My experience at Optical Innovations has been perhaps the worst example of customer service I've…read moreever received. And I don't write these reviews lightly. I am a repeat customer, and after buying my second pair of glasses, bringing my total expenditure at Optical Innovations to $1,000 in the space of about 4 months, I wanted to return a pair of frames that were so uncomfortable I truly couldn't wear them. The retail price of the frames was $75, and, as you might imagine, that probably represented an investment of about $35 (or less) for Optical Innovations.
They finally agreed to "break" their policy and accept a return after 30 days of thinking about it. This process required three phone calls on my part and one trip to the store to actually give in, pick up the frames, and keep them myself - which offer they refused.
Then, they told me, repeatedly, that they mailed me a check representing a refund. After six weeks went by without receiving the check (by the way, they are about 10 blocks from my house), and multiple phone calls, I again wanted to just pick up the frames and move on. They refused to allow me to do that, and in fact, hung up on me when I called.
Imagine my surprise to receive, finally, a week ago, a check representing payment for the returned item. Which, by the way, I'm pretty confident they sold to someone else, which is why they wouldn't (and couldn't) give it to me when I asked for the glasses back.
For me, this wasn't about the money - it was about a horrifying example of a complete and total lack of customer service. For a sum of $35 or less, they were perfectly willing to ruin any chances of an ongoing relationship (and I buy glasses, often, as does every member of my family). They lied, then lied some more. Then hung up on me when I called -- and finally -- when I was almost beyond caring, capitulated and send me a refund.
In this instance, everyone is a loser. I lost the ridiculous amount of time and energy that dealing with them - over this trivial issue - required of me. And they lost all credibility and the chance to ever serve me again, in any capacity.
Sadly, as I began to ask around after receiving this kind of treatment at Optical Innovations, many similar stories surfaced.
In sum, my advice for those for whom great customer service is as important as great eyewear, that you avoid Optical Innovations at all costs.