I am really disappointed in this store. Our household has spent about $2k at this store in the last couple of years. They have a great selection and while pricier than other stores in the area, I always justified the cost because of the better quality and better service. But a recent experience has left me pretty disappointed. I purchased a pair of glasses from this location this past summer. Within 48 hours, the glasses came apart (at a place where they should have been glued together), and I went back to the store. Someone in the store fixed them and told me they were good to go. Over the next couple of months, I had to go back two more times, again because the glasses came apart at the same spot, as well as one of the arms just fell off. I rarely wear the glasses and they were always kept in their case when not being worn (which is often because I was frequently wearing contacts this past summer).
During my multiple trips back to the store, I was never given the option of returning them to the manufacturer. Various people who work in the store would "fix" the glasses and tell me they were OK now. This past week, the glasses came apart while I was driving down a mountain road (yeah, dangerous! they just broke in half while on my face, which happens quite often when I wear them) I went back to the store today and told them that the glasses needed to be replaced, because I wasn't going to keep coming back to the store to have them "fixed" (it appears that the manufacturer made one of the holes too large, thus causing them to constantly come apart). I was told that the only option was to send the glasses back to the manufacturer for repair, which would obviously take a few days and would leave me without glasses. I would be OK with this if I had caused the problem (heck, I would have even bit the bullet and purchased a back up pair from the store), but the glasses are clearly defective and I don't want to just get back a defective pair that has been "fixed." I paid about $600 for these glasses (I purchased a similar pair a couple of years ago and they have held up quite well). I was told that I could speak with the store manager, but the only option was to send them back for repair. I feel a replacement makes more sense.
I am sorry, but if a store isn't willing to offer me a complete replacement for a product that is clearly defective, we've got an issue. I was really patient in dealing with this issue and kept giving them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps that was a mistake on my part, but I am disappointed in the customer service I have received. I'd expect this from an Hour Eyes or some other cheaper chain, but Colonial is a really reputable local company and I expected something better. That's the reason I shop there. I am waiting to speak with the store manager and sincerely hope that they will correct things in a more acceptable manner. If they do, I will update this post accordingly.
Update: The store called me today and they are working on resolving this issue. The issue with my glasses appears to be a problem with how the lenses were cut by the manufacturer. The store got the manufacturer to agree to repair the issue by replacing the lenses entirely. The manager of the store was very apologetic and in order to accommodate me, they are going to give me a pair of back-up glasses to have at no charge while we wait for the manufacturer to either fix my glasses or replace them. I am quite satisfied with this outcome, but just wish it could have been resolved sooner. read more