The best thing about this business is the in-house Optometrist, Dr. Steven I. Ball. He is highly competent and efficient, and is an entertaining character to boot. Dr. Ball has taken care of my eyes for over 20 years at this location, and he is the reason I keep coming back.
There was a time when the front half of the operation was excellent. They had an in-house lab that could finish most prescriptions "in about an hour". The friendly staff was knowledgeable, courteous, and kind. They had a good selection of frames at reasonable prices. They had toys for kids, and a fish tank filled with beautiful fish for folks to watch while they waited. I was a satisfied customer, and referred many of my friends (we live in a college town with a lot of population turnover, so people are always asking for recommendations) to this business for many years. Unfortunately the business has descended rapidly downhill over the past several years.
The main problem seems to have to do with management. There is one "in-charge" woman in particular, who is most disagreeable. She tends to listen-in on the conversations of her colleagues, and is constantly correcting them. At the same time, she hardly ever waits on customers herself. She frequently misinforms customers, especially about matters that could save the customer money. She has tried to deny me warranty service I had paid for, has refused to allow a simple glasses repair to be performed on my son's, Tavel-purchased glasses (which another shop later did free of charge). She has treated my family rudely, including once accusing my 6 year-old daughter of stealing something (which, of course, she hadn't done).
Other ways in which this shop has deteriorated in the past few years:
~The in-house lab has closed and all prescriptions now take 1-2 weeks to fill.
~The frame selection has dwindled, and the prices have gone up significantly.
~The once knowledgeable, long-time staff has been replaced by inexperienced youngsters, none of whom seem to stay for more than a few months.
~The fish and toys are gone, and there aren't even any magazines for folks to read in the dingy, darkly lit waiting area. Kids seem to be considered a nuisance by current staff.
So why-oh-why do I continue to go back to this shop? Well...Dr. Ball is terrific, I like him, and he's been my eye doctor for a long time. He probably wonders where all of his customers have gone. Today I had an experience that finally has convinced me to take my business elsewhere, despite my positive history with Dr. Ball:
I wanted a complete copy of my current prescription from my last visit, which occurred 2 months ago. What I got did not include the P.D. (Pupil Distance) measurement, which I then specifically requested. I was then told that they "don't give out this measurement" because it "wasn't a part of the prescription". I knew this to be completely untrue, and I also knew my patient rights to anything in my record. When I stated this, I was forced to sign a medical release (to myself), and charged twenty-five cents for the copy of my prescription which, lo-and-behold, included the PD measurement in the same prescription graph with all of my other prescription info.
I'll now be going someplace where I am not insulted and lied-to. I will miss Dr. Ball. Maybe he will relocate his practice, and I can enjoy being his patient once again. As for Dr. Tavel in Bloomington...I suggest you stay far away. read more
