How does this happen??

[Audiyoda]

I as just speaking with a former colleague at my former gig - I was there for three years and have been gone just over a year. At the time there was a optician (I use that term loosely) who, when I left, was preparing to take the ABO for the seventh time - he'd failed all previous attempts by at least 10 percentage points. He's taking it again this May for the 9th time - I'm at a complete loss.

One, how do you not pass the test after 8 attempts? It's 125 points multiple guess for cripes sake - you need a score of 70% (88 correct) to pass. Two, why would an employer keep someone like this around?

I know the answer to question two - he's a selling machine. Never mind he usually had (and as I understand it still has) the highest error/remake rate in the company (7 locations and 25 optician). But he brings in the $$$ - I guess that means more than patient happiness and customer service. He's one of those frame stylists (can't bring myself to call him an optician) that would come back to the lab and constantly ask us what the minimum seg ht was on a given PAL (we were and they still are a authorized Varilux mini-lab so all they sold were Varilux products - not hard to remember two numbers) - and then the order would come back 2mm lower than the minimum...??? Of course it was a remake. I still remember the Ellipse he sold at 9mm high...I was called out from the lab to help him troubleshoot the problem. I didn't need to be called out - I already knew what the problem was - the pretender calling himself an optician.

And we wonder why our profession/trade is never taken seriously by patients...:shiner:

[rbaker]

The ABO merely requires that you have the ability to fog a mirror.

[Audiyoda]

The ABO merely requires that you have the ability to fog a mirror.

Well then he can't even do that.

I am still a big believer in the fact that the ABO does little for this industry. I know, I know the argument that they are simply a certifying organization and that groups like the OAA are promoting the trade. But if you type 'Optician' into Google the OAA isn't on the first 20 pages! The internet is the place for information in our society and yet the OAA can't even reach out to those seeking information about Opticians (to those at the OAA - meta search words/phrases are your friends).

[Johns]

[quote=Audiyoda;182761
One, how do you not pass the test after 8 attempts? [/quote]

Bad guesser ?

[Audiyoda]

Bad guesser ?

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Mr_Mitchell]

How can one fail the ABO once? When I took it, I was furious about all the time I wasted studying. I know the advanced will be vastly different though, and I'm looking forward to preparing myself for it. Seems to me the ABO is a bare minimum; the advanced is what a "real" optician should be able to pass.
As for the frame stylist, if he's really a hot-shiznit salesman I would just have someone else check his measurements before ordering the glasses.

[gemstone]

I hired a fellow once that couldn't read. That's when I started a policy that all applications were filled out in the break room. Take no applications out of the building.

[Audiyoda]

How can one fail the ABO once? When I took it, I was furious about all the time I wasted studying. I know the advanced will be vastly different though, and I'm looking forward to preparing myself for it. Seems to me the ABO is a bare minimum; the advanced is what a "real" optician should be able to pass.

I don't know - I too felt disappointed that I even studied.

As for the frame stylist, if he's really a hot-shiznit salesman I would just have someone else check his measurements before ordering the glasses.

They've tried that - he always felt insulted and since they never wanted to offend him, they just delt with the problems because they saw him as bringing in big $$$. Although they never once (nor do they still) take into consideration the cost of his remakes.

[Johns]

I hired a fellow once that couldn't read.

Hey! I can read now! How about a sekund chance ?

[gemstone]

Hey! I can read now! How about a sekund chance ?

You nut!

[Johns]

You nut!

:D :cheers:

[eyesonyou]

LOL........too funny

Bad guesser ?

[cocoisland58]

Who keeps making this guy take the ABO over and over? If you can't pass in one, ok maybe two trys, just hang it up and call yourself a salesperson. I have had in my employ a few great selling but otherwise incapable employees. They do have their place. I just made a rule that all measurements were to be checked by me before the sale was completed. If it injured their little psyche so what. Better than a lot of remakes and avoidable mistakes. I'll take a sales wiz that can't measure a seg over an ABO that doesn't have the personality to make a great sale any day.

[Audiyoda]

Who keeps making this guy take the ABO over and over? If you can't pass in one, ok maybe two trys, just hang it up and call yourself a salesperson. I have had in my employ a few great selling but otherwise incapable employees. They do have their place. I just made a rule that all measurements were to be checked by me before the sale was completed. If it injured their little psyche so what. Better than a lot of remakes and avoidable mistakes. I'll take a sales wiz that can't measure a seg over an ABO that doesn't have the personality to make a great sale any day.

Funny but it's the company's policy that all their opticians are ABO certified. So they keep requiring him to take it.

I otherwise agree - if his measurements are double checked things would be fine. But they don't want to offend him...go figure :hammer:

[gemstone]

Hey! I can read now! How about a sekund chance ?

That was not you. This guy is a reporter for the Daily News now.

[Chris Ryser]

Conclusion:

Dont take anybody serious that has an ABO behind his name....................