This review is the story of a business that provides a service, one in which we all will have a need for at some time. Specifically, it detail's my experience as a 1st time customer. Sadly, and perhaps because of this, it might explain why I was treated in the manner that I certainly did not deserve with regards to the CUSTOMER SERVICE I received.
This business provides eye exam's and has employee's who then assist customers in finding & fitting eyeglasses [Opticians] as it also sells eye wear. Mr. Abby and Mr. Johnson are optometrists who do the examinations. Having not attended medical school, these individuals cannot call themselves eye doctors but rather, a doctor of optometry.
The difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist; the latter must complete many more years of medical training than optometrists and opticians. As such, an ophthalmologist is the most qualified among eye care professionals to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases, beyond the routine eye and vision care provided by an optometrist.
Since this business has but optometrists providing eye exams and selling glasses, why then does it want to model itself off as if it's some full-blown medical practice? I saw no employee's wearing medical scrubs, and I don't believe they perform any out-patient surgery of any kind. But yet, it seems as if they can't be bothered to help anyone who comes into this business right off the street. And that's because they're REAL BIG on appointments, even just to look at eye glass frames!
I came into this store "unannounced" to look at frames. Found 3 but 2 of them were beyond my budget. Met with an Optician [Ms Sheila] who gave me pricing info [there was a sale on sunglasses] on the 3rd frame. I spent 12 - 15 minutes with her and during this time the receptionist came over and interrupted me as I was speaking to inform this employee that another customer was waiting to speak with them over the telephone.
As I was attempting to end our conversation as we got up from our chairs, Ms Sheila, without any warning or explanation, very abruptly and sternly says to me, "excuse me Sir, but I have another customer waiting on the phone for me!" I replied, "oh right, sorry." An appointment was made for me the following week and I was given a card with it's info from the receptionist.
On a Friday before my appointment the following week, I received a voice-mail msg [missed the call] reminding me of it which was followed shortly afterwards with a text-message. I called and confirmed that I would be there.
On the day of my appt, 2 hours before it was scheduled and I received an E-mail message reminder. Despite being over the age of 60, having not yet lost my marbles, I felt these "reminders" were bordering on the verge of STALKING. If I have a card with a date/time on it for an appt, rest assured I don't think I'll forget it.
So on a Tuesday afternoon after Memorial Day, I arrived a few minutes before my appointment time. After informing the receptionist of my presence, I sat down and waited for the Optician. So what happened next? Exactly; 14:30 became 14:35 and then 14:40, and then 14:45 and finally 14:50.
At this point I wondered, "if this business is so BIG on APPOINTMENTS, then why have I been kept waiting for 20 minutes?" No mention was made when I checked-in with the receptionist that they were running late. Two woman were sitting in the lobby and eventually were seen by an employee(s). Since I HAD made an APPOINTMENT but it didn't look as if it was going to be honored, I got up and went to the counter and informed one of two receptionists that I had other commitments that afternoon and would have to leave.
As to why I was treated the way I have described here, well, the answer to that question might be: I walked in off the street, WITHOUT an APPOINTMENT [to just look at eye frames] and to add insult to injury, I used a different eye care facility so I already had an eye prescription in hand. So at this point, this eye store hadn't made any money off of me at all. OH the horrors of CUSTOMERS like me!!!
More specifically though, as to why I received such PATHETIC CUSTOMER SERVICE, perhaps it's because of what I overheard one of the receptionist's say to someone who had called in. I heard nothing from the person who had placed the call to this business for the receptionist was using the telephone handset. But I did hear the last words the receptionist said to the person on the other end of the line, and those words were: "I can place your name on our 'new customer wait-list' if you'd like?"
Well there you have it folks, this Eye store which pretends to want to consider itself some sort of "High-Falutin' medical establishment" replete with all manner of nuisance appointments [that they can't seem to keep themselves!] had little o' me just walk in off the street. How Awful and what a S H A M E !!!!
Suffice to say, Cole Family Eye Care-is the best. read more