Voorthuis opticians - spent 580 dollars in vain because of their false advise

[Anonymous]

There is a huge difference between *upsell* and *scam*

[Anonymous]

Not really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, don't have any advice on your situation, but would like to suggest a different glasses shop for you. I've had great luck with Hour Eyes over the years - and the Rockville Pike location truly saved me about a year ago. My glasses snapped in half in my hand as I was cleaning them just before I needed to leave for the airport on a business trip. I drove to the store in a panic, since my backup options were sunglasses or an old pair in an outdated prescription, and was truly blown away by their customer service. They sold me a new pair of frames for half price, even though I hadn't opted for their warranty, and had me out the door and on my way in under 30 minutes.

The frame selection can really vary from location to location (I've found some particularly good ones at the Tenley location in the past), but I'd have a hard time going somewhere else now after having them bail me out like that. Plus, they have great specials, and as someone with a very strong and expensive prescription, half off or buy one pair, get one free is tough to beat.

I had an awful experience with the Hour Eyes on G Street and will never use them again. They got my prescription wrong, never ordered my sunglasses and failed to inform me of this after weeks and repeat phone calls (although I also never ended up paying for them, so at least I didn't have *that* to deal with!), and they repeatedly told me my regular glasses were ready, when they weren't, resulting in multiple extra trips to their store (a 7-block walk from my work) only to be told that my glasses weren't in fact in yet. Ugh. I think a lot probably depends on the location you go to, but I for one will not go to Hour Eyes again.

[Anonymous]

Why did you spend $580 on cheap glasses before checking with your insurance?
What did the manager say when (if?) you confronted her about telling you something totally different before (ie that they were beyond repair)?

I am not trying to make you feel bad, (though my post sounds harsher than intended)...but one way to think about it is that if they were damaged enough, it might have cost to repair about as much as a new frame.

[Anonymous]

I too try to support local businesses and things are good if there are no problems. But when there is a problem, I have found some of these places are the hardest to deal with. Could be lack of store policy or too big of a financial impact for just one store to take.

[Anonymous]

16:26 - agreed! In this economy, you would think customer satisfaction would be the priority. Washington Checkbook is a worthwhile subscription for business' pros and cons. Reaches a wide audience!