Share review of Boots Opticians New Milton

Boots Opticians New Milton 2017-08-20 Person 3 5 0

Good: the eye testing on the day and the selection and sale of my frames a week earlier. Bad: the sale of my lenses after the eye test. I was put with the manager Gintaris. For my single vision distance glasses he advised me that I should have thinned lenses as this would improve the strength of the lenses. I questioned this as my last pair of 10 years didn't have that and have never damaged. A discussion ensued and he told me that if I didn't want them thinned, he would have to write this down that I had refused such a treatment, and that if they broke in a couple of months, they couldn't do anything about it. THIS WAS THE MOST IMMORAL HARD SELL I HAVE EVER HAD. Worse than Anglian Windows! All I could think is what if he says the same thing to elderly people?? I refused the option and Gintaris backed down due to my disgust (I even called over another member of staff to explain it to me as I was being told that the off the shelf lenses were of such poor quality that I MUST have them strengthened, else the black mark record was going to be written down). We moved on to me asking for Polarisation. It was explained to me that Polarisation was only for sunglasses. He mentioned anti-glare. I responded that yes, that is what I wanted, a reduction in glare. I bought the Protect Plus treatment. When I arrived at home, I looked up Protect Plus only to find that the Protect treatment already had anti-glare properties in it. I made two calls. Firstly to Boots in Castle Point Bournemouth to see if anywhere else did the glasses I was particularly after (the first pair are Oakley sunglasses). Unfortunately not was the reply. I had asked because I was going to cancel the whole order and go elsewhere! The second call was back to Boots in New Milton. I spoke with Adam, who was very helpful and courteous. I asked for the difference between Protect and Protect Plus. He advised it was a tougher anti-scratch treatment and it reduced glare further. I asked to what percentage and he went away to find out. Upon returning, he advised me that it was 50% more glare reduction than the standard product. On finding this information out - WHICH WAS NEVER DISCUSSED WITH ME BY THE MANAGER - I was happy to carry on with the glasses. I had no choice. I could go nowhere else. To summarise, my main issues. Unproportional and inappropriate hard sell. I spent £560 and my wife spent £800 a couple of months ago (Boots Christchurch). I wonder if I was assumed to be easy prey? Expensive glasses purchaser - let's push it some more. And when challenged, had no sensible argument to back it all up. No discussion over the fact the glasses came with anti-glare in the first place. Just up-sell me with no mention of this. I am a savvy and intelligent person. I understand sales and techniques. I will not stand for bullying. I was bullied at this shop. I am only going through with the sale as I have nowhere else to purchase the glasses. I am going to be uncomfortable and apprehensive about picking the glasses up in a couple of weeks. I was on the verge of calling Hampshire trading standards about the technique being used, and indeed Watchdog so they could film such techniques. I am disgusted with the way I was treated by Gintaris. My wife and I will never shop here again and would never recommend them.