Do you have optical shops in walmart in the states ? as they have now joined up with one of our supermarket chains and are starting to put optical stores instore now, If you have how well have they been recived by the optical trade ? and the usual other questions .
------------------
Every day a grind
Every week a bind
www.iooi.co.uk
Virtually all Wal*Marts in the U.S. have both an optometrist and an optical dispensary. The optometrist "rents" his space from Wal*Mart, while the optical dispensary will either be owned by Wal*Mart or by Vista Eyecare (Vista has well over 300 of the "host environment" locations, the rest are Wal*Mart). In both cases the optical dispensary will have a small finishing lab, with a central lab in Bentonville, AR supplying the uncuts. Vista has labs in Lawrenceville, GA and Fullerton, CA. The optical trade in general of course isn't too crazy over the Wal*Mart optical departments, and in the case of the Vista locations it can be worse- Vista has major financial problems. Depending on the state there can be questions regarding the skill level of the dispensers, and questions as to the quality of product. In many cases it seems to vary according to not only a particular state but also the qualifications/skills of the regional manager or optical department manager. If a Wal*Mart opens near you they'll no doubt take some of your business, especially the "low end" stuff. I'd advise anyone near a Wal*Mart to take the "high road" and continue to provide quality and service, two things that some times cannot be supplied by Wal*Mart.
Actually, we love our Walmart. They actually got voted best optical in Venice with us coming in second (but, then again, they have been opened for five years and we have been open for seven months).
We love them because we get alot of business from them. If it is not finished single vision, you wait two weeks for your glasses. So, the ODs send their patients here.
Also, we can beat them on lens price. Are frames are more, but we offer a more upscale selection!
If anything, we have taken business away from them!
I also have a flavor for Walmart competition. This enables us independants to take maximum advantage of the apples and oranges comparison approach. As a professional, I enjoy working with folks who take their vision care seriously. The expectations of Walmart customers and my clients are extremely different.
The question which I impose on this scenario is how could an organization so big as Walmart concentrate on providing the best possible eyecare when they have several other areas of business to focus on such as food, sporting goods, automotive, hardware, etc.?
If I want to purchase a performance mountain bike, I doubt I can buy one at Wal Mart. If I want to purchase a performance flyrod, I doubt I can find it at Wal Mart. Therefore, If I want to purchase performance eyewear where would I expect to receive the best product and service?
I am sure there are some good opticians in the Walmart organization but I personally enjoy the challenges of specialty eyecare. Last week I had a guy drive over 75 miles for me to make him a Ptosis Crutch (Not something you find in the health and beauty dept. at Walmart.) This has become such a better feeling of accomplishment than fitting and/or grinding sphere lenses all day long.
I work there Kevin and I don't understand half of what goes on and why. Sometimes I don't even think they understand it. It is just because I said so that is why. Hoping and praying to one day get out. So far still stuck for the time being. I don't feel that I will ever reach my full potential in this company. Just my two cents could say a lot more but I will keep my mouth shut!!
Have a great day!!!
Steph
Praise Be to WALMart for their... (fill in the blank! Or don't!! LOL)
Good way to look at things, EyeMan...my fellow Floridian! LOL
I DO know ONE fantastic Lab Tech who works in one, tho. (hee hee hee!!) Very talented indeed...and she actually KNOWS her stuff!
An ODD thing, I know!
To Steph and Mermaid:
What both of you mention in your posts appears to be the stuff all superopticals are made of. I know a number of folks who left one to go to another because they were promised that the grass would be greener only to find out same thing different corp. I guess we all just pick the lesser of the evils until something that will make us content comes along.
Just the hours alone would definately make the grass greener for me. I don't need any other promises or anything!!! Hey Mermaid is that lab tech anyone I know???? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Steph
Hmmmm, Steph....MAYBE!! Does the person have the coolest "kids" a person could ask for??? Bark Bark Bark!
BR's to the gals!!
Hey Mermaid (you ABO girl!!!) Don't know what you are talking about!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Steph
Wal*Mart, Independent, Up-Scale or Budget Optical...the success or failure depends (to the 95% level) on one thing, and one thing alone - the people on the front line. Period.
STEPHANIE I ADVISE YOU TO USE THE OPEN DOOR POLICY IF YOUR SO UNHAPPY. I MANAGE A VC AND I BELIEVE YOUR WORKERS ARE AS GOOD AS YOU HELP THEM TO BE...WAL-MART ENCOURAGES ABOC OPTICIANS AND USES A SOLA REP. FOR TRAININGS IN MY REGION. THE MAIN WAL-MART HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SELLING GLASSES..WE HAVE OUR OWN DM AND REGIONAL'S THAT TAKE CARE OF THAT BUT I'M SURE THEY WOULD REC. US IF SOMEONE ASKED AS WE WOULD IF SOMEONE WANTED A BIKE OR OTHER GOODS. LET'S ALL REMEMBER TO HAVE RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS A LEARNING TOOL FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.
Typing in all caps makes it kinda hard to read posts...
I just left a VC management position at WM after 3 1/2 years, not because I hated it so much, but I did become a little disillusioned. I can ONLY speak for the district that I worked in but after seeing positions such as VC manager and district manager given to a JEWELRY COUNTER mgr. and a SHOE DEPT. DM, instead of qualified optns., it does kinda make you lose respect for the company. My old DM, who's licensed, went to another district and the person who took her place is some kinda company trainer, w/ no kinda optical experience.
Also, WM does want the optical division to become more a part of the main store. We were encouraged to attend their meetings, were put on the same scheduling system (but don't operate with the same hrs, hmmmm)and we're responsible for all that great Christmas stuff every year (which I know kept us from cutting hrs. but every time I stacked a pallet I thought "wow, when I took the ABO this isn't what I had in mind"). WM wants the relationship between the 2 divs. to be closer. All this was discussed in the big Kansas City meeting last year.
When I came to WM I was so impressed with the INTEGRITY in which the company ran...but years later, I found it's like most other companies: it's who you know and whose fanny you kiss :). Again, ONLY speaking for my teeny-tiny part of that big ol' company.
And, jeez, if we can't vent a lil on here what's the fun in it? :D
I have to agree with Andrea on this one. Yes it is only as good as you make it. I don't hate the job, I hate some of the things that go on at the job. Some of it is really too much to even mention. Oh and yes management DOES indeed know about all of it and guess what? They don't care or it is apparently too much trouble to do anything about. I was like Andrea at one time too. I truly thought the experience was going to be a very great one. I have been with the company for almost 3 years and have not called out one time was only late by 3 minutes once, have always done my job to the very best of my ability, and am ABOC. I figured that would have some clout when I went to management. Do you know what I was told???? If I have a problem I could leave. Yea that really makes you feel worth something. One day someone will appreciate the work I can do for them but it will NOT be at wm I am sure.
Steph
Just thought I would chime in on the W-Mart thread here. I have been a Dr. at the location here for the last 4 years. Up until they told me my contracted rent amount was being changed. When I asked what would happen if I just kept paying the same rent for the remaining 2 years of my contract-I was told that if I didn't start paying the requested percentage of rent I would have a new contract... a 90 day contract... So I started looking for other things. I am now doing fill in and loving it, and opening a private practice.
Wmart- don't believe the commercials, they only care about the bottom line
Bashing Wal Mart ...........................
heinera,Originally Posted by heinera
Thank you. This was the best remark yet on this thread.
Wmart is the the most successfull retailer ever. No scruples at all. Optical or anything elese they want to take over and kill off anybody else.
They are also selling the same lens and frame types you buy, at lower prices than you could ever sell them. These products just carry another name but are still the same.
I was a vision center manager and a rising star for Wal-Mart for a long time. I am also an optician with nearly twenty years expereince. Let me say that the only things Wal-mart are interested in are the bottom line and the big box.
It does not matter how much expereince or how talented their vision center associates are, because when it comes down to it you are just another five dollar an hour cashier (in the company's eyes). The company as a whole does not care if their vc are operated by eperienced people or by a waitress, as long as the customers are not calling 1800walmart and you are making money.
Of course this is all at the expense of the customer recieving quality service and quality product.
I know there are people within the vision centers who are experienced and who are talented, but any one who is a true optician will eventually leave. You can not expect a person who knows anything about optics and patient care to stock shelves and check grocieries for long.
All these quotes could also be said of the Sears Opticals as well!:drop:
I only wish I had my camera with me the day a WM Vision (Associate?Partner? Vice Pres.? Whatever they're calling them these days) came to my office, in his white lab coat, with his red,white, & blue name tag on, and paid for an exam, and a $310 pair of glasses at my office. We did give him a 20% professional discount.
True story.
I also worked as a VC manager, Sunshine, I feel your pain! Johns, most of the managers that I knew went elsewhere for their glasses, oil changes, tires, etc. The main problem with any optical chain is the corperation looks at the people coming through the door as customers, a REAL optician views them as patients.When someone combines both concepts that will be something to see!:idea:
Paul:cheers:
A friend just forwarded this joke so I'd thought I'd pass it along since we're on the same topic...
** 10 THINGS TO DO IN A WALMARTWHILE YOUR WIFE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
IS TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME SHOPPING!
1. Get 24 boxes of condoms & randomly put them in people's carts when they aren't looking.
2. Set all the alarm clocks in housewares to go off at 5 minute intervals.
3. Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor to the rest rooms.
4. When a clerk asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask,
"Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
5. While handling guns in the hunting department ask the clerk if he knows where the
antidepressants are.
6. Dart around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the theme from "Mission Impossible."
7. In the auto department, practice your Madonna look using different size funnels
8. Hide in the clothing rack and when people browse through say,
"PICK ME! PICK ME!"
9. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "NO! NO! It's those voices again."
.....and last but not least,
10. Go into a fitting room and yell loudly, "Hey! We're out of toilet paper in here!"
A different slant on the walmart optical:
I heard most of the finishing labs are slowly being closed and being replaced by remote tracers.
Thus the customer has to come back to the store a second time.
Studies have shown the average Walmart shopper spends at least $40 more than they expected when they walk into the store.
Looks like optical will be a "loss leader" to get people in the rest of the store.
Harry
Optical is one of the lowest customer satifaction businesses just because of all of the things that can go wrong... I don't think Walmart will be able to sustain optical if it is a loss leader....
PS. Eddie G that was the funniest thing I have ever read!
For the three years or so I was with the company the optical division was among the strongest growth division with-in Wal-mart. It also has one of the highest margin(mark-up) of any division. The pockets of wal-mart are so deep that any loss in that division will never be noticed. Heck when the opened the lab in Columbus, OH, they had over a 20% brackage rate and was lossing over $3,000,000.00 a month. Wal-Mart optical is here to stay, lets just hope they DONT change their ways. Because if they ever get a V.P. that knows beans about the business they will take over!:angry:
Last edited by ziggy; 07-21-2004 at 08:05 AM.
Paul:cheers:
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks