New Lows in Eye Care Providers

[rbaker]

The coincidence with a similar thread and a recent tale is remarkable. We just arrived in Oregon for the summer and had some friends over for a cookin. The following tale was related to me by one of our guests.

A few months ago his dear old granny went to her eternal reward at the age of 99 years old. The family selected grannies favorite dress for the wake and burial. They also wanted to have granny wear her favorite glasses as she had worn glasses all of her life. Her glasses, however, had rather severly scratched lenses and the family thought that some new lenses would look much better.

Off they went to the mall and went into a major chain store optician. They asked the "optician ? ? ?" if they could have some new lenses put into the frame and were told that they had to have an Rx. After explaining to the pin head employee that granny was dead and that the RX or PD really didnt matter they were still refused the new lenses. She checked with her boss and was told that that was company policy.

Now, how many stupid pills do you think that these employee had to take or is this what would be considered normal behavior in todays eye care marketplace?

[For-Life]

again, another example of stores throwing away services

[Lulubelle]

Why not put in some plano lenses? It's not like she needed them to be her Rx. At a stressful time like that, the store missed an opportunity to have a customer for life that would tell everyone they met how great the service was. You just can't buy that kind of advertising.

[Jacqui]

In this part of the country a mortician could have gotten them easily.

I think most of the younger stylists (hate to call them opticians) either have never been trained to think or are on drugs. The truth is that most companies don't want them to think. Employees that think confuse the higher ups that don't know how to operate outside the box.

[CME4SPECS]

It's normal...they didn't hear a word that was said!

[Leo Hadley Jr]

Thats an incredibly bad story. I cant believe they wouldnt have donated some stock lenses for her.

A few years back an old woman ordered glasses from me and she died before they were ready. Her grieving husband came in to pick them up so she could wear them at the wake.

I delivered them at no charge. There was no way I could charge for that.:(

[icare]

We had a case where the funeral director presented a pair of old frames that the dearly departed had worn and we were asked to make them presentable. A new set of plano lenses sufficed.

In many cases, the glasses are not even worn. They simply rest in the hand of the deceased. A close friend of mine is a funeral director and this is frequently part of the service he is expected to provide.

[EyeFitWell]

That's just plain sad. Not only was the family grieving, but they had to deal with unnecessary rules also... If we can sell plano sunglasses with no Rx, there is certainly nothing illegal about plano clear lenses.

[HarryChiling]

That is sad to hear, it's ashamed that the person that provided the lack of service didn't have half a brain to suggest plano lenses apparently empathy is lacking amoung the sales clerks at that store.

[DragonLensmanWV]

Sad.
And planos are dirt cheap. That would have been a perfect opportunity for a gratis job. Five minutes, you're done for a couple of bucks.

[kidsparrow]

That's just horrible. Who the hell are the chain stores hiring?:(

[Fezz]

I think that we are all missing the bigger issue here:

Why in the hell are these people going to the mall instead of a independent?

[Uncle Fester]

Thats an incredibly bad story. I cant believe they wouldnt have donated some stock lenses for her.

A few years back an old woman ordered glasses from me and she died before they were ready. Her grieving husband came in to pick them up so she could wear them at the wake.

I delivered them at no charge. There was no way I could charge for that.:(

I had to threaten I'd pay for them myself and would be giving my 2 week notice when an old boss wanted me to charge for a solder we did (in-house no less) for a widow in similar circumstances.

[specti-wolf]

I think that we are all missing the bigger issue here:

Why in the hell are these people going to the mall instead of a independent?

The bigger picture is that the "malls" are the ones that advertise the "specials" and the good "deals", so people would check them out first. (Unfortunately.) I would have slapped some plano's in there so fast, and even given the "blue at the top, rose at the bottom" for Granny, at no charge. Hehehe.

[HarryChiling]

and even given the "blue at the top, rose at the bottom" for Granny, at no charge. Hehehe.

Now your just showing off. I wonder if there attitude would have been different if they asked for a digital progressive with super hydro AR?

[specti-wolf]

Now your just showing off. I wonder if there attitude would have been different if they asked for a digital progressive with super hydro AR?

Don't ya know I would have included that without question?:cheers:

[maggiferous]

Shoot, honey, I work for a chain and I'd have found a way to do it...problem is, we don't have an instore lab, so unless the funeral was a week or so away, I couldn't have helped. (Yes, I know, I hate it-I love lab work)

[cocoisland58]

We have made a few lenses for the deceased and never gave it much thought. I however have instructed my children that for my viewing, please do not put my glasses on me but put them with me. I thought it is supposed to look like you are sleeping. Or am I wrong?

[ziggy]

Now, how many stupid pills do you think that these employee had to take or is this what would be considered normal behavior in todays eye care marketplace?

This is normal for a frame stylist, after all they deal with customers, not patients. A plano set of lens, no AR, no Transition, no PALS, now where is the commision in that? Why bother! Folks, take care of your patients,and send the customers to the other guys.

[MarcE]

Folks, take care of your patients,and send the customers to the other guys.

Send them to me! Many people, especially those that are used to paying well for service, would like to be treated better than a "patient". I treat all my CLIENTS better than I would treat our own Commander-in-Chief.

[BobV]

Yes, the idea is to make the person look like they are sleeping. In fact, if the cosmetics and the lights areJUST right, the deceased may look like they're breathing (optical illusion, of course). However, there have been many times a family forgot tobring the deceased's glasses, and they thought they were in the wrong room. Uncle Joe or Aunt Jane don't look the same without their glasses on.

Bob V.
former mortician

[Uncle Fester]

Yes, the idea is to make the person look like they are sleeping. In fact, if the cosmetics and the lights areJUST right, the deceased may look like they're breathing (optical illusion, of course). However, there have been many times a family forgot tobring the deceased's glasses, and they thought they were in the wrong room. Uncle Joe or Aunt Jane don't look the same without their glasses on.

Bob V.
former mortician

Uhmm on a limb here-- how about a new thread-

Glasses for the dead.

Fezz- restrain yourself!

[maggiferous]

Actually, I um...discussed this with our general manager, who, coincidentally, was reading something from the home office on that very thing today...we'd actually get fired for doing that. *sigh*

[chip anderson]

You knows this can't be done without an eye exam. Shoot some important pathology might be missed that could endanger the patient's health!
Why the very idea of doing this without and eye exam and proper Rx.

Chip

[ziggy]

Actually, I um...discussed this with our general manager, who, coincidentally, was reading something from the home office on that very thing today...we'd actually get fired for doing that. *sigh*

I'll bet your GM, is not an Optician. An Optician would take care of the patient.