a Fraud on College Avenue...
For the first time in my life I needed glasses. Living in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, I decided to try our local boutique: Pheonix Optical.
Upon arriving to the store, I was happy to see it appeared to be a little mom and pop shop, locally owned and operated. My entrance was greeted with a prompt, "feel free to look around, and let me know if you need help with anything". I browsed the glasses, noticing they have a fairly large selection of vintage eye wear. Not wanting to wear a pair of someone else's discarded glasses, I chose a pair made of horn. I was astonished by the price. The clerk told me the best he could do is "wave the sales tax if I paid cash", then returned to sit at his computer, never to even glance in my direction again. I felt good about my choice despite the hefty cost; the glasses I chose had "made in France" stamped on the inside, which reminds me of my sister, as she moved there some time ago. I gave the clerk my prescription and departed, not to return for two weeks when my prescription was filled.
It was several days after those two weeks were up that I decided to venture back to the "quaint" little shop, to see what was taking so long. I received the same greeting, but this time it was a woman, who afterward promptly returned to the phone call she was in the middle of. She looked perturbed; I was not sure if it was because I had disturbed her conversation or if it was the conversation itself. I once again browsed their selection, waiting patiently for the clerk to finish her call so I could pose my inquiry. After nearly twenty minutes I strolled over to the service counter. The clerk was in the office behind the counter, her back to me. Before I had a chance to get her attention I heard the heated dialogue of her conversation. It appeared it was the conversation itself that had her feathers ruffled, and it seemed she had forgotten I had entered the store.
Although I was not trying to eaves drop, I heard the end of her call. I was shocked by what I heard: "...don't expect ME to tell him the shipment of frames is late again. It shouldn't matter that it's a holiday in China - you said you would have the horn frames here by the end of the week and you can't raise the price to $25 a pair after we order them... especially when the quality is so poor that we keep sending over half of them back!!! WE already checked with customs, have YOU?!?!!". Needless to say I felt cheated. I am not sure how much less than $25 they paid for my glasses, but I paid over $1800 for them. I cleared my throat to get her attention, hoping she would realize I heard what she had said. I asked where the factory that legitimized the "made in France" claim was located. Caught off guard, she stumbled on her words for a moment before informing me I would have to ask the owner for that information. Now I have not been to many glasses stores, but I often inquire as to where other local businesses I frequent source their products, and even low level employees at other stores have not hesitated when asked of their product's origin.
I am proud to live in the Bay Area. Not all shop keeps maintain the standard of excellence expected here, but the owner of Pheonix Optical has truly lowered the bar to a point that he should be run out of town. I suppose it is his choice to charge astronomical prices for a product he pays almost nothing for, but to fraudulently sell "water buffalo" horn glasses made in China whilst claiming they are made in France is unacceptable. To add insult to injury, with very little research, I discovered that there is no sales tax applicable to prescription eyeglasses, which makes my "discount" illegal.
Avoid this establishment at all cost as they are scoundrels. the Better Business Bureau will be hearing of the fraudulence that is their business model. read more
