Need lab recommendation

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-08-2007, 09:55 AM

I've taken up a position in an OD's office in Raleigh (finally! It took over 6 months for me to find something decent

). This office has all labwork done out -- private pay by trace and transfer, and the rest through VSP. Based on what I've seen of the work from the lab they use, I think we could do better for both accuracy and turn-around time.

The OD is a member of Vision Source Network, and very heavily into VSP:(. To satisfy his needs, the lab must both take VSP and must be an Essilor lab or an Essilor affiliate lab.

In order to satisfy my needs in this dispensary, the lab must be at least at ANSI standards on 90%+ of their jobs and must have access to Zeiss/Sola, Shamir, and Varilux products.

Please feel free to private-message or email me with your recommendations.

Thanks, folks!

**GOS_Queen** · 02-08-2007, 10:02 AM

I have no answer to your specific question. :(

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on your new position :cheers:

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-08-2007, 10:12 AM

Thanks so much for the good wishes.

That I have this position at all is a tribute to OptiBoard, by the way. I succeeded EyeFitWell, who left this job for another one. I stopped by this dispensary on a whim, she recognized my name from OptiBoard (and I recognized hers once she told me her OptiBoard handle), and we've become optical buddies. She knew she was leaving this job and recommended me to the doc.

And how did you get all those colors into "Congratulations"?!?!

**allanon** · 02-08-2007, 10:32 AM

Cardinal isn't too far away, in Greensboro. We use them for some stuff. All our VSP goes to Hoya Hartford because of their customer service and speed. If you have to sell your soul to Essilor, Southern Optical in Richmond is very fast (and quite improved over years past). They have VisionWeb access and Eyefinity so you can use your tracer that way.

SouthEastern in Roanoke is good, too... for those that brand with Zeiss.

**gemstone** · 02-08-2007, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by allanon

Cardinal isn't too far away, in Greensboro. We use them for some stuff. All our VSP goes to Hoya Hartford because of their customer service and speed. If you have to sell your soul to Essilor, Southern Optical in Richmond is very fast (and quite improved over years past). They have VisionWeb access and Eyefinity so you can use your tracer that way.

SouthEastern in Roanoke is good, too... for those that brand with Zeiss.

Cardinal is mostly a stock house (Nassau) with a little edging. Southeastern is a Sola owned lab.

**allanon** · 02-08-2007, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by gemstone

Cardinal is mostly a stock house (Nassau) with a little edging. Southeastern is a Sola owned lab.

Sola = Zeiss...

and I agree.

**GOS_Queen** · 02-08-2007, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss

And how did you get all those colors into "Congratulations"?!?!

When I typed it out, I changed the FONTcolor - (see the big A between the smilie and the number 2?

I'm not explaining this very well at all ...

**nickrock** · 02-08-2007, 02:44 PM

You may want to consider contacting VisionSource since they have negotioated percentage discounts with labs all over the nation.

**Audiyoda** · 02-09-2007, 03:09 PM

Becareful moving from a Essilor VisionSource lab - I discovered that some of the VisionSource labs that are not apart of Essilor have great prices - but some of the common policies you find at most labs change due to the great pricing. I'm not going to name names - but when I looked at the fine print in from some of these labs I was astonished. So we stuck with our Essilor partner lab for non-VSP work and a ELOA lab for VSP work.

The partner lab we use is VisionCraft in Walled lake, MI. The best service I've ever experienced from a lab not to mention the best quality. Don't need the trace-n-transmit since their DVI system has around 20,000 shapes in it. They haven't been off yet - we've been using them since I came to this office a year ago so I'd say that's a great record. I do wish they were VSP authorized, but in a way I'm glad they aren't since VSP has really gotten picky on the little extras I expect from VisionCraft. But VisionCraft can get you anything and everything - they have a in-house AR system that's identical to Alize coaters - just without the name brand. And I like the color better. If you're interested, their number is 800-686-6203 - you won't find a pre-recorded voice on the other end, the number rings directly into customer service. Just ask for Jason - tell him Craig sent you.

For VSP we use Twin City Optical in northern Michigan. They haven't done us wrong at all - great quality but they aren't the quickest being a smaller lab.

If you doc is heavy into VSP you might consider using the VSP lab in Columbus - they can get any Essilor product and you get all your Essilor spiffs using them.

**cocoisland58** · 02-09-2007, 06:04 PM

Vision Craft IS an awesome lab. I have used them for years and years. There isn't much they can't do. Special requests and difficult mountings are no problem. You should see my own sunglasses, no one would have attempted to do what they did. Turn around time is super fast. They use Pro-Med. I do not get paid for this endorsement. I just like these people.
Our VSP lab is Optical Dimensions in Royal Oak.

**Audiyoda** · 02-09-2007, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by cocoisland58

Vision Craft IS an awesome lab. I have used them for years and years. There isn't much they can't do. Special requests and difficult mountings are no problem. You should see my own sunglasses, no one would have attempted to do what they did. Turn around time is super fast. They use Pro-Med. I do not get paid for this endorsement. I just like these people.
Our VSP lab is Optical Dimensions in Royal Oak.

Amen brother. VisionCraft did a pair of Maui Jim clones for me - 1.60 polar Gray A tinted to the Maui Rose, double mirror gradient and their ArmorX EZST AR on the back in a Marchon Airlock chassis. PO'ed the Maui Jim rep so much he won't give me the time of day.

Don't let Jason know you're using Opt. Dim. - he might cut you off

:bbg:

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-26-2007, 10:29 AM

Tri-supreme lab in Farmingdale, NY? They're ELOA, VSP-approved and carry the full line of Shamir product, and an optician from NYC speaks highly of them.

Thanks for the referrals to the other labs. We've actually been using CustomEyes for our non-VSP work and they've been very, very good. And thanks also for the referral to Twin City; I'll check them out too.

**LENNY** · 02-26-2007, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss

Tri-supreme lab in Farmingdale, NY? They're ELOA, VSP-approved and carry the full line of Shamir product, and an optician from NYC speaks highly of them.

Thanks for the referrals to the other labs. We've actually been using CustomEyes for our non-VSP work and they've been very, very good. And thanks also for the referral to Twin City; I'll check them out too.

THEY ARE SO OVERPRICED!

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-26-2007, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by LENNY

THEY ARE SO OVERPRICED!

Lenny, thanks for the feedback, and I sure won't be using them for private-pay work :)

I'm looking at them for VSP work only. VSP will foot the bill for all the work they do for us; I won't have to deal with their pricing schedule.

That said, what's their quality like?

Thanks.

**LENNY** · 02-26-2007, 11:39 AM

I am shure its good! But they are not very flexible. They are BIG!
Sometimes you need a lab that knows your voice! They dont do complicated jobs. They outsource them.

**cocoisland58** · 02-26-2007, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss

The OD is a member of Vision Source Network, and very heavily into VSP:(. To satisfy his needs, the lab must both take VSP and must be an Essilor lab or an Essilor affiliate lab.

Congrats on your new position. Is there any reason you can't use two labs? Most of us do. One for VSP and the other for everything else? The "everything else" lab is usually a tried and trusted local whom you can count on for speed and accuracy as well as handling difficult and custom jobs. Some of these great little labs are not VSP but are Essilor. Our VSP lab is only that. They are not Essilor but order Varilux when we specify it. Shop around.

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-26-2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by cocoisland58

Congrats on your new position. Is there any reason you can't use two labs? Most of us do. One for VSP and the other for everything else? The "everything else" lab is usually a tried and trusted local whom you can count on for speed and accuracy as well as handling difficult and custom jobs. Some of these great little labs are not VSP but are Essilor. Our VSP lab is only that. They are not Essilor but order Varilux when we specify it. Shop around.

Thank you:bbg:

I will be using two different labs. The non-VSP for right now is CustomEyes. They're Essilor owned and not VSP eligible. So far they've been good.

It's the lab we use for VSP jobs that I'm unhappy with. Whom do you use? I'll appreciate any information you have. Thanks.

**karen** · 02-26-2007, 07:40 PM

Andrew, why does it have to be ELOA?? The Hoya and the Carl Zeiss Vision corporate owned labs have Vision Source pricing and you may be able to find a CZV lab that carries Essilor product.

Is out of state a problem? If not call Balester Optical, ask for Dom and tell him that Karen from Collard Rose told you to call. They are an amazing group of people, stock everything and do Crizal and Zeiss on site. They are VSP approved and hooked up with Vision Web.

Long live the Independent Lab!!!:shiner:

**loratz** · 02-26-2007, 07:52 PM

Turnaround time drill mount prog.alize 3 days in my hand around 10:30am.Be sure to use ar capable location.

**LENNY** · 02-26-2007, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by karen

Andrew, why does it have to be ELOA?? The Hoya and the Carl Zeiss Vision corporate owned labs have Vision Source pricing and you may be able to find a CZV lab that carries Essilor product.

Is out of state a problem? If not call Balester Optical, ask for Dom and tell him that Karen from Collard Rose told you to call. They are an amazing group of people, stock everything and do Crizal and Zeiss on site. They are VSP approved and hooked up with Vision Web.

Long live the Independent Lab!!!:shiner:

Is Balester VX authorized lab?

**karen** · 02-27-2007, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by LENNY

Is Balester VX authorized lab?

YEP.

**Andrew Weiss** · 02-27-2007, 08:51 AM

Let me explain:

If I had my 'druthers, I'd use Luzerne in Wilkes-Barre as my lab for everything. I had a very good relationship with them when I worked in MA, their accuracy was very good and they had everything I wanted -- Zeiss and Crizal in-house, full range of products, VSP approved, and pricing that was competitive with their prompt-payment discount.

I prefer to deal with independent labs, just as I prefer to work as an independent. I don't like Essilor's business practices, particularly their decision to cut off Zeiss/Sola labs from Varilux products, as should already be evident from my comment elsewhere on this board.

However, I am working in a different situation here. The OD who owns and runs this office has made it clear to me, subtly but clearly, that he wants to stick with Essilor. Apparently Essilor has an additional percentage discount he gets on top of his normal Essilor lab discount, and it's based on his total volume of jobs done by ELOA labs (his VSP jobs are included in that total, even though the lab fees on those jobs are paid by VSP and not by him).

So I live within the limits he's setting here. And if it has to be ELOA, at least for now, then it has to be.

**Audiyoda** · 02-27-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss

However, I am working in a different situation here. The OD who owns and runs this office has made it clear to me, subtly but clearly, that he wants to stick with Essilor. Apparently Essilor has an additional percentage discount he gets on top of his normal Essilor lab discount, and it's based on his total volume of jobs done by ELOA labs (his VSP jobs are included in that total, even though the lab fees on those jobs are paid by VSP and not by him).

So I live within the limits he's setting here. And if it has to be ELOA, at least for now, then it has to be.

Been there - actually am there right now. That's why I love that VisionCraft is a partner lab - no ELOA constraints but the doc gets the perks he's had from ELOA.

I'd seriously consider calling Twin Cities up in Traverse City. Dick Gross is the manager - they are a smaller lab within the TCO family of labs (and ELOA) but have access to anything you need including Zeiss (a few of the other TCO labs have Zeiss in house). Since we switched from Opitcal Supply I've been nothing but happy with my VSP work - TCO calls me with delays rather than sending those stupid delay notices, when there is a problem with a job they call ready with alternatives rather than ask me what they shoud do - they are a top notch lab.

**LENNY** · 02-27-2007, 08:47 PM

Did you try NOVA!
They are an Esslior lab but belongs to Essilor of Canada! Totaly different ball game! Their prices are not as high and turnaround is OK!
Make shure you ask for some ONE to handle your account!

PS Doc will get all his points!

**karen** · 02-28-2007, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Weiss

Apparently Essilor has an additional percentage discount he gets on top of his normal Essilor lab discount, and it's based on his total volume of jobs done by ELOA labs (his VSP jobs are included in that total, even though the lab fees on those jobs are paid by VSP and not by him).

This is a Vision Source thing and it makes me sooooo mad I could spit! It would really be nice if we could all just compete on quality, turn time and service. But I guess some labs have to buy the business......:angry: