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Thread: Anyone know anything about Visionworks?

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Novice missmanners's Avatar
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    Anyone know anything about Visionworks?

    A new optical store has opened up close to me, and I was thinking of checking them out for some part time work. I can't find too much info thru the web-anyone have any info? Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Ophthalmic Optician
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    There's a ton of info out there. (Google is your friend):

    About Us


    Visionworks (formerly Eye Care Centers of America, Inc.) is a leading provider of eye care services with more than 550 optical retail stores in 39 states and the District of Columbia through 12 store names that are leaders in eye care service in each of their respective markets. Visionworks is committed to providing our customers with an excellent shopping experience and high quality products and service with the best value and selection in the industry. All of our stores offer designer and exclusive brand frames, lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses and accessories along with leading technology in vision correction. Our comprehensive service offerings include in-store labs which provide one-hour service on most prescriptions at nearly all locations and doctors of optometry at or next to every store. Visionworks is a wholly owned subsidiary of HVHC, Inc., a Highmark company.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

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    Edited. Nothing really accomplished by that post but snarkiness and venting.

    To make a more concise point, they seem to have slackened off in quality in recent years from what used to be, IME, a fairly decent operation. It seems like kids running the show now with even more kids as employees, and very few of them actually interested in optical. They appear to be becoming more brand oriented at the expense of quality employees and service.
    Last edited by Browman; 09-18-2012 at 09:27 PM.

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    I know that they are expanding rapidly in my area!

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    Master OptiBoarder optical24/7's Avatar
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    Since I trouble-shoot Rx's for our 4 Dr's I get to see Rx work from all over. By far, hands down, EM produces the most hideously off Rx work I check from any source. ( 3 months ago I had a patient that returned to them twice complaining about her vision. Both times she was told they were correct to the Rx...They were PAL's turned 45 degrees!). I have no idea what they are like to work for.

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    Master OptiBoarder NCspecs's Avatar
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    Run, run quickly. This is turn and burn optical at it's best/worst. I can't even begin to tell you how many SRX checks I do for the Visionworks down the road. It's all dumb stuff as Optical 24/7 illustrates. I'm starting to have difficulty not rolling my eyes when someone comes to me and says "I took my Rx to Visionworks and now I'm having trouble seeing."

    If you have any standards, I'd look elsewhere. I noticed you are an Opthalmic tech; if you are looking to tech for the OD adjacent to the practice you might not be too bad off. Thats where my ODs got their start. They found they had higher standards and decided to open their own practice. One of the OD's told me that she knew they had to leave when she went to the lab manager next door and asked him to remake a job because the OCs were wildly out of place. He just looked at her blankly and asked, "What is an OC?"

    *Facepalm*
    "Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened beings; only enlightened activity." -Shunryu Suzuki

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    OptiBoard Novice missmanners's Avatar
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    Thanks for the input. I'm currently seeking to find out how much they pay, since I feel I'm underpaid where I am now. Then I'll ponder whether or not to go part time to supplement my income, or go in to my boss and ask for a raise. I have alterior movites, and since I once worked for the worse company out there-US Vision-this can't be any worse. I'll know once I meet with them...;-)

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    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    VW gave me my start in optical. They provided me with excellent comprehensive lab training, as many hours as I needed, and a decent pay rate. I advanced quickly in the lab hierarchy and we did high-precision work. Granted, this was in 1990...
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

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    Master OptiBoarder Ginster's Avatar
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    I started out with VW in 1986, thats how I got my start to, in the lab. They really trained me well, I had a great lab manager and assistant manager. They were then owned by Eckerd Drugs, Eckered optical division. I was compensated well and had excellent benefits and grew with the company. This was in Miami Fla. I was with them for 3 years before moving to Texas. I don't know about now. They baught out all the Eyemaster chains here in Texas. Sounds like they have fallen by the wasy side, such ashame. Seems like they offer great benefits but I don't know about how they pay.


    Best regards, Ginny

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    Master OptiBoarder CCGREEN's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AngeHamm View Post
    VW gave me my start in optical. They provided me with excellent comprehensive lab training, as many hours as I needed, and a decent pay rate. I advanced quickly in the lab hierarchy and we did high-precision work. Granted, this was in 1990...
    Oh AngeHamm..................how things have changed with that company since you were there. I worked with them for 8 years in the 90's. They are dollar driven without a doubt. So much so that they will not replace lab equiptment untill it melts into the floor. Store here in town needed a lab manager one time and their ad made mention if you can work on cars you quilify.
    Bait and switch advertising. Advertise what the public wants to hear then when they come in the associate is expected to switch to more expensive and upsell everything. If you dont do it that way your job is on the line. And oh yes they will replace you with the girl/guy next door making pizza. And they will not even bat a eye when they do it.
    It is a company that makes money.......for them. At the expense of the public and their associates. If looking for something to tie you over then its ok because you will not get attatched to the way they operate.
    I could go on and on, even my wife worked with them so we could talk a lot. As a professional I have already talked wayyyyy to much and for that I apologize. But just use them as a steping stone to something else because they will be useing you the same way.

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    Stay away from Visionworks. I worked for Hour Eyes in the Washington, DC area and they were bought out by ECCA/Visionworks. Hour Eyes was great place until Visionworks bought them. We had our edgers go down and it took 6 weeks to get someone to come and fix em. They are a complete joke. They replaced everyone making a decent wage with workers the could not tell you the difference between and + lens or -lens.

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    What do you want to know about them?

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    Master OptiBoarder mdeimler's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fezz View Post
    I know that they are expanding rapidly in my area!
    Here too, in south central PA.

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    I have worked part time for VisionWorks. They are a solid company as far as what they offer for pay & benefits. Just be careful about your co-workers because you may end up doing all of the work. Stop in as a potential patient and look around. See how you will be treated before you decide to join the team.

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    As with anything, remember, there is no perfect job. They all have their plus and minuses, you get out what you put into it. I was a GM with them for 13 years and really enjoyed my time there. There was pressure but thats to be expected... and yes they are dollar driven. Otherwise, why else would they be in business?? They do expect you to perform. As far as quality... noone is exempt! I been doing this for 25 years and have seen crap come from MANY opticals, not just ECCA. I say if it's something your interested in try it. Its not the end of the world if it's not your cup of tea. Just my humble opinion.

  16. #16
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    Eye Care Centers of America has been renamed, yes. Now it's Visionworks of America. They bought up a bunch of regional brands and are slowly trying to consolidate those brands. As of about 2 years ago they had about 450 stores nationwide, and now number close to 580. They are based out of San Antonio, TX and have partnerships with Empire Vision and Davis Vision. They have a centralized lab in Texas. In the upper Midwest their branded stores are all VisionWorks (formerly known as Vision World in MN and WI).

    Pros:
    - They're typically hiring
    - There are a lot of good people working for them (well, I can only speak for those I worked with in MN from 2008-2011)
    - For those who need full benefits, FT employees will enjoy decent benefit options
    - If you can make it to GM in retail optical and want to make a career of it, you'll probably do better salary-wise than in private optical at least at first...that is, if you manage a successful store and have some thick skin. There are private practices out there who will pay great with good benefits...but that is rare.
    - There is more "security" in a corporate position (not specific to Visionworks)
    If you have a simple Rx and limited budget, and don't mind being treated like a "number", they are a decent option.
    - They can do a decent job for your customers if YOU as an optician (they call them eyewear specialists) know what you're doing (ordering/inspecting) and the patient has a straightforward Rx
    - There are many more opportunities for advancement and job transfer (if you move to a different part of town or the country).

    Cons:
    - Pay starts around minimum wage with no experience and goes up from there
    - Turnover is typical of retail establishments
    - You won't get much "big picture" perspective regarding optics. The training is fair, and you shouldn't expect to have access to the internet for resources like optiboard, etc. As of about 2 years ago they were still using dial-up modems and nobody (including managers) had a computer with internet access.
    - From a patient perspective, if the patient has a difficult Rx, needs expert troubleshooting, would like to explore lots of product options, want access to the latest technology that's available, and expect a high level of customer service, then retail chain optical is not your best option...private optical practices are much better suited to help those folks.
    - Apart from your own ability to perform, your whole experience in the company depends largely on your Regional Director and secondly your Territory Director. A great TD (which I had) can help make daily living a little more bearable if your RD leaves much to be desired.
    - The centralized optical lab (in Texas) can make like very difficult for you, and you might feel like pulling your hair out on a regular basis. You don't get to choose your lab and talk to the actual lab staff like you can in private practice.

    One reality check for those in private optical practice...if you're the breadwinner for the family, it's likely that you won't have the kind of benefits you'd receive at a retail optical chain. But, the work environment, access to various labs and educational resources, and overall experience in a private optical practice will often outweigh the retail option. I know tons of folks who have left retail optical and who are now in private practice. I know of nobody who went the other way. For those who can't get a along with their owning doctor, they tend to find another private practice to work at. If you head to private practice, just remember that is a "very small world". People talk a lot between practices through the good-old-fashioned news network (gossip). So, walk the high ground morally, aim for longevity, and guard your mouth. Your reputation will be known.

    To those of you who have "taken your lumps" in retail optical, self-educated, and haven't succumbed to an unsavory corporate way of thinking, my hat is off to you! To everybody else, enjoy what you have...you are very blessed (If you work for a good doctor! I was blessed to work for a very good doctor).

    To the patients out there, follow your instincts and remember that anybody can make a pair of glasses. However, only the best can fix tricky problems and help you find the best solutions available, while remembering your name and face. If you decide to go give your business to a private optical practice, just know that the higher optical prices are justified, as they are paying for better-trained staff and more sophisticated equipment for diagnosis, fitting, fabricating, and dispensing.
    Last edited by Roscoe; 05-16-2013 at 10:01 AM.

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    is visionworks owned by same people as lenscrafters?

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    Master OptiBoarder NCspecs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabk1973 View Post
    is visionworks owned by same people as lenscrafters?
    No my dear, are you familiar with Luxottica? ECCA is vertically integrated in a similiar fashion to Lux but they are separate entities....for now. :)
    "Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened beings; only enlightened activity." -Shunryu Suzuki

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter SharonB's Avatar
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    Visionworks is a part of the HighMark insurance group - they also own Viva Group (frame company), Davis Vision, ECCA, and as mentioned before, Empire Optical. As I understand it, all of their optical outlets will eventually be re-branded as Vision Works. In this area of NY it is already happening. They depend heavily on negotiated insurance plans with unions. From my experience, the lab quality is less than mediocre....but I hired an Empire Vision trained optician about 5 years ago, and she has been GREAT!
    Lost and confused in an optical wonderland!

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    Master OptiBoarder LENNY's Avatar
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    All company stores?

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter SharonB's Avatar
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    All under the same umbrella!
    Lost and confused in an optical wonderland!

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    OptiBoard Apprentice LabOni's Avatar
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    I worked for them as a lab tech for two months when the lab manager put out a job with a -2.00 cyl and 12 degrees off access that I had rejected and was getting ready to remake I walked out never to return.
    Knowledge Is Power

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    Rising Star slubberdegullian's Avatar
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    The problem with visionworks is they have 2yr in-store optician program paid for by visionworks.The problem with that is these kids r under a licensed opt who teaches them very little or nothing at all about optics,so in return there is lots of breakage( seg ht way off.wrong p.d,high rx in wrong type of frame ect..ect) and nobody shows them that they're doing it wrong,so the apprentice thinks they're doing good.It's a bad program and they breed these type of opt..like rabbits breed in the wild.
    If you don't stand up, You don't stand a chance.

  24. #24
    Rising Star slubberdegullian's Avatar
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    They didn't come to me first..i was in wholesale 17yrs and another 10 in retail I performed at top notch level at every postion: edging,drill mounts,facets,roll and polish,etching,stone mounts,make slab offs and invented a little something so no crazing in typical essilor stock lenses..very mechanically inclined only to be looking for job in near future because of closing's.I work with opticians who don't know how to use a lensometer.They think FL 41 tint stands for Fluorescent light at %41 lolol
    If you don't stand up, You don't stand a chance.

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