[jameslindsay]

We were on holiday to Thailand in January where I bought a very, very nice new pair of glasses for a fraction of the cost over here. They are very light and the design is not available in this country. However, the 2 plastic parts that keep them on your nose for some unknown reason fell off. I took them to a couple of Opticians over here but they did not have the workmanship//tecnology to repair - or so they said. So much for a bargain eh?

However, we have a customer that was going off to the same place as us so asked if he would return my glasses and get them repaired. He agreed and came back with them tonight so result!!! He had a hassle explaining to them what was wrong etc but after a lot of arguing and frustration he got the message over to them. I am happy now!

[northfifeduckling]

To be honest, I think opticians here can't be asked...rather sell a new one.
When I went to India I was utterly impressed with the craftsmanship of opticians there, whatever was broken on glasses, they could fix it. In all fairness, even on the continent they had these tiny screws to put a nose cushion back into place....Lucky the man went to the same place, isn't the world  small 

[cmorrell]

I've found it depends heavily on the optician. The chains don't want to know ... the better independents tend to be more use and I've had a couple of fixes (free, with a smile) when away from home which saved a lot of hassle.

[HappyHippy]

Hi,
In my non-smallholding world I work as a dispensing optician, so have to comment on this one.
I agree with cmorrell - large chains are NOT interested in repairing spex, it's all about profit and getting a sale. Independants are USUALLY different. In the practice which I run, minor repairs (ones we can do on-site) are FREE, even if the customer didn't get them from us. The theory behind this being hopefully next time they need new spex they'll come to us first  That and the fact we're just plain old fashioned nice people.
On the subject of price............. it's another 'blame the government' one. In the UK opticians are required to carry out set tests using certain equiptment which costs an astronomical amount of money. A standard practice probably contains AT LEAST £100,000 of kit, and that's before you count the fact that all frames and lenses have to be CE marked and tested and conform to this and that. Opticians abroad don't have the same requirements to fullfill therefore all their equiptment and stock is much cheaper - hence - cheap spex. But as James discovered repairs and the like prove difficult and/or costly.
If anyone has a COSTCO membership I'd strongly suggest going there for spex, I was a manager in one of their practices and the quality and price will not be beaten (unless you want to risk buying spex online without trying them on - yes, some people actually do that!) and don't be fooled into thinking that Specsavers is the cheapest of the chains either, having worked there also, it's just a clever marketing trick using a well chosen name !
Hope I've given a wee insight - without offending anyone 

[HappyHippy]

P.S. The practice I work in is in Carluke, South Lanarkshire - if anyone needs a free repair doing 

[ukag0972]

Small world.....

I sent my pigs to the abbatoir in Carluke!

Great bacon!!!

[HappyHippy]

Is that Ramsey's ?
I wanted to take my pigs there, but couldn't because they had a waiting list and we wanted them slaughtered just before xmas - I heard they were good, but they're obviously REALLY good 

[cmorrell]

P.S. The practice I work in is in Carluke, South Lanarkshire - if anyone needs a free repair doing 

Tell me you carry Oakley frames (normal, not sunglasses) and I might trot down at some point!

[HappyHippy]

Sorry, no Oakley's. There's not a huge demand for them from our customers (mainly kids & OAP's)

[cmorrell]

Drat

So difficult to get them in the UK. I found out Vision Express now carry a small range from them, but I have a considerable aversion to using them and would much rather use a local independent.

[HappyHippy]

There are lots of oakley frames on ebay.
I'd suggest going to vision express & trying on their range, get the assistant to give you a note of any model numbers that you like, then check ebay to see if they are available. Your local independant should be happy enough to supply lenses only for you, but just check with them first - some can be a bit funny about frames they've not supplied. Hope that helps a bit.
And apoliogies to James for hijacking this thread 

[jameslindsay]

Well the glasses I bought earlier this year in Thailand have broke for a second time. Last Friday I fell flat on my face in all the rain trying to catch a damned hen and must have weakened the leg off. They are rimless and very light weight, unfortunately I don't have any one else going back to Phuket just now. I went into Specsavers in St Andrews earlier and they were not sure if they could do anything as they do not have a lab on site, so I will try in Dundee another day. Warning - do not buy specs abroad and then fall and break them. They are brilliant specs it is a shame.

[HappyHippy]

James,
Sorry to hear about your spex.
There's a company called Premier Optical - they're in Clacton-on-sea, Essex.
http://www.premiere-optical.co.uk/about.htm
They can repair just about any damage to glasses. Don't know if they accept work direct from the public, but a local independant may have an account with them and be able to send them off for you.
Another tip with rimless spex is ALWAYS use 2 hands when taking them off, otherwise the lenses are put under tremendous pressure at the point where they have been drilled and unless you've got polycarbonate lenses they'll give up on you pretty quick !
Hope this helps,
Karen

[jameslindsay]

Thanks Karen I will keep that in mind. I will try another few opticians and see what they say. The ones yesterday didn't even know if they dealt with Titanium as that's what the legs are made of, it will be just my luck that I am left with abroken pair. The ones I bought in holiday and are now broken are "transitional" lenses and what a difference, I really miss them.