Hi Opticians across Canada,
We asked the public on Facebook to tell us one question they'd want to ask a licensed optician.
We've compiled lots of questions in the comments section of a Facebook post. Can you share your expertise and help us answer them in the comments section of this Facebook post? We've already had a lot of opticians answer, but there are still a few questions remaining
Link: https://www.facebook.com/LicensedOpt...567740/?type=1
Thank you for helping!
" Why have millions of you, and increasing, chosen to buy-purchase your glasses direc
Originally Posted by Opticians Council
Would it not have been better to ask the public:
" Why have millions of you, and increasing, chosen to buy-purchase your glasses directly at the manufacturer (optical lab), instead of going through a licensed and qualified specialist optician or optometrist ? "
or, and :
" Who is giving you the service on your factory direct purchase, as the final check against precision made prescriptions and the final adjustments of the frame and lenses to your face ? "
Great post but not likely Chris, since a large portion of these association's funds are derived from the same company(s) that is circumventing the legal dispensing laws/process without regard to the registered, licenced professionals across Canada.
On one of the association web sites they list "VISIONARY PARTNERS" on a provincial one they list: PLATINUM, SILVER, or BRONZE partners. What's the difference ?
Last edited by idispense; 10-10-2014 at 09:46 AM.
HindSight sharp as usual ...........................
HindSight sharp as usual ...........................
...............however I id not want to extend into optical politics as the public has no knowledge nor interest about that. We should progress a little slower before this thread is at its peak and goes its usual way towards a slow death.
idispense, would you mind to give some links to show your point .....................
idispense ..................... would you mind to give some links to show your point, with a little more explanations and details as a lot of this thread could find its way into the social sites.
What does the term or heading "Visionary Partners" mean ?
The reason the first question isn't asked is because it is an ill strategy. If you ask the public that, you know their answer will be focused on price and Licensed professionals will be looked at as greedy. But if you focus on educating them on the value and knowledge of Licensed Professionals (as the original question does), then you might give them the opportunity to make an educated decision.
As for the second proposed question, you are just backing price-driven customers into a corner, and they will view licensed professionals as greedy. They will say something like "I've already bought online before and it is fine, obviously what you do has no value".
Even if unregulated online sellers are legally shut down, consumers will always find a "cheaper" way to purchase their optical products unless they are educated on why they shouldn't. Once again, forcing a price-driven consumer into a corner trying to force them to make a grudge purchase is only going to make them look harder in a different direction.
So why bother with paying association annual fees or why bother with legislation or why bother with Colleges and why pay their annual fees ?
They will never be shut down..........they have spread across the world like a wild fire.
You are think they are only on this continent ? They are in Europe as well as the far east and growing fast.
You bother because the optical products are currently price-driven, when they shouldn't be. If you buy into not believing that you as an ECP has no value either, and talk about "why should I bother being regulated/why does our profession exist?", the consumer will think "ECPs don't even think they have value, why would I?"
The reason why consumers are being forced to be price-driven is because ECP's haven't given enough value to the consumer. For example, even if surgeons weren't regulated, I would not let any Joe Schmoe operate on me just because it's cheaper. I am aware as a consumer that surgeons are highly educated and skilled. The point is I'd WANT the profession to be regulated. How do we get the current price-driven consumer (when it comes to optical products) to want the profession to be regulated? We educate them on the value of ECP's, and let them make the right decision from there.
And it's every licensed eye-care professionals job to do this. At every point of contact, share knowledge, share expertise, give value.
Exactly. Hence my response above. Laws are not the issue - consumers will always find a way. You have to educate them on your value as an ECP
Gee let's see isn't that the four hundred and fifty third time you've brought this point up on this site?
Why don't you refuse to pay your liscence fees due December 31st and get back to us and tell us all how that worked out for you?
Regards,
Golfnorth
Seems contradictory to your first post.
If You let on liners run unchecked then what's the point of thinking others should obey the laws?
Worked out fine for the on liners. And who owns the largest on liners ? E ?
Are you supporting them now ?
Fancy term for 'financial supporter'.
Thanks Chris. I see your point but I'm more of a straight shooter cut to the chase kind of person.
That said, I'm pretty sure there's a lot of wining and dining to accompany that relationship or 'partnership'.
Sorry, not sure where the contradiction is? I've stated several times now that educating the public on the value of ECPs is the best method.
And I'm not saying onliners/unregulated providers etc should be allowed to be run unchecked, but the bottom line is that even if they are prevented by law, the end goal of getting people to buy from ECPs won't happen. Look at pirating, it's illegal but it doesn't stop millions and millions from doing it. An individual will justify their reasoning to do something illegal if they don't think the law should exist. We can fight the long battle of trying to make buying online illegal and impossible, but even if we win (which I feel is impossible), the public will break the law to purchase their optical products.
As long as the public doesn't see the value of ECPs, we're all bound to lose. So rather than fight a losing battle, we educate the public to make the right decision.
Doesn't "visionary and partner" suggest that two or more parties are working in unison or partnership to fulfill a joint vision ?
Now what's the joint vision ? E runs online stores so does that mean that vision is shared ?
Does the act of running the ads on their web sites suggest approval ?
our money flows to the associations and colleges are they educating the public about the values you speak ?
I assumed that's what original post for this entire thread was all about - educating the public on ECP expertise? You can see in the link that opticians are actually providing value and answers to the questions from the public, it's a small instance of what needs to be done.
I don't see or interpret it as unison for a common goal. I see it more as pay money to keep the higher ups in charge of policies and policing silent with their heads in the sand.
Hindsight, you say you're a straight shooter and cutting to the point, but the point you made about "where the money comes from" seems irrelevant to the solution to the situation. It seems like you're saying that if the money came from a different source, say, out of thin air, a different (better?) strategy would be executed.
So, say money is acquired out of thin air, what would you suggest happen from there?
Whether or not this is true doesn't even matter. If the public doesn't see value in ECPs, laws ain't going to change anything. You make buying online illegal, so what? Pirating is too. Millions do it. There's no reason for the public to follow the law even if it exists.
Does that same line of thinking apply to the on liners not obeying rules ?
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