This is a warning against deception. Never let yourself be enticed with incentives by the staff at 'Shades'. I was in the market for some good sunglasses. Now I'm usually the kind of person that buys their sunnies cheap so, should I break or lose them, I don't need to mourn over any failed investment. But with a new job, I decided it was time to go looking for something a little more than the usual $5.00. $20.00, perhaps. Hell, maybe even $30.00. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered the Ray-Bans in my hand were worth $100.00! It was at this moment of vulnerability I was beset upon by a cheery salesman, offering his aid. Stupidly, I inquired about a discount. He offered me a forty dollar voucher. Stupidly, I was accepted. We approached the register - me with the sunglasses that were soon to be mine, he with the happy prospect of a sale. He put the order through and asked for the $100.00. I inquired about the voucher. He revealed I would not be able to use the voucher until my next purchase. I was perturbed, but it made sense. And I suppose I still had forty dollars to spend here after I inevitably broke or lost the expensive glasses I was buying. I gave him my money and he finished running the transaction through the machine. He waited until after he had handed me the receipt to inform me of this very important fact: the voucher may only be redeemed with a $90.00 purchase. 'By the way,' he had begun. It's standard, of course. It makes sense. But the way he withheld the information... I can't help but feel he was trying to trick me into the purchase. I felt violated. read more

This Shades has fond memories for me. It was the first place I purchased eyewear fashion that cost an arm and a leg (a crucial point in my adolescent development). Things haven't changed much, they have a great range of designer sunnies, but expect a high price tag, the cheapest pairs in here are close to the $100 mark. I agree with Mario P. that the staff are not beyond reproach when it comes to a sale. They can be quite pushy, make sure you push back just as hard. Having said that they have a fantastic array of my fave brand Bvlgari, nice to look wistfully at. In a nutshell - designer sunnies galore! read more

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