Last year I had my first cataract op, and my right eye is very good now, but my left is starting to deteriorate badly. I had a hospital appointment 2 weeks ago, and the doc forecast 2 more years before the left eye is bad enough to operate on.
I decided to push the boat out and get a new set of specs for computer work. I knew Dr Pairat wouldn’t do it, so I asked for recommendations. Whilst I won’t name the company for deformation purposes, I will just say the recommendation that kept cropping up was one of the ‘Top’ chain of national shops selling specs in Thailand.
I walked in yesterday, accompanied by Mrs BB (she was paying as a slightly early birthday present
). I told the girl what I needed, and she sat me down for what must surely have been the worst eye test ever (I’ve been having eye tests regularly for over 50 years, so I know what to expect):
• She sat me at a machine, and I watched a small house go in and out of focus a couple of times. She said, OK, that’s the computer stuff done.
• She put a pair of optician’s specs on me, but insisted I keep both eyes open. Strange, but I went along with it.
• Finally, I was given a card, which I had to hold at about computer length and read with both eyes open at the same time. I kept protesting that I still couldn’t see with my left eye.
Despite many protests that my left eye was the problem, and she wasn’t addressing the problem, she was insisting testing with both eyes open was the way to go. Complaining that my right eye was compensating for the left was of no interest. At the end of the test, I had to agree, I could read the card held at computer working distance with no problem. I was not happy.
One of the reasons I decided to have new specs is this particular company had some incredible offers on frames + lens starting at 590฿. I wasn’t looking for a fashion accessory, just something that would fill the gap until my 2nd eye was fixed in 2024. There were 3 perfect sets of frames for just 1290฿. Perfect, I thought.
I wasn’t convinced with the test, but what was there to lose at 1290฿? That is when the fight started……. I’d heard it said many times that these shops were not opticians, but frames salespersons. All 3 frames that I liked were apparently useless, and would not last more than 10 days. FFS, here we go. If your product is so useless, why are you selling it? I am thinking – trained by HomePro. You don’t want that, you want this. You can’t think for yourself.
I’m ready to walk out of the shop now. The girl is showing Mrs BB all manner of designer frames that I had absolutely no interest in. Of course, Mrs BB did not want to buy something that would not last more than 10 days. She had been brainwashed. What Mrs BB hadn’t twigged was the offer also included free lifetime after sales support. So, what could go wrong with the cheaper frames?
Then the bit that took me OTT. You need the glasses for computer work. They will be useless unless you have them tinted with whatever. No, I have tried the tinting many times, I don’t like it. It makes the glass go very smeary. I’ve been wearing glasses with computers for 40 years (probably twice as many years as this girl has existed on planet Earth) – I know what suits me. She kept on and on trying to sell tinting that I didn’t want. I walked out before I really exploded, leaving Mrs BB sat in her wheelchair doing the deal.
I went back in when I’d calmed down. Mrs BB was over the moon with the ‘discount’ she had received on designer frames. I had no idea if it included tinting (thankfully, it didn’t). It was a gift, so I tried to put on a grateful face, but deep down I was not happy.
6 hours later, we received a phone call. My new specs were ready.
We went straight down to collect them. I was given the same card to hold at computer distance to try them. Yes, they seemed OK. It was a different staff this time, and they seemed to be much better/helpful.
I got home and tried them on the laptop. They didn’t feel good, and when I closed my right eye, all that I could see was a blur. Closing the left eye was not so good either. I messed about with the position of the laptop, and eventually, it was better, but not good. Certainly, no better than the specs they were replacing. I’m still not happy that my eye test was done with both eyes open. I persevered all evening with the new specs.
I tried again this morning, still not good. I decided I would wait until the afternoon, and return when the 2nd shift was on to complain.
We went back to the shop about 3pm – I was ready to argue. I explained the problem, and I was given another test – but a much better test this time. They concentrated on my left eye, and the prescription was vastly different to yesterday. No questions, they just got on with it – 2 girls testing me to make sure they got it right. Such a different attitude. I am now awaiting the phone call to collect again, which probably won’t come until tomorrow.
I am fairly confident this set of specs will help me bridge the 2 years until my next cataract op. I will confirm when I receive them.
There is only one person to blame.