written by on 22/08/2013
I have gone to Scrivens in Oxford for a sight test. Now, I have been seeing opticians from an early age, so have some experience for comparison. I can honestly say that this was the worst practice I have been to for many years.
The test was carried out by the optician on duty who was unfriendly, argumentative and abrupt. She argued with me when I said that my vision had recently changed and only left off when she diagnosed me with an early cataract; my vision had really changed.
I was still in shock from the diagnosis, so rather vulnerable. However, I was given no time to recover before being passed to a sales assistant who put me through a hard-sell routine, trying to sell me the most expensive frames and glasses the shop had. Despite me saying that I was unable to pay such high prices she went ahead and printed my NHS voucher, meaning that I could not now go to another practice with my prescription without losing my NHS discount - the voucher can only be printed out once.
By this point I was sufficiently angry to take my prescription and leave, vowing that this unethical practice will not get a penny of mine, voucher or no voucher. As I walked out I overheard another customer, an elderly lady, being given the very same hard sell.
In conclusion: avoid this money-grubbing, inconsiderate practice. Their shopfront may look professional, but the business lacks both professionalism and ethics.
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