What is an Optician?

[Bill West]

First of all, he or she is a CRAFTSMAN.

Secondly, they are a people person.

Thirdly, a great sales person.

And some are really good business people, these are called INDEPENDENTS.

Everyone else is a WANNABEE. :cheers::cheers:

[tmorse]

First of all, he or she is a CRAFTSMAN.

Secondly, they are a people person.

Thirdly, a great sales person.

And some are really good business people, these are called INDEPENDENTS.

Everyone else is a WANNABEE. :cheers::cheers:

"It's hard to be humble... when you're perfect in every way...." ;)

[hipoptical]

An "optician" is a person who cannot remember if the cheese or lettuce goes on the taco first, and therefore:
1. Flunks out of Taco Bell university
2. Decides to get a "REAL" job
3. Gets hired by an unsuspecting Optometrist (or chain)
4. Becomes an expert in selecting and fitting lenses and frames after just two whole days of "training"
5. Proceeds to let everyone in any lab know that "expert" status has been given to him/her since he/she now has well over three years experience

Or:
1. Repeat steps 1-3 above
2. Becomes convinced (because of ignorance) that Essilor is the best thing since or before sliced bread and sells only Varilux, even though there are much better products that are more readily available and more cost-effective for the practice and the patient
3. Tells a 30 year lab tech that he/she is an expert, and has "been doing this for OVER 3 years" and that "there is no way that a patient could see out of these glasses" that are 5 degrees off axis (.25 cyl) and that if the lab doesn't do better, he/she will find one that can (translated: Essilor will pay me to sell Craze-all and Very-Lucky lenses, and AOSOLAZEISS will, too so I'm gonna switch)

In a few cases, I guess your opinion is correct- but only in a few (probably most of them are here on Optiboard)
:D

[bob_f_aboc]

An "optician" is a person who cannot remember if the cheese or lettuce goes on the taco first, and therefore:
1. Flunks out of Taco Bell university
2. Decides to get a "REAL" job
3. Gets hired by an unsuspecting Optometrist (or chain)
4. Becomes an expert in selecting and fitting lenses and frames after just two whole days of "training"
5. Proceeds to let everyone in any lab know that "expert" status has been given to him/her since he/she now has well over three years experience

Or:
1. Repeat steps 1-3 above
2. Becomes convinced (because of ignorance) that Essilor is the best thing since or before sliced bread and sells only Varilux, even though there are much better products that are more readily available and more cost-effective for the practice and the patient
3. Tells a 30 year lab tech that he/she is an expert, and has "been doing this for OVER 3 years" and that "there is no way that a patient could see out of these glasses" that are 5 degrees off axis (.25 cyl) and that if the lab doesn't do better, he/she will find one that can (translated: Essilor will pay me to sell Craze-all and Very-Lucky lenses, and AOSOLAZEISS will, too so I'm gonna switch)

In a few cases, I guess your opinion is correct- but only in a few (probably most of them are here on Optiboard)
:D

First of all, it was McDonald's that I worked at for 6 years part time. I was looking for a full time warehouse position to support my wife and soon to be child. At the time, these positions were very hard to come by. After receiving my tax refund, I went to the local LC to buy a pair of glasses. While speaking with the GM and Retail Manager, I was offered a position in the lab. I was a functional lab tech for 9 months before I even began my "training". After 5 years with the giant corporation, I ventured out to an independent OMD for less money with fewer benefits because I could see that the environment was much better.

I have, since day one in the industry, always read trade mags. (20/20, VM, ECP Mag, etc...) Therefore, I knew that there was better product out there than what I was told we were allowed to sell.

I have had several arguments with lab personnel over the years. I would much rather talk to a lab rat any day than a "frame stylist" that got to measure a seg height for the first time today.

P.S. I have told 30 year veterans that they don't know what they are talking about. I was able to back up my statements with hard facts every time.

My story in a nutshell.

[Fezz]

First of all, it was McDonald's that I worked at for 6 years part time. I was looking for a full time warehouse position to support my wife and soon to be child. At the time, these positions were very hard to come by. After receiving my tax refund, I went to the local LC to buy a pair of glasses. While speaking with the GM and Retail Manager, I was offered a position in the lab. I was a functional lab tech for 9 months before I even began my "training". After 5 years with the giant corporation, I ventured out to an independent OMD for less money with fewer benefits because I could see that the environment was much better.

I have, since day one in the industry, always read trade mags. (20/20, VM, ECP Mag, etc...) Therefore, I knew that there was better product out there than what I was told we were allowed to sell.

I have had several arguments with lab personnel over the years. I would much rather talk to a lab rat any day than a "frame stylist" that got to measure a seg height for the first time today.

P.S. I have told 30 year veterans that they don't know what they are talking about. I was able to back up my statements with hard facts every time.

My story in a nutshell.

That story sounds worthy of a drink in your honor beer hoist!

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

[TLG]

That story sounds worthy of a drink in your honor beer hoist!

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

I'm in... :cheers::cheers::cheers:

[hipoptical]

:cheers:

[EdgeOptical]

my story is eerily similar to bobs.... weird.

only i was an optician, then got my lab training to augment my opticianry training.

only to come into an independant, and explore from here.


started with lenscrafters when i was 18, i was looking around for a job at the mall, i would look in, and if there were more "adults" then kids my age, i would go in and ask questions. I happened to walk by lenscrafters and it was something that always amazed me anyway, so i decided to stop by. didnt hear anything so i did get a job in a warehouse. then during a trip to the mall, i decided to go by LC again, just looking around, started talking to the GM, mentioned my resume on file, and he hired me on the spot (well, after the drug test, personality test, lab manager aproval, etc)

then got frustrated and angry with LC, and left for a small independant a few miles down the road.... found out she was bat-poo crazy after about 6 months, lost faith and went into IT

3-4 years later decided to come back into optical at the urges of my old GM, and also finding the place an optician was that i heard many stories about (everyone knows one of those guys, hell most of you guys probably are those guys, you know the ones that will hand make a pair of faceted execs using nothing but a keyhole saw and some steel wool) and decided i NEEDED to work with him.

and there i am, in my humble opinion i think i am at the start (over all first 5-6 years total) of a great career, im not bad for where i am, and i know how much i have to grow, and i am eager to get there.

[chip anderson]

You will find that once you get North of Memphis, the McDonalds and other fast food lines have a lot more intelligent, friendly and concientious help.

In fact, I was supprised to learn yesterday that Mississippi has a victum re-payment plan where convicted perpetrators are housed, trained, fed, charged rent, taken to an from work each day until their debt to thier victums (property crime) have been re-paid in full.

Chip

[AngryFish]

In the twenty odd states who license opticians the single most important, and threatening to big business retailers, fact is that the licensed optician is accountable to the people by way of the mandate given them via the state government under whom they are licensed.
An optician has considerable clout, particularly in states like Georgia, where it is a felony to dispense contact lenses without, “…the direct oversight…on the premises… [of a] supervising…” licensed optician.
The law requires licensed opticians to report violations of law and from what I have witnessed first hand for many years; violations are a standard operating procedure for some.
This is the real reason we fight an uphill battle.

[Johns]

An optician has considerable clout, particularly in states like Georgia, where it is a felony to dispense contact lenses without, “…the direct oversight…on the premises… [of a] supervising…” licensed optician.

Pretty daunting...unless you're brilliant enough to sell online, and then all bets are off.