a matter of understanding what's going on and the options you have available.
But CC gets a free iphone with her service! bounce
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Joined Jan 2009
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 07:24 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:24 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
But it's not like going to a doctor, in that you have choice of which you may not be aware. It's more like paying $240/mo for Verizon service when you could get by just fine with T-Mobile for $60/mo, but not realizing they're even an option. It's a matter of understanding what's going on and the options you have available.
You do have a choice of what optical center to go to. Shop around and you will find the one that best meets your needs. I work at a very reasonable one. But people don't want to take the time or effort to do that.

It is like going to a doctor. You have to have glasses just like you need to see a doctor when you are sick.
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Kolto
10-03-2014 at 07:34 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:34 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.
my frames & glasses cost $500 after the NT to USD conversion Hide
But i have some handmade hipster frames from Japan LMAO
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 07:36 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:36 AM.
I wish I could say were I work. It is one of the best places to buy from. But its not allowed to promote who I work for on SD. Plus crazy stalker people will know were I work. EEK!
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wizard7926
10-03-2014 at 07:36 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:36 AM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
You do have a choice of what optical center to go to. Shop around and you will find the one that best meets your needs. I work at a very reasonable one. But people don't want to take the time or effort to do that.

It is like going to a doctor. You have to have glasses just like you need to see a doctor when you are sick.
We agree that OP is definitely paying way too much for a lens fitting and that he should find another spot if they won't stand behind their lenses being crappy. I'm not debating the need for optometrists so much as I'm saying you do not have the choice you think you do when you are actually buying frames, doesn't matter what optometrist you go to.

Quote from cupcake42 :
I wish I could say were I work. It is one of the best places to buy from. But its not allowed to promote who I work for on SD. Plus crazy stalker people will know were I work. EEK!
I don't know if it's so much promotion.. I'm curious, though laugh out loud
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Last edited by wizard7926 October 3, 2014 at 07:37 AM.
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Kolto
10-03-2014 at 07:44 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:44 AM.
Quote from z2g :
That's very odd. Doctors are required to reexamine your eyes for contact lenses every year. And, the contact lens evaluation/fitting is NEVER part of a routine comprehensive eye exam. Unless you have a super friendly relationship with your eye doctor, you would normally be charged every year for the contact lens evaluation.

If you're seeing a new doctor every year, it's unheard of for the new doctor to just update your contact lens prescription without performing a contact lens evaluation and charging you for it. It's actually malpractice!

Did you use vision insurance? I think maybe they billed your vision insurance for the contact lens evaluation and that's why you thought you didn't have to pay for it.
from what i understand, contact lens scripts are good for 18 months, glasses are only good for 12 months

my normal Optometrist just gives me a new contact script every year when I go for my daily eye checkup.
I don't get refitted unless i request a new brand contact, or a few years ago when he saw my old contacts were causing corneal neovascularization.

He switched me off Biomedic 55 and had me do a new refitting trying out a few diff lenses. That cost $85.00 for the fitting. But normally he just writes the new script with my annual checkup.

Quote from cupcake42 :
I wish I could say were I work. It is one of the best places to buy from. But its not allowed to promote who I work for on SD. Plus crazy stalker people will know were I work. EEK!
PM me!!! Whee

Quote from wizard7926 :
We agree that OP is definitely paying way too much for a lens fitting and that he should find another spot if they won't stand behind their lenses being crappy. I'm not debating the need for optometrists so much as I'm saying you do not have the choice you think you do when you are actually buying frames, doesn't matter what optometrist you go to.



I don't know if it's so much promotion.. I'm curious, though laugh out loud
you do if you buy overseas!
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Last edited by Kolto October 3, 2014 at 07:45 AM.

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Joined Sep 2007
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wizard7926
10-03-2014 at 07:48 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:48 AM.
Quote from Kolto :
you do if you buy overseas!
Alright, we get it Taiwan boy!! Stick Out Tongue
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Kolto
10-03-2014 at 07:49 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:49 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
Alright, we get it Taiwan boy!! Stick Out Tongue
Roll
im just messing with ya anyway
Though from now on im gonna buy my lenses in taiwan, fark the USA prices!
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z2g
10-03-2014 at 07:58 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:58 AM.
Quote from Kolto :
from what i understand, contact lens scripts are good for 18 months, glasses are only good for 12 months

my normal Optometrist just gives me a new contact script every year when I go for my daily eye checkup.
I don't get refitted unless i request a new brand contact, or a few years ago when he saw my old contacts were causing corneal neovascularization.

He switched me off Biomedic 55 and had me do a new refitting trying out a few diff lenses. That cost $85.00 for the fitting. But normally he just writes the new script with my annual checkup.


PM me!!! Whee


you do if you buy overseas!
Actually, contact lens rx's are good for only one year and eyeglasses rx's are good for 2 yrs usually.
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 07:59 AM.
10-03-2014 at 07:59 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
We agree that OP is definitely paying way too much for a lens fitting and that he should find another spot if they won't stand behind their lenses being crappy. I'm not debating the need for optometrists so much as I'm saying you do not have the choice you think you do when you are actually buying frames, doesn't matter what optometrist you go to.



I don't know if it's so much promotion.. I'm curious, though laugh out loud
We don't agree....I can't say If OP paid too much for his glasses. Have no clue what he got or how much. As for crappy lens. Have no clue why the coating are coming off. Or if it's OPs fault or crappy lens, can't say. As far as standing by what they sell, they did. He had a one year warranty and he got a one year warranty. How did they not honor there agreement? If he want a longer warranty find a place that will sell him one. One year is the industry's norm.

Like I said I feel bad that paints glasses only lasted 1.5 years. Sad. He should have been able to get more use from them.
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Last edited by cupcake42 October 3, 2014 at 08:09 AM.
Joined Jan 2009
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 08:21 AM.
10-03-2014 at 08:21 AM.
Quote from Kolto :
from what i understand, contact lens scripts are good for 18 months, glasses are only good for 12 months
Contact RX good for one year.
Eyeglass RX with optometrist one year and ophthalmologist two or more.

This is the norm in my state. Not sure if it is ever place.
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Last edited by cupcake42 October 3, 2014 at 09:01 AM.
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PaintTheSkyGrey
10-03-2014 at 08:25 AM.
10-03-2014 at 08:25 AM.
As for getting a call, I never got one.

Usually I support smaller businesses (which this eye place was), but fark that. I'll take a look at Warby Parker instead!
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Original Poster
PaintTheSkyGrey
10-03-2014 at 08:36 AM.
10-03-2014 at 08:36 AM.
Quote from cupcake42 :
We don't agree....I can't say If OP paid too much for his glasses. Have no clue what he got or how much. As for crappy lens. Have no clue why the coating are coming off. Or if it's OPs fault or crappy lens, can't say. As far as standing by what they sell, they did. He had a one year warranty and he got a one year warranty. How did they not honor there agreement? If he want a longer warranty find a place that will sell him one. One year is the industry's norm.

Like I said I feel bad that paints glasses only lasted 1.5 years. Sad. He should have been able to get more use from them.
I never said they didn't honor their agreement. I said they're not standing behind their products.

With companies with better customer service, if there is a major defect in their product that causes it to be unusable (even after the warrant expires), they would do the right thing and replace it. There is such a high markup on lenses, it's not even funny. This place would be out a very minimal amount to keep a returning customer. But the thing is, they just don't give a damn about the customer (and this is both the optometrist and the lab - I saw how much the lenses actually cost from the lab itself when dude was looking over the paperwork). I would have gladly gone back in February (glasses would have been 2 years old), to buy some more. But after the shitty customer service experience I had (being told they would be definitely be free replacements, then calling half an hour later saying oh no, sorry, you should just come in for a new eye exam and new lenses, then oh, the lab will call you and never receiving a call), I'm not going back.
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cupcake42
10-03-2014 at 08:41 AM.
10-03-2014 at 08:41 AM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
I never said they didn't honor their agreement. I said they're not standing behind their products.

With companies with better customer service, if there is a major defect in their product that causes it to be unusable (even after the warrant expires), they would do the right thing and replace it. There is such a high markup on lenses, it's not even funny. This place would be out a very minimal amount to keep a returning customer. But the thing is, they just don't give a damn about the customer (and this is both the optometrist and the lab - I saw how much the lenses actually cost from the lab itself when dude was looking over the paperwork). I would have gladly gone back in February (glasses would have been 2 years old), to buy some more. But after the shitty customer service experience I had (being told they would be definitely be free replacements, then calling half an hour later saying oh no, sorry, you should just come in for a new eye exam and new lenses, then oh, the lab will call you and never receiving a call), I'm not going back.
Would the place I work for look at the issue and consider replacing them, Yes we would. I work for a great company. But that is not the norm I'm sure.
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