I had an unfortunate visit at Roswell Vision Source this afternoon. Now, as you read on you will…read morerealize that I had several opportunities to avoid my current situation, which is sitting at home with a pair of brand new broken sunglasses.
I ordered a pair of inexpensive, not cheap, sunglasses on line which arrived today and slightly crooked The left lens sat a little lower on my face than the right. Being as eager as I was to wear my new sunglasses, I let my impatience get the better of me and opted not to return them and decided to do some research on how to adjust the glasses myself.
After reading up, from a few credible sources whose articles listed several solutions that involved warming them up to then bend them by hand, I felt more comfortable with the final piece of advice in almost every resource I found, which was to take the sunglasses to a professional, to an optometrist.
I figured this would be the best solution considering that the person who would potentially service my glasses would have a better understanding of when the glasses were beyond adjustable. Basically, they would understand the limits of the material and not force the plastic or the hardware on the frame to the point of breakage.
So, I found Roswell Vision Source, the first link in a google search when you type in optometrist, 88201. I looked at their FB page which had some fun posts, a goat with sunglasses, something about a shark eyeball, and a bizarro comic strip. I said "ok they past the test", I don't know why they past the test but I came to the conclusion that they were hip to the game and would know better than to break a new customers sunglasses. So I decided to call em up.
The person who picked up was very nice and confirmed that they would in fact attempt to adjust my glasses. When I asked how much and how long it would take, she said free and possibly 20 minutes. She also said that since I didn't buy the glasses at their location, they could not "warranty" them. Red flags everywhere, but I ignored the signs on the strength of my faith in professionals, goats with sunglasses, and shark eyes. So I got on my bike and rode about 15 min to their place with crooked sunglasses on my face.
I also need glasses anyway so I was hoping to either make a future appointment or see if I could have been seen today.
As soon as I arrived I told them who I was, then the person who I had been speaking with on the phone came out the back and asked for the glasses. She then proceeded to handle them much more aggressively than I had thought and said to myself "wow, look at her bend those glasses! She must really know what she's doing!".
They looked like spaghetti in her hands. Either she was forcing them in a way too much, or she was very confident that she wouldn't break them. Then I looked at the faces of the two receptionists who looked like they were watching a video of a slow motion car crash. Now I'm scared. Then I heard a click, at this point panic sets in, not only for me, but the other two receptionists look a bit worried. She says "Oh, that's the lens trying to come out". Excuse me?! Of course I don't say this out loud, I should have. And why would that comment make me feel reassured?
At this point I just wanted to get my glasses back but I don't say anything, I should have. She then goes to the back to where I imagine there exists a magic machine that makes any pair of glasses fit any human face. All optometrists have them, right? I was actually relieved that she would stop mangling the glasses with her hands and take them to the magic lab. Finally, time for science to step in. I was surprised that it wasn't the first thing she did.
She comes out 5 minutes later and apologized telling me that they broke at the hinge. She suggested I go to the jeweler in town to get them soldered. Now I have to pay more for broken glasses that I didn't break and compromise the integrity of the hinge?! No.
What can I say, I'm an idiot. I mean would you go to a barber who told you "this haircut is free, but there is nothing you can do if I cut your scalp by accident" or a mechanic who said "I'll fix your alternator for free but if it breaks I'm not liable". No, you wouldn't. Today, I did.
Now, I have to find another optometrist, which is sad because the people there were so nice, with the exception of the person who sought lethal vengeance on my brand new sunglasses. A big shout-out to the other two receptionists who stood by and watched as my world came crashing down. Thanks a lot, you two.
This is a bad review, but it is not o say that you shouldn't go there for all your vision needs. It seemed like a nice place with nice people and free coffee. Just don't go there for their "free non-liable, crooked glasses adjustment special". Not worth it, my friend.
I got a bug in my eye on the bike ride home, which made that eye tear up a little. The tears coming from the other eye, though, those are very real tears, from very real sadness.
